Qualifications
The position of attorney general is established by Article V, Section 15 of the Constitution of Virginia, and they are elected for four years and serve concurrently with the governor. All candidates for attorney general must be at least thirty years old, a citizen of the United States, and have the same qualifications required of a Virginia Circuit Court judge.Responsibilities
The attorney general heads the Office of the Attorney General, also known as the Department of Law. The attorney general and their office have several duties and powers granted by state law. These include: *Providing legal advice and representation in court for the Governor and the state government in general *Providing legal advice, official opinions, to members of the Virginia General Assembly and local government officials *Defending the state in cases of criminal appeals and suits against the state *Defending the constitutionality of state laws *Collecting money owed to various state institutions In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the attorney general oversees one of the largest law firms in Virginia. The full-time staff includes a chief deputy attorney general, five deputy attorneys general and about 150 assistant attorneys general, 40 additional full-time lawyers appointed as special counsel to particular agencies, and 140 legal assistants, legal secretaries and other professional support staff. The Office of the Attorney General is structured very much like a private law firm, with sections devoted to legal specialties. The attorney general is second in the line of gubernatorial succession. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the governor of Virginia, the governor is replaced by theList of attorneys general
Attorneys general of colonial Virginia
Records of this period are sparse. The attorney general was appointed by the King, a combination of the governor and council, or the governor or acting governor. There was no term of office, and the office may have been vacant for extended periods.Attorneys general (1776–1857)
From 1776 to 1851, the attorney general was elected by the General Assembly, or, in case of vacancy, appointed by the governor for an undefined term. TheAttorneys general during the Civil War and Reconstruction
Tucker served as the attorney general of Confederate Virginia throughout the Civil War. Wheat and Bowden served as the attorneys general for Restored Government of Virginia. From 1865 to 1870, the commanding general of the military district of Virginia appointed the office.Attorneys general (1874–present)
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