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Common questions

What is the criteria for financial assistance and how much does it cover?

Contact the LAP office for details about the income eligibility requirements and the application process. Financial assistance can cover up to one year of LAP group fees and one year of lab testing fees.

For more information, see the LAP Growth Grant Criteria.

How long is the Support LAP program?


There is no set time for Support LAP. It is completely voluntary. Participants can enroll, withdraw, and re-enroll whenever they want to.

What happens if I don’t I get a bar number immediately?

After submitting your completed membership enrollment card, allow one to two weeks for delivery, then check Attorney Search to confirm your enrollment and find your bar number. If you do not see your name on the State Bar website after two weeks from the date you submitted the card, call 888-800-3400 or email AttorneyRegulation@calbar.ca.gov.

I work for a California company. However, I work remotely and live out of state. Can I participate in the MJP Program as Registered In-house Counsel?

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.

All Applicant help topics

Do I need to submit a copy of a non-California driving record?

Maybe. 

For the Determination Application, you must report all driver’s licenses ever issued to you in the application. For each jurisdiction, other than California, in which you have held a driver’s license within the last 10 years or since the age of 18, whichever is shorter, you must provide a copy of your driving record that meets the following requirements: an original and certified copy, issued within 6 months of the date on which the current application is submitted, and contains at least 5 years of your driving history or the longest timeframe provided by the jurisdiction, whichever is shorter. 

For the Extension Application, you must report all driver’s licenses held since your prior application. For each jurisdiction, other than California, in which you have held a driver’s license since your prior application, you must provide a copy of your driving record that meets the following requirements: an original and certified copy, issued within 6 months of the date on which the current application is submitted, and contains at least 5 years of your driving history or the longest timeframe provided by the jurisdiction, whichever is shorter. 

If a driving record is in a language other than English, you must provide a certified English translation with the driving record. You may not translate your own documents. 

If the jurisdiction that issued the driver’s license will not provide a copy of a driving record, a letter from the agency stating that no record will be provided should be submitted in lieu of the driving record.

Who do I list as my supervisor in the employment section of the moral character application?

Provide the name of your direct supervisor. If you had more than one supervisor, provide the name of the individual most familiar with your conduct. If your supervisor is no longer at the company and you do not have their contact information, please list “Human Resources.” 

If your supervisor is related to you by blood or marriage, please list a non-related colleague who is familiar with your work. If no such person is available, you may list your relative as your supervisor. Please note how the supervisor is related to you on your application.

I travel a lot, including overseas, and I cannot recall every address where I lived. How do I appropriately respond to the “Residence” section of the moral character application?

Some applicants have traveled extensively in the past eight years and have numerous addresses to report on the moral character application. You are encouraged to provide as much information pertaining to each residence as can be reasonably recalled. You are responsible for the complete and accurate reporting of information on the application to the best of your ability, and the failure to provide complete responses could result in a delay in the processing of the application.

Will I receive immediate confirmation that the document or comment I posted to my moral character application was received?

No. However, you can view the documents you have successfully uploaded to your case in the Applicant Portal. You will receive confirmation once staff reviews the information.

I am interested in studying law through the LOS Program. What do I need to submit? When do I need to submit the LOS application?

You must submit a Registration Application in addition to the LOS Notice of Intent, the required documentation, and the applicable fees in the Applicant Portal within 30 days of beginning your legal studies in a law office or judge’s chamber. You will not receive credit for any study completed if the State Bar does not approve your applications. 

Please do not submit the LOS Notice of Intent before you have found a qualified supervising attorney or judge.

How do I reinstate my legal studies through the LOS Program after my participation has been suspended?

To resume study after you have been placed on suspended status from the LOS Program, you must submit a new LOS Notice of Intent, the required documentation, and the fee in the Applicant Portal within least 30 days or resuming your legal studies.

How do I talk to someone about participation in the Lawyer Assistance Program?

For more information, please complete the LAP/OPC Support Intake Form, give us a call (877-LAP-4HELP or 877-527-4435), or send an email to LAP@calbar.ca.gov. Contacting us is confidential.

How are LAP group meetings different from self-help group meetings like The Other Bar, and why do I need to participate in both?

Participation in self-help recovery groups is an essential element of recovery for many people. LAP groups are an important adjunct to the recovery process, rather than a substitute for participation in self-help programs.

LAP groups are supportive process groups that are facilitated by licensed mental health professionals. LAP groups differ from self-help groups by providing an individualized focus to the recovery process and more personalized support from the group, under the guidance of the group facilitator. Only law students, State Bar applicants, and attorneys are in the LAP groups. It is not open to the general public.

How do I know if I passed the exam?

If you took the February bar exam, your results will be mailed to you in mid-May. If you took the July bar exam, your results will be mailed to you in mid-November. You can also check to see if your name is on the pass list available on the State Bar of California website. You will need your applicant and file numbers to log in and see your results. It will show only whether your name is on the pass list.

How long will it take for my MJP application to be processed?

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.

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