Crista Gantz is the director of access to legal services at the Virginia State Bar (VSB). In this role she develops, promotes, and coordinates the VSB’s pro bono and access to justice initiatives. She oversees the VSB Standing Committee on Access to Legal Services, a statewide access group focused on encouraging participation in pro bono and addressing issues concerning legal representation of individuals who cannot afford counsel or are otherwise underserved. She also staffs the bar’s EGAD VA Study Committee and serves as the state administrator for Virginia Free Legal Answers. Her volunteer activities include serving on the Virginia Access to Justice Commission, the VBA Pro Bono Council, and the GRBF board of directors. Her legal practice is limited to pro bono work and she has a particular interest in and passion for helping low-income tenants.
Prior to joining the VSB she worked as the client services attorney for the Richmond-based nonprofit CancerLINC where she managed the organization's pro bono and legal services programs and supported the Medical Legal Partnership at VCU Massey Cancer Center. Cris received her law degree from the University of Richmond and her undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.