Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification
Va. Code Ann. § 20-176
in effectA. The disqualification provisions of § 20-175 apply to a collaborative lawyer representing a party with or without fee.
B. After a collaborative law process concludes, another lawyer in a law firm with which a collaborative lawyer disqualified pursuant to § 20-175 is associated may represent a party without fee in the collaborative matter or a matter related to such collaborative matter if:
1. The party has an annual income that qualifies the party for free legal representation under the criteria established by the law firm for free legal representation;
2. The collaborative law participation agreement so provides for such subsequent representation; and
3. The collaborative lawyer is isolated from any participation in the collaborative matter or a matter related to the collaborative matter through procedures within the law firm that are reasonably calculated to isolate the collaborative lawyer from such participation.
2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/20-176/Fetched: 10/16/2026