Payment of annual fees is due by February 1, 2023.
You can calculate your fees online through your My State Bar Profile and then pay with a credit card or an electronic check from a checking/savings account (ACH). You can also print the invoice available after you calculate your fees to mail with a payment by check. Mailed payments must include a copy of the generated invoice. Use of your My State Bar Profile will ensure compliance with recently modified rule 2.11 and avoid nonconforming payment penalties.
View frequently asked questions about paying fees.
Individual attorneys can make payments online through My State Bar Profile. Attorneys should make sure that the email provided for communications from the State Bar is current.
Law firms and agencies can now use the State Bar’s Agency Billing application to calculate billing costs and make group payments.
To review any fee scaling eligibility, refer to rule 2.15 of the Rules of the State Bar of California. Fee scaling applies only to licensees on active status with qualifying income. Payment and the fee scaling declaration must be received by the State Bar no later than February 1, 2023, to qualify. The fee scaling declaration is available through your My State Bar Profile when calculating your fees. View Frequently Asked Questions about fee scaling.
To review any waiver eligibility, refer to rule 2.16 of the Rules of the State Bar of California. A licensee may apply for a waiver of payment of the annual fees by downloading and submitting the required Licensing Fee Waiver Application form.
Once an attorney’s State Bar fees are paid, a paper bar card can be downloaded through My State Bar Profile. Plastic bar cards will be available upon request and can also be ordered through My State Bar Profile.
After you have paid online, you will be able to access your online payment confirmation and receipt through your My State Bar Profile under “Bar Card, Payment Receipt(s), and Other Documents.”
Please note that payments initiated by check will not generate an online receipt and take several business days to process and reflect in your record.
The 2023 State Bar annual license fees are due February 1, 2023. Late payments will incur the following penalties:
A transfer to inactive status requires submission of the Application for Transfer to Inactive form. Attorneys are only eligible to pay at the inactive rate if they transfer to voluntary inactive status by February 1, 2023. A change to inactive status after February 1 is permissible, however, the attorney must pay annual fees at the active rate and is not entitled to a refund because of the change to inactive status.
A transfer to active status requires compliance with the fingerprinting requirements and submission of the Request to Transfer to Active Status form. Additionally, if applicable, once the annual fees have been adjusted, payment will be expected promptly.
View more information and access the required forms.