Lobbying Affiliate: MML&K Government Solutions
Photo of Virginia L. Lawson

Virginia L. Lawson

Of Counsel

Honors & Awards

AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®

The Best Lawyers in America®, 2023, 2024 (Real Estate Law)

Recognized as One of the Nations Top Rated Lawyers in 2016 by The National Law Journal

Nat Sanders Educator of the Year, 2010, Kentucky Association of REALTORS®

Distinguished Service Award, 2003-2009, Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross 

Life Fellow 2001, Kentucky Bar Association

Best Political Float in the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government 4th of July parade, 1999

Outstanding Alumnus Award, 1993, Lexington Community College

Admissions

Kentucky, 1984

Supreme Court of Kentucky, 1984

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 1985

U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2016

Clerkships

Judicial Internship, Jefferson County Circuit Court, 1984

Legal Internship, Louisville Legal Aid Society, Inc., 1984

Law Clerk, Mapother & Mapother Attorneys, Lexington, KY, 1982-1983

Education

  • University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Louisville, KY, J.D., 1984
  • Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, BBA, 1981 
  • Lexington Community College, A.A.S. in Management Technology, 1973

Overview

When asked to sum up her experience with real estate, Virginia “Ginny” Lawson has a pithy response: “Sold it, teach it, practice it.” She has been in the real estate business for nearly fifty years, so her clients have access to a depth of knowledge and experience that is near impossible to find elsewhere. After practicing as a REALTOR® for nearly ten years after college, Virginia became a lawyer and opened her own firm, employing a small group of real estate attorneys like herself—a rarity (and a challenge) for women at the time. She has also taught classes on real estate at universities, as well as pre- and post-license classes, continuing legal education, and more. Her extensive knowledge and experiences along with her teaching skills allow her to clearly explain and effectively address her clients’ questions and issues—she literally wrote the book on Kentucky real estate law.

Virginia assists and advises a variety of clients on a variety of real estate matters in Lexington and beyond. She represents and counsels brokerages, appraisers, home inspectors, auctioneers, REALTORS®, and other real estate professionals regarding any issues that may arise. Matters she assists with include contract drafting and interpretation, occasional closings, real estate administrative law, real estate litigation, professional liability defense, day-to-day business operations, and more.

Having worked in the industry herself, Virginia is familiar with the unique challenges that come with the business of buying and selling real estate. She knows well that the nature of a deal can change on a dime, so she makes availability and responsiveness to her clients a top priority. Once, she handled a problem for a real estate broker from the back of a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea! She treats her clients as she would want to be treated and understands what they do and how they feel because she was once in their shoes.

Throughout her career, Virginia has volunteered for many causes and organizations, including the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross, Housing Equality for All Lexington, Inc., the Lexington Community College Alumni Association, and the Lexington Bluegrass Business and Professional Women’s Organization, for all of which she has served as a board member and/or as president. Virginia and lends her support to Paws 4 the Cause Animal Rescue, for whose mission she and her late husband, George, shared a passion. Virginia is also the author of seven books on topics related to the real estate industry.

Primary Practice

Affiliations

Professional Activities

  • Volunteer Bar Arbitrator
  • Past President, Lexington Community College Alumni Association
  • American Red Cross, Bluegrass Chapter:
    • Former Board Member (27 years)
    • Current Member of Volunteer Services Committee
    • Past Board Member and Vice Chair for Administration
    • Former Member, Finance Development and Human Resources Committees
  • Board Member, Housing Equality for All Lexington, Inc.
  • Past President, Lexington Bluegrass Business & Professional Women's Organization
  • Former Board Member, Altrusa International, Lexington
  • Former Member, Professional Women's Forum, Lexington
  • Former Member, National Association of Women Business Owners, Lexington Chapter
  • Former Member and Past President, Xi Delta Nu, Beta Sigma Phi, Lexington
  • Former Secretary, Rabbit Run Neighborhood Association Board, Lexington
  • Chair, Center for Real Estate Studies at Eastern Kentucky University.
  • Licensed Real Estate Broker (Escrow), Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  • Member, Former Director and Secretary, National Real Estate Educators Association.
  • Former President, Treasurer and Board Member, Kentucky Real Estate Educators Association.
  • Former Trustee, Kentucky Real Estate Education Foundation.
  • Affiliate member, member of MLS committee, former member of Education Committee, and former corporate counsel, Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors®.
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Kentucky Bar Association. Member and Former Vice Chair, Real Property Section.
  • Member, Fayette County Bar Association.
  • Co-founder and Steering Committee member, Fayette County Bar Women Lawyers Organization.
  • Former member, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys.

News & Insights

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

  • Sign up for Real Estate Law Alerts

Blogs

Publications

Kentucky Real Estate License Law Handbook, 1st Edition, Copyright 2015 by Virginia L.
Lawson Seminars, Inc.
Kentucky Real Estate License Law Handbook, 2nd Edition, Copyright 2017 by Virginia L.
Lawson Seminars, Inc.
Kentucky Real Estate License Law Handbook, 3rd Edition, Copyright 2018 by Virginia L.
Lawson Seminars, Inc.
Don’t Let Wills, Estates, and Trusts Be The Death of You, Copyright 2017 by Virginia L.
Lawson Seminars, Inc.
AMP Real Estate Exam Guide, Copyright 2007 by South-Western, a division of Thomson
Learning
Kentucky Real Estate Law, Copyright 2004 by South-Western, a division of Thomson
Learning
Sales Contracts for the Real Estate Professional, Copyright 2002 by South-Western, a division of Thomson Learning
Kentucky Real Estate License Law Tutorial, Copyright 2001-2002, The Kentucky Real Estate Commission, Donald E. Bodley (Delivery System) and Virginia L. Lawson (Test Annotation)
Law of Agency, Copyright 1996 by Northern Kentucky Association of Realtors

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