I work part-time at a government agency. Do I need to report?
Yes. Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d)(2) only applies to full-time employees or officers or elected officials of the State of California, or political subdivision thereof, or the federal government. Part-time employees are required to report either the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, that they did not track their pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, that they did not complete any pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or that they decline to answer.
How do I make changes to the response I submitted?
Prior to the March 30, 2026, deadline, you can make changes to your pro bono hours reporting by going to My State Bar Profile, navigating to the Summary tab (located on the top navigation bar), and selecting “Edit your Pro Bono Hours” from the Pro Bono Hours tile (located about three-quarters of the way down the page).
Does the State Bar have a program for attorneys who only want to do pro bono work?
The State Bar’s Pro Bono Practice Program (PBPP) allows attorneys who would otherwise be inactive to maintain an active license, free of fees, to exclusively provide pro bono legal services in partnership with a pro bono legal services provider. To qualify for the PBPP, an attorney must maintain an active license, submit an application annually for the program, be certified as a pro bono practice attorney, and exclusively provide pro bono legal services through an approved or qualified pro bono services provider. For more information, see the Pro Bono Practice Program webpage.
How do I track and report my pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours?
Attorneys are expected to track their own hours for the purposes of this reporting requirement. Some law firms require their attorneys to track this time already. A nonprofit with whom the attorney provides pro bono legal services may assist in tracking hours.
Attorneys are asked to report pro bono and reduced fee hours as a range (e.g., 1–5 hours, 6–10 hours, 11–19 hours, etc.). Attorneys will also be able to select 0 hours or less than 1 hour of pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or select the checkbox if you did not track your hours or you prefer not to answer.
Does volunteering with an LRS oversight panel count as pro bono legal services?
Possibly. Uncompensated work with an LRS oversight panel may count toward the pro bono hours requirement if it enables the delivery of legal services at a charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or education organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes as defined under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(C). Licensees should use their best judgment when determining whether the work performed, particularly non-legal tasks, enables the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofit organizations.
Does uncompensated work by volunteer attorneys at a legal aid organization or law school, or as a court mediator, count as pro bono legal services?
Yes. Uncompensated work by volunteer attorneys that enables the delivery of legal services at a charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or education organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes would qualify as bono hours as defined under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(C). This includes volunteer teaching at a law school as well as volunteer mediation or arbitration services provided through a court, even when the parties are not indigent.
Does serving on the board of a local or affinity bar association count as pro bono legal services?
It depends. Service to a local or affinity bar association counts toward the pro bono hours requirement if it is legal in nature (i.e., providing legal services to the nonprofit directly pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(B) or 6073.1(c)(1)(C)). General board service qualifies only to the extent that the work enables legal services to the indigent, to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means,” or to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes.” Licensees should use their best good-faith judgment in determining whether their non-legal board activities enable the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofits.
Does serving on the board of a legal aid organization count as pro bono legal services?
For purposes of this reporting requirement, board service for a legal aid nonprofit would qualify because all board work with such an organization is enabling the delivery of legal services to the indigent (since these organizations primarily serve indigent California residents). Please note that some legal aid providers and other nonprofits for which attorneys provide pro bono legal services may also ask attorneys to report pro bono hours, but the definition for pro bono legal services may vary for their purposes. Attorneys should confirm definitions with the entity before reporting pro bono hours to the entity.
What are some examples of pro bono legal services?
Pro bono opportunities vary depending on the needs of the client community. Examples of pro bono legal services to indigent clients may include, but are not limited to:
Representation (full or limited scope)
Negotiation and settlement
Screening and intake
Brief service by phone or in person
Legal information or “Know Your Rights” workshops
Document preparation and review
Legal research and writing
Litigation support
Legislative research and legal analysis
What is the guidance on pro bono and reduced fee hours reporting for pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools?
Any active licensee who does not meet one of the exemptions in Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d) is required to report the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, including pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools. Attorneys are asked to provide their best, good faith effort at reporting the amount of pro bono and/or reduced fee legal services hours provided to low-income individuals, nonprofit organizations, or public law libraries during the past year to meet the requirement of Business and Professions Code section 6073.2. Even licensees who are exempt from reporting their pro bono hours must declare their exemption status in My State Bar Profile.
How do I file a complaint against my lawyer or a lawyer referral service?
If you believe your lawyer has done something wrong, you can file a complaint with the State Bar. Complaints may be submitted online or by mail. If you have questions or need assistance in completing the form, call the State Bar’s Attorney Complaint Hotline at 800-843-9053. For more information on reporting a lawyer to the State Bar and handling other problems, read the legal guide If You Have a Problem with an Attorney.
If you have a complaint about a certified or uncertified LRS, you can file a complaint against the service with the State Bar. In order to promote public protection, the State Bar will review your complaint to determine if the LRS has violated Business and Professions Code Section 6155 and State Bar Rules.
For more information on certified lawyer referral services, contact LRS@calbar.ca.gov.
When are the annual fees due?
The due date is by March 30, or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday, each year during the annual license renewal process. The 2025 annual deadline is April 1, 2025. If you miss the deadline, you will be charged a penalty ($103 for active attorneys, $31 for inactive attorneys).
What activities qualify for general MCLE credit?
Activities that qualify for general MCLE credit must: (1) relate to legal subjects that are directly relevant to California attorneys, and (2) offer current, significant educational, professional, or practical content with the specific objective of increasing each participant’s professional competency as an attorney. Programs created primarily for nonattorney audiences (for example, general public, clients, or business staff) do not qualify and will not be approved for general MCLE credit. More on Standards for MCLE activity Approval.
What is IOLTA?
IOLTA stands for Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts. Attorneys deposit client funds that they plan to hold briefly, or that are too small to earn interest for the client, into larger shared accounts. Over 73,000 attorneys make deposits in approximately 49,000 IOLTA accounts in California. As of September 2019, IOLTA accounts hold nearly $5 billion. Any interest earned on these accounts is paid by financial institutions to the State Bar, which in turn distributes those funds as grants to qualified nonprofit civil legal organizations throughout the state.
Refer to the State Bar’s IOLTA FAQ page for more information.
IOLTA stands for "Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts." Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct requires attorneys who handle client funds or funds entrusted by others, including settlement checks, fees advanced for services not yet performed, or money to pay court fees, to hold those funds in one or more interest-bearing bank accounts labeled as a “Trust Account,” or words of similar import.
If the amount is large or the funds are to be held for a long period of time, the attorney must place the money in an individual interest-bearing account for the benefit of the client.
However, if the amount of client funds is small or the funds will be held for such a short period of time that they are not capable of earning interest for the client in excess of the cost of maintaining a separate bank account, then they are pooled in a single account with similar funds of other clients.
The interest on these pooled-fund, IOLTA accounts is forwarded to the State Bar of California and used to support approximately 100 nonprofit legal aid organizations that provide civil legal aid to indigent and low-income people, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
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.
I want to print the test, but the font is too small to read.
You can increase the font size by adjusting your browser settings to "zoom" in. This will increase the size in the printed version as well.
What if I don’t pass the exam?
If you fail the exam, the course will allow you to click “Retry” to retake the exam. You may retake the exam as many times as needed until you obtain a passing score. Because you must complete all lessons before reaching the Final Assessment, each lesson will be unlocked and available for review.
A failing score will allow you to review which questions you answered incorrectly. It is advisable to take your time and use the navigation menu to review the lesson covering that topic before retaking the Final Assessment.
What guarantees do I have that my participation in the LAP will be kept confidential?
Per Business & Professions Code section 6234, any information obtained by the LAP is confidential and cannot be disclosed as part of a civil proceeding, a disciplinary proceeding, or a public records request.
Licensed mental health professionals who may work within the LAP must still comply with laws regarding the reporting of danger to self or others, suspected elder or dependent adult abuse, and suspected child abuse.
What is expected of the participant while in the Lawyer Assistance Program?
While participants receive a personalized plan tailored to their individual needs, there are general similarities. Some common recommendations are:
- Attend several abstinence-based self-help group meetings each week
(for those with substance use problems) or attend therapy sessions
(for those with mental health concerns).
- Attend LAP support group meetings each week.
- Abstain from all drugs that are not prescribed, including alcohol.
- Meet with the Clinical Review Team periodically.
- Maintain regular contact with a Clinical Rehabilitation Coordinator.
- Participate in lab testing on a random basis (typically for those with a history of problematic substance use).
There may be additional and more specific recommendations depending on the needs of an individual participant, such as inpatient treatment or counseling for a specific problem.
If I think an attorney has engaged in misconduct or malpractice, will fee arbitration help me?
No. By law, mandatory fee arbitration cannot help you recover damages or offset expenses incurred for the attorney’s misconduct or malpractice. If the arbitrator determines that the attorney’s malpractice or professional misconduct reduced the value of legal services provided, the arbitrator can reduce the attorney’s fees.
If you think you have a separate claim for legal malpractice, you should discuss your rights with an independent lawyer. However, if you file a lawsuit for malpractice or seek court resolution of the fee dispute after receipt of the Notice of Client’s Right to Fee Arbitration, you waive your right to pursue mandatory fee arbitration.
The Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program does not have the authority to discipline attorneys for professional misconduct.
If you wish to file a disciplinary complaint with the State Bar of California about your attorney's conduct, you may do so online. Please keep in mind that a discipline complaint and a request to arbitrate a fee dispute are separate matters. Filing a complaint may result in disciplinary action against the attorney; however, the result may or may not require the attorney to refund fees.
Does the State Bar have information about insurance for attorneys?
The State Bar sponsors several insurance programs specifically designed to serve the needs of licensed attorneys. These programs include Workers’ Compensation insurance, life insurance, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance.
You can find more information about these programs at CalBar Connect. The website is managed by CalBar Connect, a subsidiary of California ChangeLawyers (formerly California Bar Foundation). Purchases you make through CalBar Connect provide legal services to Californians in need.
How do I obtain a Certificate of Standing?
A Certificate of Standing must be ordered online. Certificates of Standing are not provided by fax or email and are typically sent out within 3–4 business days of receipt of request (regardless of shipping method selected). Order a Certificate of Standing.
What address should I use as my address of record for State Bar purposes?
The office address of the attorney's employer (qualifying institution for in-house counsel and qualifying legal services provider for legal services attorney) will be considered your address of record. If your current employer changes its address, you must submit a written notice to:
Office of Admissions (MJP) The State Bar of California 845 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90017-2515
If your address change is due to new employment, you must submit a Change of Employment Form for registration with the State Bar.
MJP attorneys are not allowed to practice law with other institutions without registration by the State Bar.
Which institutions do not qualify under rule 9.46?
Governmental entities and entities that provide legal services to others do not qualify.
Who qualifies as a non-litigating attorney under rule 9.48?
An attorney licensed to practice law in one or more U.S. jurisdictions other than California who is providing legal assistance or legal advice concerning a transaction or other non-litigation matter, a material aspect of which takes place in a jurisdiction in which the attorney is licensed, or on an issue of federal law or the law of a jurisdiction other than California. See General Information FAQs for additional information.
How do I register as in-house counsel?
Submit a registration application, which includes an Application for Determination of Moral Character, to the State Bar with the appropriate fees. MJP registration applications are available online. The moral character application is available, but must be submitted with the MJP application, not separately.
Can I practice law while I wait for the results of the moral character application?
Yes
Are attorneys licensed only in foreign countries eligible to practice under the MJP rules?
No. The only eligible attorneys are those who are licensed attorneys in good standing of the bar of at least one U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction, possession or dependency.
Do I already have to be retained by a client in the matter for which I am providing legal services in California?
Yes.
Do I already have to be retained by a client in the matter for which I am providing legal services in California?
Yes.
I have tried to access the State Bar Admissions website to register and fill out a moral character determination application but have been unable to do so. Why?
Starting February 14, 2019 through February 24, 2019, the State Bar’s registration and application system will be unavailable due to the implementation of the new AIMS. Starting Friday, March 1, 2019, you will be able to access the new system and register and submit applications.
Can we use our own fingerprint cards?
No. Out-of-state attorneys and out-of-country attorneys must obtain fingerprint cards through the State Bar. The cards can be requested by logging into the MSBP. If the out-of-state fingerprint vendor is unable to process the cards issued by the State Bar, the attorney must contact FingerPrinting Card Request for further assistance. Failure to follow State Bar procedures may result in non-compliance with the fingerprinting rule.
My employer provides Live Scan services. Can I use their services or do I have to use an outside vendor?
You can use any Live Scan service as long as the vendor has a contract with the California DOJ to submit your fingerprints and can provide you with an ATI number.
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