Interested in applying to serve on a State Bar committee? Complete the online application by Mon. April 15, 11:59 p.m. Please see current appointment opportunities and deadlines below.
The State Bar welcomes applications year-round from diverse candidates, including lawyers and nonlawyer public members, to serve on various State Bar committees.
The Board of Trustees is the policymaking and oversight body for the State Bar; State Bar committees provide support to ensure that the State Bar effectively fulfills its expansive mission, which includes protecting the public through the licensing, regulation, and discipline of attorneys, and increasing the diversity of the legal profession and access to legal services.
The State Bar is most effective when membership of its committees represents the rich racial, ethnic, geographic, and professional diversity of Californians. We encourage applications from those well-versed in State Bar issues as well as those with little knowledge or experience but with interest in helping the organization advance its important statutory mission. Nonlawyer public members receive a small stipend for this work.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the State Bar provides ADA accommodations for participation in State Bar activities. Please visit the Accessibility webpage to learn more. The State Bar complies with all applicable antidiscrimination laws in its appointment process.
Board of Trustees
California Board of Legal Specialization: One vacancy open to attorneys; One vacancy open to public members.
Client Security Fund Commission: One vacancy open to attorneys; One vacancy open to public members with general law litigation experience and investment/financial experience.
Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation: 11 vacancies open to attorneys; two vacancies open to public members; and one vacancy open to judicial officers.
Committee of Bar Examiners: Three vacancies open to California licensed attorneys.
Committee of State Bar Accredited and Registered Schools: Four vacancies open to attorneys.
Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct: Two vacancies open to attorneys.
Council on Access and Fairness: Four vacancies open to attorneys, judicial officers, and public members.
Judicial Council of California (external entity): One vacancy open to attorneys.
Lawyer Assistance Program Oversight Committee: Two vacancies open to attorneys, ideally in recovery for a minimum of five years, and medical doctors with expertise in the identification and treatment of substance use and mental health issues.
Law School Council: Three vacancies open to deans or their staff and faculty from ABA-approved schools in California.
Legal Services Trust Fund Commission: Two vacancies open to attorneys; One vacancy open to public members.
You may also signup to be notified via email of future appointment opportunities.
For a complete list of State Bar committees, please see the committees webpage.
Applications are accepted year-round. To apply, please complete the online application.
Once in the application, please provide a response for every question where response fields are outlined in red. In some cases, required questions have a “decline to answer” option, so you can use that option should you wish to opt out.
In some cases, the application displays questions that are not relevant to you depending on whether you are an attorney or a nonlawyer public member. Please skip over irrelevant questions; the response fields will not be active.
Officers and members are appointed annually by the Board of Trustees during their May or July meeting. Applicants can expect to receive notice of their application outcome in the subsequent weeks following Board approval.
Questions about the application process? Please email Appointments@calbar.ca.gov.
Most committee meetings are held virtually, and up to two meetings a year are held in person. Travel costs will be reimbursed in accordance with the State Bar’s Travel and Business-Related Expense Policy.
Nonlawyer public members of most committees are entitled to a $50 stipend for every day they attend a committee meeting of at least one hour in length. This stipend caps out at $500 per month.