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State Bar Agrees with 2023 State Auditor’s Report Recommendations

The State Bar of California issued the following statement in response to the California State Auditor’s report today:

Statement from State Bar Board Chair Ruben Duran:

“We agree with all of the recommendations in the 2023 State Auditor's report. We especially appreciate the audit's recognition that a licensing fee increase is needed to sustain State Bar operations, particularly if we are unable to sell our San Francisco headquarters building, or to use the proceeds from sale of the building to support our operations. This conclusion from the audit reinforces a message that the Board of Trustees and State Bar leadership have relayed in recent months.

“We also appreciate the report’s recognition that the State Bar's current staffing levels and austerity-driven 15 percent personnel vacancy rate negatively impact the agency's ability to meet critical performance metrics.

“The audit report notes the financial uncertainty created by the pending sale of the State Bar’s San Francisco headquarters building. Its recommendation that the State Bar provide updated financials to the Legislature when the question of the building sale has been resolved is sensible and appreciated.

“We agree with recommendations to further strengthen the Rule 2201 (conflicts counsel) Program. The Board and leadership team have significantly improved this program since 2016, when it transitioned from being an effort staffed by volunteers to an institutionalized program with paid outside counsel, and, since 2022, with a full-time administrator. However more remains to be done.

“We look forward to working with the Legislature and the California Supreme Court to implement all of the report’s recommendations to further advance the State Bar’s public protection mission.”

The State Bar’s formal response to the audit is included in the State Auditor’s report.

• Fact Sheet: Rule 2201 Program

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The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.