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Virginia Bankruptcy Law Education and Training

Get the right training to work with VA bankruptcy laws

By Emmet McMahan
Virginia bankruptcy law education and training will teach you how to resolve your clients’ debts by dividing their assets among their creditors. This allows each creditor to achieve some measure of equality under the law. A filing under Chapter 7 is called liquidation and involves the sale of the debtor's non-exempt property. A bankruptcy proceeding under Chapters 11, 12 or 13 allows the debtor to use future earnings to pay off creditors.

The qualifications needed to become a bankruptcy lawyer in Virginia help are determined at the state level and also will be affected by the specific type of bankruptcy that the client requires. There are three general phases in obtaining an education in bankruptcy law:
  1. Formal education. A bankruptcy attorney in Virginia will typically need at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school in Virginia. An advanced degree such as a Masters of Law (L.L.M) will further help distinguish you from your colleagues.
  2. Membership in professional organizations. Practicing attorneys will want a membership in one of the many associations dedicated to bankruptcy law in Virginia.
  3. Legal specialization. Bankruptcy attorneys in Virginia can become designated specialists in bankruptcy law by meeting the state's specific requirements.

 

Attend a law school that specializes in VA business bankruptcy law

There are a variety of universities in Virginia that provide a concentration in bankruptcy law. These schools are equipped to offer a solid education on the current bankruptcy laws in Virginia.
Try: The University of Virginia School of Law offers a concentration in business organization and finance that includes a study of bankruptcy. George Mason University School of Law has a clinic for legal assistance that allows students to represent clients in bankruptcy cases.

Find professional forums for a bankruptcy lawyer in VA

Professional online forums can provide a daily educational opportunity for bankruptcy attorneys in Virginia. These include information on recent changes in bankruptcy law and advice on building a practice.
Try: The Virginia State Bar provides educational information for practicing bankruptcy attorneys in Virginia. Virginia Bankruptcy Law provides various resources on bankruptcy law in Virginia, including a discussion of the bankruptcy exemptions in Virginia.

Obtain a specialization in state of Virginia bankruptcy laws

Virginia allows attorneys who practice certain areas of the law, such as bankruptcy, to be certified as specialists. A bankruptcy attorney in Virginia will need to know Virginia's specific requirements for a specialization in bankruptcy.
Try: Virginia Continuing Legal Education provides a seminar for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit in Virginia called "The Nuts and Bolts of Bankruptcy Law". The Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association hosts an annual seminar on bankruptcy law that counts towards the CLE requirement in Virginia.

 

  • Attorneys also will want to join professional organizations that are dedicated to the practice of Virginia bankruptcy laws. These associations provide a number of resources essential for the practicing bankruptcy attorney, including contact information for important courts, assistance with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements and links to bankruptcy laws.

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