Make a Difference

The State Bar’s public protection mission comes alive when we hear from the people we serve. In this video, Californians share the positive impact of the agency’s work in the licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys.

Access & Inclusion

The State Bar's statutory mission includes support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system. This office takes the lead on many of the agency's access to justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The State Bar is California's largest legal aid funder, and this office distributes over $100 million annually in grants to more than 100 legal aid organizations statewide. The office also leads development of policy initiatives and collaborates with other organizations working to expand legal services access for all Californians. These efforts include encouraging pro bono participation; supporting a statewide Disaster Legal Services Response network; studying law school attrition data and working with law schools to develop improved approaches to student retention. The office also oversees the State Bar's DEI Leadership Seal program, which recognizes California legal employers that commit to implementing or are already implementing actions that further DEI in the workplace. 

Admissions

Carries out all activities that enable the California Supreme Court to grant licenses to newly qualified entrants to California's legal profession. The office develops, administers, and grades the California Bar Exam and the First-Year Law Students’ Exam and conducts moral character investigations of all applicants. The office is also responsible for California's uniquely diverse pathways to the law. It supports the Committee of Bar Examiners in accrediting California-accredited law schools and registering unaccredited law schools. It also administers programs that allow lawyers licensed in other jurisdictions or law students to practice in certain defined, limited areas, as well as programs to certify specialists in 13 areas of legal practice. In 2020, the office developed a new program for the provisional licensure of recent law graduates and others.

Chief Trial Counsel

The prosecutorial arm of the State Bar, OCTC carries out the agency's public protection mission by investigating and prosecuting attorneys for violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Act. The office also investigates and pursues complaints regarding the unauthorized practice of law. OCTC can go to court to seize unauthorized law practices, partners with law enforcement on criminal prosecution, and pursues civil penalties against those involved in the unauthorized practice of law.

Finance

The State Bar's operations are primarily funded by licensing fees, but the agency also manages a variety of specialized funds. Finance is responsible for financial reporting and analysis, budget development and oversight, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, investments, payroll, processing licensee and other fee payments for the agency, and certain mandated financial audits.

General Counsel

Provides legal advice to and representation of the State Bar Board of Trustees, committees, commissions, and staff in administrative and civil trial and appellate litigation and transactional work in substantive areas such as: State Bar discipline and admission cases, labor and employment, copyright, real estate, contracts, regulatory work, governance, general corporate matters, Bagley Keene and CPRA, and privacy. The office also reviews complaints against lawyers that have been closed by the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel without the filing of disciplinary charges and the complaining witness appeals.

General Services

Supports the work of all other State Bar offices by providing a comprehensive range of facilities, administrative, and procurement services. The office manages office space for State Bar staff and tenants in San Francisco and Los Angeles. It provides administrative support services including document imaging and printing; mail and courier services; offsite file storage; meeting and conference support; and travel services. The office also manages the State Bar’s procurement and contracting process, ensuring compliance with competitive bidding requirements and other policies.

Human Resources

Supports the State Bar’s most important resource: our people. The office manages the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of all new staff; offers online training; oversees internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and designs and manages programs and services to foster the continued professional development, well-being, and retention of staff. It also administers personnel policies; Equal Employment Opportunity and nondiscrimination policies; classification and compensation analysis; benefits administration; and labor relations.

Information Technology

Provides the technology solutions that power the State Bar’s public service mission. IT is responsible for the State Bar’s business applications and infrastructure in support of its operations and programs and is continually updating and upgrading them to provide the highest quality and most cost-effective solutions. The office also provides a wide range of collaboration tools and end-user support to enhance the State Bar employees’ experience.

Licensee Regulation & Compliance

Maintains, on behalf of the California Supreme Court, the official roll of attorneys—the records of all attorneys licensed to practice in California. The office helps licensees comply with their administrative requirements, including the Client Trust Account Protection Program and continuing legal education. The office also manages the registration of law corporations and limited law partnerships.

Professional Competence

Helps California attorneys practice law ethically. The office develops and maintains resources that facilitate compliance with duties, such as an online Client Trust Accounting Handbook. The office administers a telephone legal ethics research assistance program for attorneys called the Ethics Hotline and conducts preventative education and outreach. The office also supports key committees and working groups that provide ethics guidance and address policy and rule changes to support evolving changes in the ethics rules. It certifies Lawyer Referral Services and administers the statewide Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program, which provides avenues for alternative dispute resolution of attorney‐client fee disputes.

Professional Support & Client Protection

Administers the Client Security Fund, which reimburses those who have lost money or property due to theft or dishonest conduct by a California attorney. Supports law students, State Bar applicants, and current and former attorneys who require monitoring for substance use and behavioral health issues, including attorneys participating in the State Bar Court’s alternative discipline program. In addition, the office administers the voluntary portion of the Lawyer Assistance Program, which provides a variety of services to help law students, State Bar applicants, and current and former attorneys who are struggling with substance use, behavioral health issues, or other personal and/or career concerns. The office also monitors attorneys who are disciplined and must comply with conditions pursuant to a probation or reproval matter.

Research and Institutional Accountability

Conducts research, evaluation, and data management to support the State Bar’s multiple missions, management accountability, and effectiveness, and to inform planning and policy initiatives. The office also supports the State Bar in fulfilling its unique role as a statewide aggregator and distributor of data about California’s legal profession.

State Bar Court

California is the only state with an independent professional court dedicated to ruling on attorney discipline cases. The State Bar Court impartially adjudicates matters filed by the Office of Chief Trial Counsel and has the power to recommend that the California Supreme Court suspend or disbar attorneys found to have committed acts of professional misconduct or convicted of serious crimes. For lesser offenses, the State Bar Court may issue public or private reprovals. The court also adjudicates other regulatory matters, including attorney reinstatements, matters where applicants for admission are challenging an adverse moral character determination, and challenges to the denial of certification for a lawyer referral service.

Strategic Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

Works to ensure that all of the agency’s key audiences and stakeholders, including the public, attorney licensees, legal services partners, admission applicants— as well as its oversight bodies--know about the agency’s public protection role and are aware of the State Bar’s services and resources. The office supports the agency’s key strategic objectives and initiatives, provides consumer legal information, and supports all key functions of the agency through online content, social media channels, publications, and media and public outreach.