My name is Alice Minium and I oppose this bill removing the cap on annual fees that may be charged by the state Bar Association. I have spent the past six months applying to law schools myself, and the process has been unbelievably cost-prohibitive. It would simply not be possible for someone truly indigent, and it is to my understanding that lawyering powers do not necessarily mean any guarantee of infinite wealth. This profession is almost entirely inaccessible to thousands of potential lawyers that might create all kinds of positive changes or accomplish feats of excellence, but who will never become lawyers because, for one among many reasons, the costs of doing so are absolutely terrifying. Removing this cap does nothing but allow for the possibility of increasing those possible costs. Lawyer salaries have not risen in proportion to the cost of law school or the many costs that come with practicing; there is no reason to add one more possible barrier to practicing in Virginia that removing this cap in annual fees would introduce. It would create a more unjust system here and while this may not be the intention, the outcome would be again rewarding certain kinds of lawyers and introducing one more expense for everyone else.