Substantive written materials handouts, presentations, slides, or other documents that provider meaningful written explanations of the topics and legal authorities covered in the program. They must do more than list agenda items or display primary sources; they should contain analysis, discussion, and practical guidance at a level that allows an attorney to use the materials as a stand-alone reference after the course. Materials consisting only of brief bullet point outlines, agendas, unannotated copies of cases, statutes, or regulations, or slide decks that are mainly pictures, charts, or a few large font bullet points without explanatory text are not considered substantive.
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.
Are there separate Certificates of Attendance for speakers?
No. Except for the credit hours awarded, the certificate is the same for both speakers and nonspeakers.
Can a speaker receive credit as an attendee?
The speaker should receive credit for their attendance time less their speaking time. As an example, a speaker who speaks for 15 minutes during a 1-hour program would only be eligible for 45 minutes of attendance credit (i.e., 60 minutes of program time minus 15 minutes of speaking time = 45 minutes or 0.75 hours).
How are speaker credit hours calculated?
Regardless of the time increment, the speaker should be awarded their actual speaking time multiplied by four. For example, a speaker who speaks for 15 minutes would receive 1 hour of speaking credit (i.e., 0.25 hours x 4 = 1.00 hour speaking credit). Additionally, the speaker credit should be rounded to the nearest quarter-hour if necessary. For example, a speaker who speaks for 10 minutes should receive 45 minutes of speaking credit (i.e., 10 minutes x 4 rounded up to the nearest quarter-hour = 45 minutes or 0.75 hours).
Please note: Speaker credit should only be granted for the first presentation of a program. Speakers who repeat the same presentation should only receive attendance credit for that presentation.
How does a provider track attendance for participatory activities?
Providers can use the State Bar’s Record of Attendance form, or its equivalent, to take attendance. In addition to the California licensee’s name, State Bar number, and signature, the form must include the following information:
• The title of the MCLE activity;
• Date of the MCLE activity; and
• Total hours awarded, including any credit hours or partial credit hours awarded for legal ethics, recognition and elimination of bias, implicit bias, competence issues, or legal specialization as a component of the activity.
I am an approved SAP, so why am I not listed on the website?
Only MAPs are listed on the State Bar’s website. A provider with MAP status is considered to have demonstrated a strong understanding of both the standards for approval of MCLE activities and their responsibilities as outlined in the MCLE provider rules, and therefore, activities held by these providers are presumed to be approved by the State Bar.
How long does the provider’s status remain effective once approved?
A SAP’s application/program is approved for a period of two years from the date of the activity. An approval for MAP status is granted for a period of two years.
What types of legal education providers are approved in California?
There are two types of approved providers in California: Single Activity Providers and Multiple Activity Providers. A Single Activity Provider (SAP) is an organization approved to hold and grant Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) or Legal Specialty Minimum Continuing Legal Education (LSMCLE) credit for a single MCLE or LSMCLE activity for a period of two years from the date of the activity, provided that no substantive changes are made to the program. A SAP must apply for and receive approval of the activity in accordance with the State Bar’s procedures and pay applicable fee(s). More on becoming a Single Activity Provider
A Multiple Activity Provider (MAP) is an organization approved to hold and grant credit for any MCLE or LSMCLE activity for two years after applying for and receiving approval of MAP status in accordance with State Bar procedures and paying the applicable fee(s). Providers approved for MAP status do not have to submit separate applications to request approval for each program offered. More on becoming a Multiple Activity Provider
What is the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation?
The Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE; JNE Commission), is an agency of the State Bar created by statute for the express purpose of evaluating judicial candidates nominated by the Governor. The language of the statute, Government Code section 12011.5, is mandatory. It provides that, prior to exercising their constitutional right to make judicial appointments, the Governor shall submit to JNE the names of all potential appointees or nominees for judicial office for evaluation of their judicial qualifications. The commission operates pursuant to rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the State Bar.
I had a bad experience with a Live Scan vendor. Can I report them to the State Bar?
Live Scan vendors are contracted through the DOJ and are not under the authority of the State Bar. Live Scan vendor complaints may be submitted to the State Bar, which will be sent to the DOJ. If you recently submitted your fingerprints through a DOJ-contracted Live Scan vendor and have had a negative experience, we encourage you to complete the Live Scan Vendor Complaint Form and email the completed form to the State Bar.
Will I be assessed fees from the State Bar?
Yes. The 2025 annual fees will be available to calculate and pay online through My State Bar Profile effective February 1, 2025.
What if I didn’t take enough courses during the compliance period?
Failure to complete the requirements during the compliance period will result in your having to make up the deficiency. You will have to submit all required hours to the online log and then submit the proof of compliance. You will also need to provide the audit submission cover sheet, a brief cover letter explaining why you were unable to complete the requirements during the compliance period along with the $205 deficiency fee for non-compliance by the deadline.
Do I send in the original certificates or the copies?
Photocopies are sufficient for the purposes of the audit. Hold on to your originals through the end of the year you report MCLE compliance.
Is participation in the DEI Leadership Seal Program required for employers with California attorneys?
No. The DEI Leadership Seal Program is voluntary.
How can my employer use the DEI Leadership Seal?
DEI Leadership Seal recipients can use the seal on their website and print materials, including on their career website and job postings, promotional materials to clients, email signatures, and more.
1.2 What are the CTAPP requirements?
CTAPP includes an annual reporting obligation that is required to be completed by almost all licensees. (See FAQ 2.2 for more information on who must comply and FAQ 2.3 for who is exempt from CTAPP.) During each billing cycle, licensees are required to complete:
Annual trust account registration (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.8.5(a)(1)(B));
Annual client trust account self-assessment (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.8.5(a)(2)(A)); and
Annual client trust account certification of compliance (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.8.5(a)(1)(A)).
Licensees must also submit a declaration saying the information they provided is true and correct.
CTAPP also includes:
Public education and client outreach regarding attorney responsibilities and the rights of clients;
Enhanced legal education on client trust account management for attorneys, such as the newly released Practical Trust Account Reconciliation course, which includes practical guidance on CTA recordkeeping and monthly reconciliations, and best practices guides;
Compliance reviews of selected lawyers by a certified public accountant to ensure adherence to client trust account management requirements; and
Where appropriate based on the results of the compliance reviews, investigative audits of the licensee’s trust accounts.
2.5 How do I know if I have completed my CTAPP reporting?
Your reporting is complete if:
You answered “no” to the CTAPP Screening Question and submitted your Final Declaration; or
You answered “yes” to the CTAPP Screening Question and:
Registered your trust accounts in Step 2 (Account Registration) or confirmed your firm registered your trust accounts on your behalf through Agency Billing and you or your firm updated the year-end account balance for all registered trust accounts;
Completed Step 3 (Self-Assessment);
Completed Step 4 (Annual Certification of Compliance); and
Submitted your Final Declaration.
You can verify your compliance status by logging in to My State Bar Profile and reviewing your Compliance Dashboard. Each box on the dashboard displays reminders related to each of your annual requirements, including your current CTAPP status. Click the blue button on the relevant tile to complete outstanding tasks.
If your individual reporting is complete, you can review your responses and determine if your firm has registered accounts on your behalf using the “View a Summary of your CTAPP Annual Reporting” link on the CTAPP Annual Reporting tile on the Compliance Dashboard page. You will not invalidate your declaration by reviewing this summary.
I was placed on involuntary inactive status for failure to comply with the CTAPP reporting requirements. Now what?
While a licensee is on inactive status, that licensee cannot practice law. An inactive licensee who engages in the practice of law may be guilty of a misdemeanor. (See Bus. & Prof. Code, §§ 6125–6126, 6068, subd.(a), & 6106. See also In the Matter of Burke (Review Dept. 2016) 5 Cal. State Bar Ct. Rptr. 448.) Additionally, a licensee on inactive status may have a duty to inform their client(s) or a tribunal that they are ineligible to practice law. (See Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4 and 3.3.) If you have further questions about the unauthorized practice of law, please contact the State Bar’s Ethics Hotline research service at 800-238-4427 (toll-free in California). The Ethics Hotline cannot provide legal advice, nor tell you how to comply with any of the CTAPP requirements, including whether to answer “yes” or “no” in any portion of the CTAPP reporting requirements.
Reinstatement of your license requires payment of any applicable fees, completion of the past due CTAPP reporting requirements, and applying for reinstatement. To submit payment of applicable fees, please log in to My State Bar Profile and click the “Pay Fee” link on the CTAPP Annual Reporting tile on your Compliance Dashboard or click the blue “Make a payment” button on the Profile Summary page to go to the “Annual Fee” page. You should go to the Annual Fee page to pay outstanding fees even if you have already paid your annual licensing fee for 2026. From there, click the blue “Calculate and pay my fees” button to see a breakdown of the fees owed. Click continue and follow the steps to complete your payment.
If you were involuntarily enrolled as inactive for noncompliance in 2026, you can complete your CTAPP reporting in My State Bar Profile and then complete and submit the first page of the CTAPP Noncompliance Reinstatement Form. If you were involuntarily enrolled as inactive for CTAPP noncompliance in 2023, 2024, or 2025, you will need to complete and submit the first page of the CTAPP Noncompliance Reinstatement Form and the attached CTAPP reporting forms for all missing years.
3.3.2 The bank holding my trust account was acquired by or merged with another bank. My routing number and account number haven’t changed, but the bank name has changed. How do I report this change to my account?
The State Bar is in the process of updating all bank names according to the names listed in the official Registrar of Routing Numbers for the American Bankers Association. Therefore, if your bank name changed, but your routing number and account number stayed the same, the State Bar will update the bank name to your existing trust account record. You do not need to do anything to change the bank name. You will still need to provide the year-end balance for your existing trust account.
4.1 I am licensed in multiple jurisdictions, and I maintain an active California license; however, I do not represent any California clients, I do not have any matters pending in California, and I do not have any client funds in California or any funds from clients in California. Do I need to report my out-of-state accounts?
Unless exempt (see FAQ 2.3, above), California licensees, regardless of where they practice, must still comply with the CTAPP reporting requirements. To answer Step 1 (Annual Client Trust Account Reporting) questions, licensees must determine whether they are responsible for client funds and funds entrusted by others under the provisions of rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct. (See Rules Prof. Conduct, rule 8.5.) If so, because rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct requires attorneys who handle trust funds to hold those funds in one or more client trust accounts labeled as a “Trust Account,” or words of similar import, the licensee must answer “yes” to at least one of the CTAPP Annual Client Trust Account Reporting questions of whether they maintained any trust accounts under Business and Professions Code section 6211, subdivision (a) where the interest is paid to the State Bar, also known as an Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) or trust accounts under Business and Professions Code section 6211, subdivision (b) where the interest is payable to a client or other person, also known as non-IOLTA trust accounts, and complete the remaining CTAPP requirements.
Only if the licensee is not responsible for any client funds and funds entrusted by others under rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct may the licensee answer “no” to the CTAPP Annual Client Trust Account Reporting questions.
For information on reporting an IOLTA account outside California, please refer to CTAPP FAQ 4.3, below.
Are any attorneys exempt?
Yes, some categories of attorneys are exempt from reporting pro bono hours; however, even licensees who are exempt from reporting their pro bono hours must declare their exemption status in My State Bar Profile. The reporting requirement applies to active licensees, including participants in the State Bar’s Pro Bono Practice Program. The reporting requirement does not apply to:
Licensees employed by an organization primarily engaged in the provision of pro bono legal services, including qualified legal services projects and qualified support centers, legal aid organizations, and nonprofit public benefit corporations.
Full-time employees, officers, or elected officials of the State of California, political subdivisions, or the federal government.
Licensees prohibited by their current employer from performing pro bono legal services (if declared on their My State Bar Profile).
I am trying to complete my course but can’t get the “NEXT” button to work; OR the course is stuck on a screen and won’t progress.
Make sure that you have completed all interactive parts of the screen. The “NEXT” button will only activate once all of the screen elements have been completed. Additionally, please allow the screen seek bar to progress on its own. If you manually drag it to complete the course, the “NEXT” button will not get activated.
I have completed all of the screen elements and the course remains stuck or frozen on a particular screen.
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:
Clear your browser’s memory cache/history.
Try using a different Internet browser. The following are optimal: Windows 7/10: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 11 or above iOS: Safari
Try launching the course on a different device.
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