The significance of artificial intelligence in the legal field and a steady decline in potential new lawyers in Virginia will be explored by two new bar association task forces. The Board of Governors of The Virginia Bar Association established the study groups at its spring meeting in late April.

VBA President W. Ryan Snow mentioned them in a message to members midway through his term of office.

VBA Task Force on Artificial Intelligence

Immediate Past President Benjamin Leigh with Troxell Leigh P.C. in Leesburg and VBA board member Steven Brown with IslerDare PC in Richmond will co-chair this group. Its mission is to continue the VBA’s efforts in exploring the impact of AI on the legal profession and to strategize, develop and implement AI initiatives.

The VBA has presented two sessions on AI at its statewide meetings, addressed the technology in multiple 2024 webinars and discussed AI in myriad Practice Management Advisor program articles, newsletters and webinars, as well as during its 2023 Small-Firm Management Meetups.

W. Ryan Snow

“We’re looking at the future,” Snow said. “The VBA has been at the forefront of legal education and programming on AI in Virginia. This task force will enable us to continue these efforts.”

Toward that end, the initial co-chairs and additional VBA members they may appoint will report regularly to the board on task force findings, recommendations and initiatives.

VBA Task Force on the Future of Bar Membership in Virginia

Board members Steven Gould with PLDR Law in Danville and Alexander Boyd with Hirschler in Richmond co-chair this task force. It will examine what a 10-year decline in the number of people sitting for the bar examination in Virginia may have on the legal profession.

“The number of exam takers has decreased from nearly 2,200 in 2013 to 808 in 2023,” Snow said. The 10-year impact on the number of Virginia lawyers is possibly in the thousands. “It has the potential to affect the availability of legal representation, access to justice in rural areas, future public services and the viability of certain practice areas, not to mention membership in the VBA.”

Snow added that the new VBA task force will be complementary to an effort by the Virginia State Bar to study “legal deserts” in rural parts of Virginia. VSB President Chidi James has appointed a committee to study the impact of fewer lawyers working in rural areas.

Gould and Boyd, along with any additional VBA members they may appoint, will study and report on findings to the VBA board and may explore and recommend action.

Updated 5/30/2024 with links to President Snow's midyear message.