Section 50. Procedure for accreditation of sponsors

A. Any sponsor may apply for approval of individual courses by complying with the criteria of 15VAC5-70-30 and the procedures of 15VAC5-70-40.

B. If the board determines that a sponsor regularly provides a significant volume of continuing legal education courses, that these courses uniformly meet the approval criteria of 15VAC5-70-30, and that the sponsor will maintain and submit the records directed by this chapter, the board may designate such a course provider as an "accredited sponsor" under the Rule. Such designation shall be effective for a period of no more than two years unless renewed.

C. A sponsor applying for status as an accredited sponsor shall submit to the board all information called for on the Application for Status as Accredited Sponsor of Continuing Legal Education.

D. An accredited sponsor shall be subject to and governed by the applicable provisions of the Rule and this chapter, including the quality standards of 15VAC5-70-30 and the record- keeping and reporting requirements of this section. Accordingly, for example, an accredited sponsor may represent in its descriptive literature that a course or program generates credits in the area of legal ethics or professionalism only to the extent the course contains one or more qualified ethics components as provided in 15VAC5-70-30.

E. The approval procedure of 15VAC5-70-40 does not apply to accredited sponsors. An accredited sponsor must notify the board at least two weeks in advance of a program of the name, date, location, and credit hours allowable for a particular course, including, where appropriate, credit hours in the area of legal ethics or professionalism. The board may request additional information regarding a course or program. The board will provide the sponsor with copies of the board's Certification of Attendance and Certification of Teaching for each course or program and the sponsor shall make available, collect and transmit such forms in accordance with the requirements of 15VAC5-70-40 D.

F. The board may at any time reevaluate and revoke the status of an accredited sponsor. If the board finds there is a basis for revocation of the accreditation granted to an accredited sponsor, the board shall send notice by certified mail to that sponsor of the revocation within 30 days of the board's decision.

G. Law firms, professional corporations, and corporate law departments are not eligible to become accredited sponsors.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR167-01-601 § 5, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, Volume 11, Issue 11, eff. July 7, 1993.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-3910; Part 6, §IV, Paragraph 17 of Rules of Virginia Supreme Court.