In what areas of practice are Virginia Law Foundation/Virginia CLE^® Designations available?

Currently these Designations are available in the areas of Bankruptcy Practice, Divorce and Family Law Practice, Real Estate Law Practice, Trial Practice/Litigation, and Trusts and Estates Practice. We expect to add additional practice area designations soon.

How do I become a Virginia Law Foundation/Virginia CLE® Qualified Counselor or Qualified Master Counselor? Please check the criteria below to determine if you qualify. Only credits from taking or teaching Virginia CLE® courses are applicable—credits from other CLE providers cannot be included in your designations application. Criteria for Qualified Counselor:

• At the time of application, has practiced for at least 8 continuous years in the practice area in which designation accreditation is sought.
• Has spent 25% of time practicing in this area over the past 8 years.
• Has taken or taught at least 24 Virginia CLE^® subject matter credits over the preceding three-year period in designation practice area(s), and 6 Virginia CLE^® general Ethics and/or Wellness credits, for each designation sought – Virginia CLE^® teaching credits can be substituted at 4 hours of credit for every hour taught.
• Will supply detailed letters from three peer practitioners, not working at the same firm, who will certify that they have practiced in this area for at least 8 years, that they have participated with the applicant in one or more cases, negotiations, or other significant practice-related interactions, that the applicant has demonstrated a high level of both skill and professionalism during the course of these cases (specific examples are helpful but not required), and the applicant’s overall reputation for outstanding and professional practice. If you are applying for multiple practice areas, please submit three separate letters per each practice area, unless a letter addresses each of your selected practice areas. No letters of recommendations from judges, county, attorneys or other public officers will be accepted. No letters of recommendations from judges, county, attorneys or other public officers will be accepted. Note that all peer review letters must be sent via email directly to Tanya Morris, Program Director, at designations@vacle.org.
• Will submit a resume/cv. This document will only be used for the committee’s review process and no information from your resume/cv will be shared publicly.
• The candidate must be an active Virginia State Bar member in good standing and must not have any public or private discipline.

Criteria for Qualified Master Counselor:

• At time of application, has practiced for at least 12 continuous years in the practice area in which designation accreditation is sought.
• Has spent 25% of time practicing in this area over the past 12 years.
• Has taken or taught at least 30 Virginia CLE^® subject matter credits over the preceding three-year period in designation practice area(s), and 6 Virginia CLE^® general Ethics and/or Wellness credits, for each designation sought – Virginia CLE^® teaching credits can be substituted where 4 hours of credit for every hour taught.
• Will supply detailed letters from three peer practitioners, not working at the same firm, who will certify that they have practiced in this area for at least 12 years, that they have participated with the applicant in one or more cases, negotiations, or other significant practice-related interactions, that the applicant has demonstrated a high level of both skill and professionalism during the course of these cases (specific examples are helpful but not required), and the applicant’s overall reputation for outstanding and professional practice. If you are applying for multiple practice areas, please submit three separate letters per each practice area, unless a letter addresses each of your selected practice areas. No letters of recommendations from judges, county, attorneys or other public officers will be accepted. Note that all peer review letters must be sent via email directly to Tanya Morris, Program Director, at designations@vacle.org.
• Will submit a resume/cv. This document will only be used for the committee’s review process and no information from your resume/cv will be shared publicly.
• The candidate must be an active Virginia State Bar member in good standing and must not have any public or private discipline.

Specifically, what are you looking for in the letters of reference as noted above? 

While we note that three letters are required from peer attorneys, not in your firm, who will certify that they have practiced in this area for at least 8 years for Qualified Counselor applicants or for at least 12 years for Qualified Master Counselor applicants, that they have participated with the applicant in one or more cases, negotiations, or other significant practice-related interactions, that the applicant has demonstrated a high level of both skill and professionalism during the course of these cases (specific examples are helpful but not required), and confirm the applicant’s overall reputation for outstanding and professional practice, the letters need to be more than a mere restatement of the qualities listed above. While each situation will be unique, for a peer to make the most compelling case on behalf of an applicant, with some specificity, the peer should provide a reasonably detailed explanation describing their excellence in the practice of law. No letters of recommendations from judges, county, attorneys or other public officers will be accepted.

Can I apply credits from years past?

Yes, you can go back three years from your date of application.

What if I don’t know what Virginia CLE^® courses I’ve taken over the past 3 years?

To find out, contact Program Director Tanya Morris at designations@vacle.org and you will be provided with a complete report along with answers to any other questions you may have.

When are applications due?

Applications are accepted during two periods each year. Submit your application on or before June 30, or on or before December 31.

Who reviews my application? How and when will I find out if I’m approved? What will I receive if I’m approved?

A select subcommittee of the Virginia Law Foundation’s CLE Committee, comprising leading practitioners and legal educators. This subcommittee will make recommendations to the full CLE Committee, and applications approved by them will be presented to the entire VLF board for its approval during its mid-year and end-of-year board meetings. Successful applicants will be notified within two weeks of approval via email, and all digital indicia and certificates of your accredited designation will follow soon thereafter.

See the example certificate below: