Every year, a slate of candidates are nominated by the organization's Board of Governors.

At the annual full meeting of the Association's members, a president-elect is chosen by direct popular vote from among the nominees.

At the adjournment of the succeeding year's annual meeting, the president-elect is then sworn in as president.

[1] After the VBA's foundation in July 1888, William J. Robertson of Charlottesville became its first president.

A total of 135 people have served as the president of the Virginia Bar Association since its formation.