Fingerprinting Rule Requirements for Multijurisdictional Practitioners

Under California Rule of Court Rule 9.9.5, all active attorneys licensed in California must be re-fingerprinted. In addition, Multijurisdictional Practitioners (MJP) and Foreign Legal Consultants (FLC) permitted to practice in California pursuant to California Rules of Court are required to resubmit fingerprints when renewing their annual 2019 registration. MJP and FLC attorneys must follow the instructions below:

» Fingerprints Need to Be Taken by a Live Scan Vendor

» View and Print a Prepopulated Live Scan Form
» Live Scan Vendors in California and Related Fees
» Automated Transaction Identifier Number
» Proof of Live Scan Submission
» Resubmit Fingerprints When Notified of a Rejection
» Resubmit Fingerprints Within 90 Days of the Initial Rejection Notice

Fingerprints Need to Be Taken by a Live Scan Vendor Back to Top
If you live in California, you need to obtain a prepopulated Live Scan form issued by the State Bar to submit your fingerprints to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

» You must download the prepopulated Live Scan form via My State Bar Profile.

Once you have the Live Scan form:

  1. Take the Live Scan form to a California Live Scan vendor with proof of identification.
  2. Confirm that the Live Scan technician has entered the correct applicant type and mailing code as listed on the Live Scan form.
  3. Complete the fingerprint impressions pursuant to vendor instructions.
  4. Confirm the Live Scan technician completes the bottom portion of the form by providing their signature and an Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that is assigned to your fingerprint impressions.
  5. Retain a copy of the Live Scan form with the ATI number for your records. You will need to enter your ATI number in the ATI link located on the MSBP.
  6. Pay the Live Scan vendor for the DOJ and FBI processing fees as well as any costs charged by the vendor.

Live Scan Vendors in California and Related Fees Back to Top
» Certified Live Scan vendors (DOJ website)
» Fingerprint processing fees (DOJ website)

Each attorney will be responsible for covering the cost related to submitting the fingerprints to the DOJ and FBI.

The cost for a DOJ and FBI background check is $49: $32 for the DOJ and $17 for the FBI.

The costs for the Live Scan vendor to physically take your fingerprints differ by vendor and can range from $5 to $75, with an average cost of $33. 

Contact the Live Scan provider in advance to verify operating hours, fees, payment methods, walk-in policies, etc. Attorneys must present valid photo identification to the Live Scan technician. Expired identification will not be accepted.

Please note, there are no specifically designated Live Scan vendors contracted with the State Bar to offer Live Scan services to attorneys for the purpose of complying with the Fingerprinting Rule. Attorneys can choose to use a Live Scan vendor that is contracted to submit fingerprints to the DOJ and generate an ATI number. 

Attorneys who work for a government agency can us their agency's internal Live Scan services. Your employer will not receive information regarding criminal history as a result of submitting your fingerprints. The State Bar will be the only entity receiving your information once you submit your fingerprints using the pre-populated Live Scan form obtained from your My State Bar Profile or a State Bar authorized fingerprint card. The State Bar is prohibited from sharing your criminal offender record information with outside entities.

Regardless of the Live Scan service, attorneys should always check that the Live Scan provider they use is certified by the DOJ and that you obtain an ATI number after fingerprint impressions have been taken.

Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) Number Back to Top
Once your fingerprints have been submitted, the Live Scan technician will sign the bottom of the form and give you with a 10-digit ATI number assigned to your finger print impressions, all of which the DOJ and FBI will receive. The attorney must retain the ATI number as proof of submitting fingerprints to the Live Scan vendor.

The Live Scan technician will submit your fingerprints electronically to the DOJ and FBI. It takes about 3 to 14 business days for the State Bar to receive confirmation of an attorney’s fingerprint submission. The State Bar cannot predict delays in this process. 

» See more information on the background check process and potential causes for delay  (DOJ website)

Proof of Live Scan Submission Back to Top
Attorneys must submit their ATI number into the ATI link. This shall serve as proof of submission of fingerprints to a Live Scan vendor by April 30, 2019.

The ATI number submitted through the ATI link will be regularly audited against  notifications received by the DOJ and FBI. The attorney will be notified if the ATI number will need to be resubmitted. The use of fraudulent ATI numbers may lead to  disciplinary action.

Resubmit Fingerprints When Notified of a Rejection Back to Top

If you are notified that your fingerprints have been rejected, please do the following:

  1. Print the State Bar fingerprint rejection notice that is sent to you;
  2. Return to your My State Bar Profile and view and print a new Live Scan form. Write in the required information as detailed on the cover page;
  3. Bring both of these documents to the Live Scan vendor you used initially and resubmit your fingerprints.

You should not be charged for additional DOJ and FBI fees if you provide the vendor a copy of the State Bar fingerprint rejection notice. The Live Scan vendor may, however, charge its fee again for the second submission of fingerprints.

The Live Scan vendor will complete the new Live Scan form and provide you with a new ATI number. Return to your My State Bar Profile and enter the new ATI number.

You may also choose to go to a different Live Scan vendor. If you choose to do so, however, you will have to pay the DOJ and FBI processing fees again, on top of any additional vendor fees.

Resubmit Fingerprints within 90 days of the Initial Rejection Notice Back to Top
If you do not resubmit your fingerprints within 90 days of the receipt of a rejection notice, your registration in the program will be suspended. 

Penalty for Not Satisfying Fingerprint Requirements by the February Deadline:

If a participant in the MJP and FLC program fails to meet the fingerprint deadline of February 1, 2019, the participant will be notified regarding their failure to satisfy the fingerprinting rule requirement and will be instructed to submit fingerprints to the DOJ and FBI.

MJP and FLC participants who have not complied with the fingerprinting requirement by April 30, 2019 will be subject to having their license to practice in the State of California suspended. In case of suspension, a letter will be sent to the FLC and MJP's employer's address of record. If MJP and FLC participants wish to reinstate their status to active, the attorney must comply with the fingerprinting rule requirement and all other annual renewal requirements before being deemed active in the program. Once determined to be in compliance with the fingerprinting rule requirement, a reinstatement letter will be sent to the FLC or MJP's employer's address of record. 

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