Attorney Regulation

Maintaining your State Bar license is mandatory if you practice law in California. 

Log in to your profile to make address changes, pay fees and report Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE).

• Log in to My State Bar Profile
• Change your name
• Change your status to inactive
• Change your status to active
• Find information about paying fees and meeting other licensing requirements
• Get a Certificate of Standing

Fingerprinting Rule Requirements

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.

Legal Specialization

Learn about becoming a certified legal specialist.

Lawyer Assistance Program

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.

Attorney fee arbitration

Find information about mandatory arbitration hearings with clients.

Managing your law office

Register a law corporation or LLP. Find State Bar resources on managing or closing a law practice.

FAQs

See FAQs on everything from how to file your MCLE report to where to find ethics opinions on the State Bar website.