ATTENTION: Late payment penalty waiver available to attorneys employed by the federal government and affected by the shutdown.
The State Bar of California Board of Trustees has approved a process that allows the State Bar’s Attorney Regulation Office to waive the late payment penalty for attorneys employed by the Federal Government who were affected by the government shutdown, and unable to timely remit payment of their 2019 licensing fees by the February 1, 2019 deadline. The late fee is $100 for attorneys on Active status and $30 for Inactive status.
To qualify for this waiver, please submit a formal request for the waiver of the late fee that includes your name, bar number, title, and the agency you work for, along with documentation that confirms you were impacted by the shutdown, such as a copy of a pay stub showing zero pay, or a letter advising you were furloughed. You may email this request directly to AttorneyRegulation@calbar.ca.gov, OR submit by fax to 415-538-2576. Please mark “Government Shut Down Waiver Request” in the subject line of the email.
With the late fee waived, you will have until July 1, 2019 to pay your 2019 fees without penalty or other adverse effect on your license. July 1, 2019 is the final deadline to have resolved any outstanding balance of fees through payment or waiver.
Maintaining your State Bar license is mandatory if you practice law in California.
You can calculate your annual State Bar fees and costs through My State Bar Profile, and then pay online by credit card or ACH (electronic check). Alternatively, you can download and print your fee statement to mail it in with a check payment.
Description
Amount
Deadline
Annual fees for active attorneys
$430.00
February 1
Annual fees for inactive attorneys
$155.00
View frequently asked questions about paying fees.
California Business & Professions Code Section 6002.1 requires all licensees, regardless of their status, to maintain a current mailing address on the officialrecords of the State Bar of California. California Rule of Court 9.9 requires attorneys to use My State Bar Profile to report changes to contact information and provide a private email address for State Bar communications.
Log in to My State Bar Profile to make address changes, pay fees, and report Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE).
View frequently asked questions.
Access Attorney Regulation forms.
Forgot your My State Bar Profile password? You may reset your password online or contact Attorney Regulation at 888-800-3400.
Submit the Application for Transfer to Inactive. Transferring to inactive status after February 1 will not reduce active fees owed. View more information and access the required form.
Under California Rule of Court 9.9.5, all inactive licensed attorneys must be in compliance with fingerprinting requirements prior to being placed on active status. A status change to active status will be effective upon the State Bar’s receipt of the Request to Transfer to Active Status, payment of the current year’s active fees in full, and proof of compliance with the fingerprint requirement. View more information and access the required form.
Submit a Name Change Form to process your name change request. View more information and access the required form.
A Certificate of Standing must be ordered online. The State Bar issues a single-page Certificate of Standing to verify an attorney’s name, bar number, admission date, current status, any name or status changes, and any public discipline, as of the date of the certificate.
Order a Certificate of Standing and view more information about the types of Certificates of Standing available.
Find more information on how to obtain a California Supreme Court Certificate of Standing.
Under California Rule of Court Rule 9.9.5, active attorneys licensed in California and multijurisdictional practitioners must be re-fingerprinted following the instructions and schedule posted online. The deadline before the penalty period begins is April 30, 2019. See the full fingerprinting rule requirements.
Learn about becoming a certified legal specialist.
The State Bar has a confidential program for attorneys facing substance abuse or mental health issues. The Lawyer Assistance Program is also part of the bar's regulatory mission, providing services to lawyers facing disciplinary charges.
Find information about mandatory arbitration hearings with clients.
Register a law corporation or LLP. Find State Bar resources on managing or closing a law practice.
See FAQs on everything from how to file your MCLE report to where to find ethics opinions on the State Bar website.