Frequently Asked Questions: Multijurisdictional Practice Program

The MJP Program allows an attorney licensed in a U.S. jurisdiction other than California to receive limited rights to practice law in California, under one of the three destinations: Registered In-House Counsel (RIHC), Registered Legal Aid Attorney (RLAA), or Registered Military Spouse Attorney (RMSA). 

You can participate in the program if you are active, in good standing, and licensed to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction and meet the other requirements pursuant to rules 9.41.1 and 9.45-9.48 of the California Rules of Court and Title 3 Division 3 Chapter 1 Articles 1-3 of the Rules of the State Bar. Other requirements to participate in the program include but are not limited to: 

• RIHC: reside in California and work at a qualifying institution, as defined by rule 9.46 of the California Rules of Court. 

• RLAA: work at an eligible legal aid organization, as defined by rule 9.45 of the California Rules of Court, and not have taken and failed the California bar exam within five years immediately preceding the initial application to register under the rule. 

• RMSA: reside in California; be married to, in a civil union with, or a registered domestic partner of, a Service Member; and not have taken and failed the California bar exam within five years immediately preceding the initial application to register as defied in rule 9.41.1 of the California Rules of Court. 

You are ineligible to participate in the MJP Program if you are only licensed in a foreign jurisdiction

No. Pursuant to rule 9.46 of the California Rules of Court and Title 3 Division 3 Chapter 1 Article 3 of the Rules of the State Bar, you must reside in California. As defined in rule 3.370(D), this means that you must live or be located in California on more than a temporary or transient basis.

Once your MJP application has been approved and the State Bar has issued you a certificate of registration, you may engage only in the activities permitted by the applicable rule of the California Rules of Court. 

Once your MJP application has been approved, you may: 

• RIHC: only provide legal services in California to the qualified institution that employs you. Upon submittal of a supplemental form, you may also provide pro bono legal services under the supervision of a California attorney for an eligible legal aid organization defined by rule 9.45(a)(1) of the California Rules of Court, or the qualifying institution that employs you. 

• RLAA: under the supervision of a California attorney, provide legal services while working, with or without pay, at a qualified legal aid organization and only on behalf of its clients or customers. Practice under this rule is limited to a total of five years. 

• RMSA: under the supervision of a California attorney, practice law in California in all forms of legal practice that are permissible for a licensed attorney of the State Bar of California. Practice under this rule is limited to a total of five years.

Generally, the State Bar will process your MJP application within 30 days of receipt if you submit a complete and accurate application. 

Incomplete applications will take longer to process. If your application is deemed incomplete, you will have 60 days from the date you submitted your application to provide the missing information or documentation. If your application is not deemed complete within this period, your application will be abandoned without a refund of any fees paid.

No. You may not claim in any way to be a licensed attorney of the State Bar of California. You must use the applicable title in connection with your activities performed under the MJP Program: 

• Registered In-House Counsel 

• Registered Legal Aid Attorney 

• Specially Registered Attorney (in lieu of Registered Military Spouse Attorney)

Yes. However, you may only apply to become a Registered Military Spouse Attorney or a Registered Legal Aid Attorney if you have not taken and failed the California bar exam within five years immediately preceding the initial application to register under the rule.

Your supervising attorney must be an active licensee of the State Bar of California in good standing for at least two years before beginning supervision. They must also have practiced law in California as a full-time occupation for at least four years in any U.S. jurisdiction. Please refer to rules 9.41.1 and 9.45 of the California Rules of Court.

Annual registration, or renewal, for the MJP Program is a two-step process you may complete in any order. The MJP renewal period begins in November of the current year and ends in February of the following year. For example, the renewal process for 2023 participants who want to remain in the MJP Program in 2024 must be completed from November 2023 to February 2024. If you do not comply with the annual renewal requirements, you will be suspended from the MJP program. 

• Remit payment: You must submit the annual renewal fee through My State Bar Portal. If you need assistance, please view the My State Bar Profile User Guide or contact the Division of Regulation using the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form. Please see the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines for the current renewal fee. 

• Submit the renewal application: You must submit the annual renewal application in the Applicant Portal by following the steps below. Please note that you must mail a new, original Certificate of Good Standing to the Office of Admissions at 845 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 for one U.S. jurisdiction in which you are admitted and currently active. If you are unable to access the Applicant Portal, please contact the Office of Admissions at Admissions@calbar.ca.gov or at 800-843-9053. 

• Log in to the Applicant Portal.
• From the home page in the Applicant Portal:
  • Click on “View Forms” under the “Apply” section heading.
  • Scroll down to “Multijurisdictional Practice Program for Out-of-State U.S. Attorneys” and select the MJP renewal application that applies to you (RIHC, RLAA, or RMSA).

Yes.

• RIHC: Within 30 days, you must notify the State Bar of the date that your employment with the qualifying institution ended. If you have new employment with a qualifying institution, you must submit the RIHC Change of Employer Notice to register as RIHC before beginning the employment.
• RLAA: Within 30 days, you must notify the State Bar of the date that your employment with the eligible legal aid organization ended. If you have new employment with an eligible legal aid organization, you must submit the RLAA Change of Employer Notice to register as RIHC before beginning the employment. 

• RMSA: Within 30 days, you must notify the State Bar of the date that the supervision by your supervising attorney ended. If you have a new qualified supervising attorney, you must submit the RMSA Change of Employer Notice to register as RMSA before beginning employment with the new supervising attorney. 

  If you are unable to secure new qualifying employment within one year from the date your employment or supervision ended, you will be terminated from the MJP Program. If you are terminated from the MJP Program, you will be required to submit a new application, not the change of employer notice. Additionally, if you are terminated from the MJP Program and your positive moral character determination has expired, you will be required to submit a new Application for Determination of Moral Character. 

  You must report the above information in the Applicant Portal by following the steps below or emailing mjp@calbar.ca.gov. 

  • Log in to the Applicant Portal. 

  • From the home page in the Applicant Portal:

  • Click “Support Requests” o Select “New General Request”
  • For type, select “Other” 

  • Provide the update in the description box and click “Confirm” when you are ready to submit the update. 

    You may find the change of employer notices in the Applicant Portal under the applications section called the “Multijurisdictional Practice Programs for Out-of-State U.S. Attorneys.” 

    If you are unable to access the Applicant Portal, please contact the Office of Admissions at Admissions@calbar.ca.gov or at 800-843-9053.

No. All applicants for the MJP program must first submit a registration application in the Applicant Portal to register as an attorney applicant. Your registration application must then be approved.

Once your registration application is approved, you must submit 1) the application for the MJP Program you wish to apply for – RIHC, RLAA, or RMSA, and 2) the Application for Determination of Moral Character. 

You may only practice under the MJP Program once your MJP application has been approved. You may practice under the MJP Program while awaiting a moral character determination. However, if you receive an adverse moral character determination, you will be terminated from the MJP Program.

Once you become ineligible for the MJP Program, you must notify the State Bar within 30 days. 

You must report the above information in the Applicant Portal by following the steps below or emailing mjp@calbar.ca.gov. 

• Log in to the Applicant Portal. 

• From the home page in the Applicant Portal

• Click “Support Requests”
• Select “New General Request”
• For type, select “Other”
• Provide the update in the description box and click “Confirm” when you are ready to submit the update.