Guest Blog: Bridging the Justice Gap — Virginia’s Proposed Expansion of Assistance with Court Forms
November 12, 2025
By David Greenspan, Pro Bono Partner, McGuireWoods Paige Osgood, 2025 Pro Bono Summer Associate, McGuireWoods In January 2025, the Virginia State Bar took an important step toward addressing the access to justice gap by inviting public comment on proposed amendments to Virginia’s Unauthorized Practice of Law Rules. The proposed changes, as amended, would allow non-lawyer professionals, such as court clerks, law librarians, and approved courthouse navigators or self-help center staff, to provide limited legal assistance with court-approved forms. This includes helping individuals identify, select, understand, and review legal forms for completeness. The amendment would also allow form-completion assistance for individuals