An out-of-state attorney, who is in good standing in their jurisdiction, and does not live, work, or conduct regular business in California can request permission from a California state court (superior court, Court of Appeal, or Supreme Court) to represent their client as counsel pro hac vice, which is a Latin term meaning "for this occasion." PHV is approved for a particular case, and an active licensee of the State Bar of California must be associated as attorney of record for the case. Please refer to rule 9.40 of the California Rules of Court.

Under rule 9.49, a PLL is allowed to provide a broad array of legal services for clients, including appearing before a court; drafting legal documents, such as contracts, transactional documents, and pleadings; engaging in negotiations and settlement discussions; and providing other legal advice, provided that the work is performed under the supervision of their Supervising Lawyer. The limits on what a PLL can do, or what needs to be done under direct versus general supervision, are largely left to the Supervising Lawyer to determine based on the readiness of the PLL. 

At the joint meeting on August 14, 2025, the Board of Trustees and the Committee of Bar Examiners set the new fees for the PLP. Please find them below. 

Yes. Even if you know that the court, opposing counsel, or some other entity has already made the report to the State Bar or is required to report to the State Bar, your obligation remains.[6]

Yes, and all courses can be accessed on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. No special software is required. All you need is a modern web browser (Google Chrome is recommended) and a stable internet connection. 

Yes, an invoice will be emailed to you after your purchase is complete. 

No. Although there are knowledge checks and an assessment for each course, you are not required to achieve a passing score in order to receive MCLE credit. The purpose of the assessment is to provide a self-evaluation of what you have learned following the completion of this course. If you would like to improve your score, you will have the option to retake the assessment, or the course in its entirety, after completing the course.

Your device may be referring to an earlier memory cache (version) of the course and may not be refreshing correctly. Try carrying out each of these options until you resolve the issue:

1. Clear your browser’s memory cache/history.
2. Try using a different Internet browser. The following are optimal:
   Windows 7/10: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 11 or above
   iOS: Safari
3. Try launching the course on a different device.

Disciplinary action for violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct or the State Bar Act ranges from private reproval to disbarment.

The Probation Unit of the Office of Chief Trial Counsel monitors attorneys' compliance with the conditions imposed on suspensions and reprovals.

The State Bar Court also may put attorneys on involuntary inactive status if they appear to pose a serious threat to the public.

If a State Bar investigation indicates that an attorney's conduct only bordered on a violation or was a minor breach, State Bar prosecutors may choose an alternative to discipline.

The State Bar's Office of Chief Trial Counsel could decide to send a Directional or Warning Letter to the attorney - and close the case. Or they could issue an Admonition informing the attorney that no further action will take place as long as they stay out of trouble for two years. Or they could settle on an Agreement in Lieu of Discipline that requires the attorney to fulfill specially tailored remedial conditions.

No, the Ethics Hotline does not provide written opinions or research memoranda. Assistance is offered by phone, and staff will identify relevant rules, cases, and ethics opinions during the call.

The Ethics Hotline is a confidential research service provided by the State Bar of California. It offers guidance to licensed attorneys on questions related to their professional responsibilities under the Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Act.

Meeting materials are posted online in advance. Written comments may be sent to adrwg@calbar.ca.gov, and oral comments are allowed at the start of each Working Group meeting. Once a tentative proposal is ready, it will be posted online for preliminary public comment.

No. Your certification is only valid for the period stated in your application. You must submit a new Application for the Certified Law Student Program in the Applicant Portal with the required documentation and fee.

No. An applicant who graduates from a juris doctor (JD) program, completes one year in a Master of Laws (LLM) program, or completes their law study through the Law Office Study Program is eligible to apply for the Certified Law Student Program for up to 30 days after completing the program.

No, you cannot pause your studies during your six-month study period. A pause between sessions can take place; however, your participation in the LOS Program will be terminated if you fail to submit a semi-annual report within a year of your last semi-annual report. You will retain law study credit already received and recognized by the State Bar.

Poor recordkeeping, delayed responses, or lack of cooperation may prolong the compliance review and may be considered noncompliance with CTAPP requirements. Consequences can include: 

• Additional time and cost, as the CPA may need to spend more hours completing the review due to incomplete or unclear documentation 
• Serious or unresolved findings that may result in escalation to an investigative audit by the State Bar or possible referral to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel for potential disciplinary action 

Timely communication and good faith cooperation are essential. If you anticipate any delays, you are encouraged to notify the CPA or the State Bar as early as possible. Reasonable extensions may be granted when appropriate.

The standards of rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct require attorneys to maintain the following trust account records for each client matter:

• Account journal for each trust account, organized in chronological order with the daily running balance for the overall trust account
• Client ledgers showing all receipts and disbursements for individual clients, organized in chronological order with the daily running balance
• Bank statements with copies of checks
• Monthly three-way reconciliations balancing the account journal, client ledgers, and bank statements, including support documentation required to complete monthly reconciliations, such as monthly client ledger summaries, lists of outstanding deposits, and lists of outstanding disbursements

In addition, records supporting Rules of Professional Conduct, rule 1.15, and other related statutes governing trust account recordkeeping practices include:

• Records of notices to clients or other persons of the receipt of funds within 14 days
• Records supporting all deposits and disbursements to establish compliance
• Engagement letters, fee agreements, settlement agreements, invoices or billings, and client communications regarding fees, accounting, and disputes

We recommend completing the Firm Self-Assessment with Practice Aid for a complete list of records and recordkeeping practices to evaluate compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct and applicable law regarding the safekeeping of funds entrusted by clients or others and any related obligations.

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.

You have two options: (1) You can return to California and follow the instructions for being re-fingerprinted by a Live Scan vendor using the same OATI number; OR (2) You can order fingerprint cards and follow the instructions for out-of-state attorneys or out-of-country attorneys.

The Handbook on Client Trust Accounting for California Attorneys is the primary resource. The State Bar also maintains an online list of resources on client trust accounting as well as information about IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) requirements. If you have questions, please fill out the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry Form.