The State Bar of California
  • Log in
  • News
  • Forms
  • Contact
About Us:
  • Our Mission
  • |
  • Who We Are
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • Careers
  • |
  • Business Opportunities
  • Public
    • Need Legal Help
      • Look Up a Lawyer
      • Certified Lawyer Referral Services Directory
        • Why Use a Certified Lawyer Referral Service
      • Free Legal Help
    • Complaints & Claims
      • How to File a Complaint
        • Before You File
        • Why File a Complaint
        • Attorney Complaint
        • After You File
        • Después de presentar una queja
        • Nonattorney Complaint
        • Discipline Referral
      • Unauthorized Practice of Law Complaint
        • After You File
        • Después de presentar una queja por práctica no autorizada
      • Fee Disputes
        • FAQ
      • Client Security Fund
        • What Happens After You Apply
        • Application Instructions and Checklist
      • Complaint Review Process
      • Lawyer Referral Service Complaints
        • Certified Lawyer Referral Service Complaints
        • Uncertified Lawyer Referral Service Complaints
      • Whistleblower Complaints
      • FAQ
    • Free Legal Information
      • Before Selecting an Attorney
        • Finding the Right Lawyer
        • What a Certified Lawyer Referral Service Can Do for You
        • Your Initial Consultation
      • Working with an Attorney
        • What to Expect from Your Attorney
        • How to Work with Your Lawyer
        • What to Expect Regarding Fees and Billing
        • How to Avoid Problems
      • Resolving Problems
        • Problem with a Lawyer
        • Lawyer Fee Dispute
          • Lawyer Fee Dispute FAQ
        • Client Security Fund
      • Unauthorized Practice of Law
        • Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants
        • Práctica no autorizada de la abogacía
        • Evite el fraude por parte de los consultores de inmigración
      • For Immigrants
        • Buscando ayuda con asuntos de inmigración
        • Immigration Legal Services Providers
        • Proveedores de servicios legales de inmigración
      • Legal Help After a Disaster
      • For Veterans & Service Members
      • Legal Services Fraud Alert for Homeowners
        • Alerta a Propietarios Referente al Fraude de Servicios Legales
      • Legal Services Fraud Alert for Renters
        • Alerta a Arrendatarios Referente al Fraude de Servicios Legales
      • Legal Guide Pamphlets
      • FAQ
    • Discipline
      • Attorney Discipline
      • Nonattorney Actions
      • Discipline Statistics
      • Look Up a Lawyer
    • Public Trust Liaison
      • Intermediario de Confianza Pública
    • En español
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
      • Protecting the Public
        • Regulation and Discipline Overview
        • Transparency & Accountability
        • Public Comment
          • Public Comment Guidelines
          • Public Comment Archives
            • 2023 Public Comment
            • 2022 Public Comment
            • 2021 Public Comment
            • 2020 Public Comment
            • 2019 Public Comment
            • 2018 Public Comment
            • 2017 Public Comment
              • 2017-12
            • 2016 Public Comment
            • 2015 Public Comment
            • 2014 Public Comment
            • 2013 Public Comment
            • 2012 Public Comment
            • 2011 Public Comment
            • 2010 Public Comment
        • Reports
        • Public Records
      • Promoting Justice in California
      • Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
        • DEI Leadership Seal Program
          • DEI Leadership Seal Recipients
          • DEI Leadership Seal Committed Participants
          • State Bar DEI Leadership Seal Progress
    • Who We Are
      • Board of Trustees
        • Roster
          • Brandon Stallings
          • José Cisneros
          • Raymond A. Buenaventura
          • Hailyn J. Chen
          • Sarah A. Good
          • Mary Huser
          • Melanie M. Shelby
          • Arnold Sowell Jr.
          • Mark W. Toney, PhD
          • Genaro Trejo
        • Meetings
        • Audit Committee
          • Roster
        • Executive Committee
          • Roster
        • Finance Committee
          • Roster
        • Regulation and Discipline Committee
          • Roster
        • Public Comment Guidelines
        • Remote Participation Tips
        • Supreme Court Appointments
        • Board Task Forces
      • Committees
        • Meetings
        • Committee Appointment Opportunities
          • Review Committee-Commission Judicial Nominees Evaluation
            • Roster
        • California Board of Legal Specialization
          • Privacy Law Group
        • Client Security Fund Commission
          • Roster
        • Committee of Bar Examiners
          • Committee of State Bar Accredited and Registered Schools
            • Roster
          • Law School Council
            • Roster
        • Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct
        • Council on Access and Fairness
          • Roster
        • Judicial Nominees Evaluation
          • Review Committee of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation
          • Roster
          • FAQ
          • JNE Demographics Reports
        • Lawyer Assistance Program Oversight Committee
          • Roster
        • Legal Services Trust Fund Commission
          • Roster
      • Archived Committees
        • Ad Hoc Commission on the Discipline System
        • Blue Ribbon Commission
          • Resources
          • Roster
        • California Access to Justice Commission
          • Commission Roster
        • California Attorney Practice Analysis Working Group
        • California Paraprofessional Program Working Group
        • Closing the Justice Gap Working Group
        • Committee on Special Discipline Case Audit
        • Governance in the Public Interest Task Force
        • Limited License Working Group
        • Malpractice Insurance Working Group
        • Moral Character Working Group
        • Rules Commission 2017
        • Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services
      • Staff
      • State Bar Holidays
    • News
      • Fact Sheets
      • Reports
      • Multimedia
      • California Bar Journal Archive
    • Careers
      • Make a Difference
      • Develop and Grow
      • Benefits
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • View All Job Listings
      • Salary
    • Business Opportunities
      • Previous Opportunities
  • Attorneys
    • For Attorneys
      • About Your State Bar Profile
        • Fees & Payment
          • Agency Billing
          • Annual Fees FAQs
          • Voluntary Contributions
          • Fees and Charges
        • Status Changes
        • Address Change
        • Reporting Requirements
        • Certificates of Standing
      • Fingerprinting Rule Requirements
        • For In-State Attorneys
        • For Out-of-State Attorneys
        • For Out-of-Country Attorneys
        • FAQ
        • Limited Accommodations
        • Glossary
      • Lawyer Assistance Program
        • LAP Support Services for Attorneys
          • LAP Resources for Attorneys
        • LAP Support Services for Law Students and Applicants
          • LAP Resources for Students
        • Monitored LAP
        • LAP FAQ
      • Mandatory Fee Arbitration
        • Approved Programs
        • Forms & Resources
        • Arbitration Advisories
        • Training Course
      • Opening and Managing Law Office
        • Insurance Programs
        • Limited Liability Partnerships
          • Forms
          • Rules
        • Law Corporations Program
          • Forms
          • Rules
        • Revoking Law Corporation
      • For Judges
      • FAQ
    • MCLE & CLE
      • Requirements
        • Types of MCLE Credit
        • Proportional Requirement
        • MCLE Recordkeeping
        • Attorney Exemptions
        • Attorney Exemptions FAQ
        • Approved Jurisdictions
        • Education Approval
          • Evaluate Credit
          • MCLE Credit Request
        • New Admittees
        • Inactive or Not Eligible Status
        • Out-of-State Residents
        • Good Cause Modification
      • Compliance
        • Who Must Report Compliance
        • Compliance Groups
        • Audit FAQ
      • New Attorney Training Program
      • E-Learning Portal
      • MCLE Providers
        • Single Activity Providers
        • Multiple Activity Providers
        • Provider Responsibilities
        • MCLE Activity Approval
        • Provider Search
        • ADA
      • MCLE Self-Study
        • MCLE Self-Study FAQs
      • CLE
        • CLE Self-Study
      • Rules
        • Rules Specific MCLE Credits
      • FAQ
    • Conduct & Discipline
      • Lawyer Regulation
      • Self-Reporting FAQ
      • State Bar Court
      • Client Trust Accounting & IOLTA
        • Client Trust Accounting Handbook
        • Client Trust Accounting Resources
        • Client Trust Account Protection Program
        • Client Trust Accounts and Bank Stability Concerns
        • CTAPP FAQ
        • CTAPP Training
        • Client Trust Account and IOLTA Registration
        • IOLTA Guidelines for Attorneys
        • IOLTA FAQ
        • IOLTA-Eligible Banks
        • Interest Rates
      • Rules
        • Rules of the State Bar
          • Title 1 Global Provisions
          • Title 2 Rights and Responsibilities of Licensees
          • Title 3 Programs and Services
          • Title 4 Admissions and Educational Standards
          • Title 5 Discipline
          • Title 6 Governance
          • Title 7 JNE and Miscellaneous
          • Appendixes
          • New and Amended Rules
        • Rules of Professional Conduct
          • Current Rules
            • Chapter 1. Lawyer-Client Relationship
            • Chapter 2. Counselor
            • Chapter 3. Advocate
            • Chapter 4. Transactions with Persons Other than Clients
            • Chapter 5. Law Firms and Associations
            • Chapter 6. Public Service
            • Chapter 7. Information About Legal Services
            • Chapter 8. Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession
          • Previous Rules
        • Selected Legal Authority
          • Constitution Excerpts
          • The State Bar Act
          • California Rules of Court
          • Statutes
      • Ethics
        • Hotline
        • Rule 8.3 Required Reporting
        • Opinions
          • 2009-176 to Present
          • 1998-152 to 2008-175
          • 1992-126 to 1997-151
          • 1988-96 to 1991-125
          • 1984-76 to 1987-95
          • 1979-48 to 1983-75
          • 1971-24 to 1977-47
          • 1965-1 to 1970-23
        • Rules Spotlight Videos
        • Ethics Schools
          • Class Schedule
          • Ethics School FAQ
        • Ethics & Technology Resources
          • Ethics Opinions Related to Technology
          • Ethics Articles on Technology
          • Online Participatory MCLE Programs
          • Online Communication
          • Electronic Files
          • Law Firm Websites
          • Social Media
          • Internet/Email Scams
          • Miscellaneous
        • Senior Lawyers Resources
          • Rules
          • Opinions
          • Publications
            • Wellness Guide
          • Articles
          • MCLE
          • Links
          • Closing a Law Practice
          • Contact Us
          • Attorney Surrogacy
        • ADA Claims Information
        • Judicial Ethics
        • Attorney Civility and Professionalism
        • Publications
          • Ethics News
          • Ethics News Archive
          • Hotliner Articles
            • Archives
          • Pub 250
          • Compendium on Professional Responsibility Index
        • Committees
          • COPRAC
            • Education
              • Ethics Symposium
            • Opinion Requests
            • Rules
            • Roster
          • Rules Revision
            • Rules Commission 2014
              • Action Summaries
              • Meetings
              • Roster
    • Ethics
    • Legal Specialization
      • About Certified Specialization
      • Becoming a Certified Specialist
        • Exam Information
          • Exam Preparation Information
          • Laptop Computers
          • Testing Accommodations
          • Refund of Fees Policy
      • Current Certified Specialists
      • Legal Specialty Areas
      • Specialist Search
      • MCLE Requirements for Certified Specialists
      • Education Providers
      • Governance
        • Board of Legal Specialization
          • Roster
        • Privacy Law Group
      • FAQ
      • Rules & Standards
        • Advertising
    • Volunteer
      • Special Master
        • FAQ
        • Rules
        • List
  • Admissions
    • Requirements
      • Education
        • Pre-Legal Education
          • College Equivalency Education
        • Legal Education
          • Fixed Facility
          • Correspondence or Distance Learning
          • Law Office or Judge's Chamber
          • Foreign Education
            • Foreign Law Degree
      • Social Security Exemption
      • Attorney Applicants
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Examinations
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • California Bar Examination
        • Feb 2024 California Bar Exam
        • Testing Centers
        • Laptops for Bar Exam
        • Bar Exam Emails
          • Safelisting Tips for Email
        • Instructions for Essay Questions and Performance Test
        • California Bar Examination Scope
        • Exam Results
          • Bar Exam Pass List
        • Past Exams
        • Grading
        • Scaling
        • Refund of Fees Policy
        • Virtual Oath Packet
        • Attorney's Oath
      • First-Year Law Students' Examination
        • October 2023 First-Year Exam
        • October 2023 First-Year Exam FAQs
        • Admittance Bulletin
        • Exam Results
        • First-Year Exam Grading and Scope
      • Exam Administration
        • Becoming a Grader
        • Becoming a Proctor
      • Exam Statistics
      • Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
      • Requesting Testing Accommodations
      • Lawyer Assistance Program Support Services for Law Students and Applicants
    • Moral Character
      • Moral Character Statement
      • Governing Law
      • Process
      • Factors and Conduct
      • Further Investigation and Informal Conferences
      • Guidelines
    • Special Admissions
      • Multijurisdictional Practice (MJP) Program
        • MJP Program Requirements and Process
        • MJP Program Types
      • Pro Hac Vice
      • Out-of-State Attorney Arbitration Counsel (OSAAC)
      • Foreign Legal Consultants (FLC)
        • FAQ
        • Foreign Legal Consultants List
      • Practical Training of Law Students
      • Provisionally Licensed Lawyers
        • Search
    • Law School Regulation
      • Law Schools
      • Committee of Bar Examiners Meetings
        • Minutes
        • Minutes Archive
        • Roster
  • Access to Justice
    • Initiatives
      • California Justice Gap Study
        • Justice Gap Study Survey Data
        • California Law Student Survey Data
      • Publications
      • Leadership Banks
    • Pro Bono
      • Pro Bono Directory
        • Central Coast and Eastern Sierra
        • Central Valley Area
        • Los Angeles Area
        • Sacramento and Northern California
        • San Diego and Imperial Valley
        • San Francisco Area
        • Statewide
      • Pro Bono Practice Program
      • Volunteer After a Disaster
      • Volunteer Opportunities to Assist Veterans and Service Members
      • FAQ
    • Grants
      • Legal Aid Funding
      • Justice Gap Fund
      • 2023 Grant Recipients
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Lawyer Referral Services
    • Financial Institutions
      • IOLTA-Eligible Financial Institutions
  • News
  • Fact Sheets
  • Reports
  • Multimedia
  • Public Meetings Calendar
  • California Bar Journal Archive
Seal of The State Bar of California The State Bar of California

News Releases



Media Contact

Office of Communications | 213-765-1388 | barcomm@calbar.ca.gov

The State Bar of California Names New Chief Trial Counsel for the Attorney Discipline System

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Share with Email
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
   Categories: News Releases

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2017 – Today, the State Bar of California announced that it has named a new Chief Trial Counsel to lead the key component of the bar’s attorney discipline system, the Office of Chief Trial Counsel. The bar named Steven Moawad, a long-time Contra Costa County prosecutor, to the position.

“I’m pleased to welcome Steven Moawad to the Chief Trial Counsel position. I’m confident that he will excel as California’s top prosecutor for attorney misconduct,” said James P. Fox, president of the State Bar of California. “He has dedicated his career to public service, and will now turn his significant prosecutorial and management experience to the bar’s public protection mission of ensuring that attorney misconduct is appropriately and vigorously investigated and prosecuted.”

Moawad has been a prosecutor for two decades, serving as deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County since 1997, a manager of the District Attorney’s Special Operations Division since 2012, and a senior deputy district attorney since 2014. His extensive prosecutorial experience includes consumer protection, environmental protection, insurance fraud, as well as criminal cases. He also served as the project manager for the implementation of a new case management system for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. Moawad received his J.D. from University of San Francisco School of Law in 1997 and a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s College of California in 2003. He was admitted to the State Bar as a licensed attorney in 1997.

“Everyone should be confident that when they need help with a legal issue, the attorney in whom they place their trust is competent and ethical,” said Steven Moawad. “I am both humbled and honored to join the Office of Chief Trial Counsel in carrying out its mission to protect the public and enhance the administration of justice.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Steven Moawad to the executive leadership team of the State Bar. He joins the bar at a pivotal time and will help the agency implement crucial reforms. He will also serve a key role in enforcing the new proposed California attorney ethics rules after they are approved by the Supreme Court,” said Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, Executive Director of the State Bar of California.

Moawad will begin as the Chief Trial Counsel within the next six weeks; a specific start date is being determined.

The bar will submit the appointment of Steven Moawad as Chief Trial Counsel to the California Senate Rules Committee, as the position is subject to Senate confirmation.

About the State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel

The Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) reviews approximately 16,000 complaints of attorney misconduct each year, and, where appropriate, conducts investigations, files discipline charges, and prosecutes case in the State Bar Court. The office also reaches settlements, through stipulations, both before and after filing charges with attorneys who have engaged in ethical violations or other misconduct.

OCTC has a specialized unit dedicated to addressing the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) by non-attorneys. The UPL unit responds to and investigates complaints of people practicing law without a license, including those who seek to take advantage of immigrant communities throughout California by posing as attorneys. The bar has the authority to assume the practice of people engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, partners with other government agencies on enforcement, and refers cases to City Attorneys and District Attorneys for prosecution.

The State Bar’s Annual Discipline Report, which provides data on the functioning of the Office of Chief Trial Counsel and other parts of the attorney discipline system, will be submitted to the Legislature, the California Supreme Court and the Governor by the end of this month.

State Bar Attorney Discipline Resources for the Public

  • File an attorney misconduct complaint with the State Bar
  • Intake line: 800-843-9053
  • File a complaint against a non-attorney for the unauthorized practice of law
  • What happens after you file a complaint?
  • Apply for the Client Security Fund if you have lost money due to attorney misconduct

###

The State Bar of California is an administrative arm of the California Supreme Court, protecting the public and seeking to improve the justice system since 1927. All lawyers practicing law in California must be admitted to the State Bar.

Previous Article
Next Article
Bar Seal
Protecting the public & enhancing the administration of justice.
  • Public
  • About Us
  • Attorneys
  • Admissions
  • Access to Justice
  • News
  • Forms
  • Careers
  • Staff Log in
  • San Francisco (Main Office)
    180 Howard St.
    San Francisco, CA 94105
    415-538-2000
  • Los Angeles
    845 S. Figueroa St.
    Los Angeles, CA 90017
    213-765-1000
Copyright © 2023 The State Bar of California
  • FAQ
  • User Policies
  • Contact
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn