The State Bar is closely monitoring and responding to the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation and its potential impact on our services to the public, licensees, and applicants, as well as the health and safety of our staff.
Effective March 1, 2021, the State Bar’s offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles are open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
With guidance from the appropriate public health agencies, the following measures will be used for the safety of the public and our staff:
The Telephone Resource Center continues to work remotely from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, except for Wednesdays, 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but on reduced staffing. Inquiries from the public, licensees, and admissions applicants can best be handled by email. Please check our Contact Us webpage for the best email for your inquiry. The State Bar’s online self-service tools, such as the Applicant Portal for admissions applicants, and My State Bar Profile for licensees, will also save time on routine transactions.
COVID-19 Fraud Alert
California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
California Guidelines: Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers
California Lawyers Association Resources for Attorneys
Law Firms Affected By Natural Disaster or Catastrophic Event
American Bar Association Mental Health Resources for Attorneys
The ABA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force
Please see the Admissions webpage for updates regarding upcoming exams and the new Provisional Licensure Program.
Until further notice, meetings of the State Bar Board of Trustees and its committees and commissions will be conducted via teleconference and/or via Zoom technology. Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-25-20, which suspends certain provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act during this period, shall guide the operations of those meetings.
Effective March 1, 2021, the State Bar Court lobby and filing window are open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Parties may continue to submit pleadings electronically pursuant to State Bar Court Rules of Practice, rule 1111. The State Bar Court will continue to conduct proceedings remotely using video, audio, and telephonic means for remote appearances. The following orders providing more information regarding court operations:
General Notice and FAQs regarding court events GEN 21-03: Order Rescinding General Order 21-02
For additional information, visit the State Bar Court Current Notices webpage.
The Fund is continuing essential business by mail and email. Please see this webpage for guidelines.
The State Bar of California is currently accepting service of legal process (summonses, complaints, and subpoenas) by email instead of personal service.
Please serve your document(s) by emailing them to serviceofprocess@calbar.ca.gov. If you are attempting to tender witness fees, please indicate that in your email message and you will receive further instructions for delivery of those fees.
Note: The State Bar will only accept legal documents naming the State Bar (or its employees and officers for matters in connection with their official duties). The State Bar is not authorized to accept service of process on behalf of its employees and officers regarding matters outside the scope of their official duties. By receiving your document(s), the State Bar and its employees and officers do not waive any right to object to the validity of service. Your document will be reviewed after receipt and you will be notified if service is rejected due to a defect.
The State Bar is making every effort to continue the activities of the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) under the COVID-19 guidelines. All LAP groups have transitioned to online “virtual” groups.
Ethics research assistance is available from the Ethics Hotline. Attorneys can request a call by using the online contact form.
Due to social distancing guidelines and directives discouraging large-scale gatherings, we are looking into providing online alternatives for large-scale classes and events. Those that cannot be delivered online will be postponed or canceled. If you have questions about a particular class or event, please email the office through which you registered.