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.
What kinds of violations typically result in disbarment and other levels of discipline?
Each case is different. But most disbarred attorneys fall into one of two categories: They committed a very serious violation, such as perjury or stealing client funds, or they have a history of misconduct.
Reproval, either public or private, usually is reserved for first-time offenders whose misconduct falls on the low end of the scale.
For example, abandoning one client might lead to a private reproval or remedial action, such as Ethics School. Abandoning 12 clients, however, would likely result in much more serious discipline.
An attorney is placed on probation so that his or her conduct in the practice of law can be monitored - much like supervised probation in the criminal justice system.
Occasionally, another practicing attorney -- serving as a probation monitor -- meets with the disciplined attorney. The disciplined attorney then files regular reports and could be required to meet special conditions during the probationary period. Most conditions of probation are monitored by the Probation Unit.
Are Superior Court attorneys required to comply with MCLE requirements?
No. Superior Court attorney employees are “Employees of the State of California” who are exempt from MCLE.
What is a qualifying institution?
A corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity, including its subsidiaries and organizational affiliates, that employs at least 10 employees full-time in California, or employs in California an attorney who is an active member in good standing of the California bar.
Can I practice law while I wait for the results of the moral character application?
Yes
Am I allowed to maintain an office in California for the practice of law?
No. You are not allowed to establish or maintain a resident office or other continuous presence in California for the practice of law. You must maintain an office in a U.S. jurisdiction other than California in which you are licensed. (Rule 9.47 & 9.48)
Am I allowed to engage in all forms of legal practice that are permissible for a member of the State Bar of California?
Yes, as long as you are providing the services pursuant to rule 964 and are being supervised as required.
If I took and failed the California bar exam, does that affect my eligibility?
Yes. If you took and failed it within five years immediately preceding your application to register as a legal services attorney, you are not eligible for registration.
Under 9.45, may a non-California attorney register to work with more than one qualifying public interest organization?
Legal services attorneys may only register to work with a single qualifying public interest organization.
What constitutes a formal legal proceeding?
A formal legal proceeding refers to litigation, arbitration, mediation, or a legal action before an administrative decision-maker.
What is the Admissions Information Management System (AIMS)?
The AIMS is the name of the new Admissions computer system that will significantly improve the applicant experience in registering with the State Bar and submitting applications for things such as the California Bar Examination, First-Year Law Students’ Examination, and Moral Character Determination. The AIMS is scheduled to “go-live” and be available for use on Friday, March 1, 2019.
Will I be notified after the California DOJ has conducted my background check?
The State Bar will not be informing attorneys when their fingerprinting results have been received by the State Bar. Rather, attorneys are advised when they are in compliance with California Rule of Court 9.9.5 and that their fingerprints have been successfully submitted to the DOJ. The State Bar cannot advise on how long an initial background check takes, as this may vary. Additionally, since the process is an ongoing one entailing subsequent notifications from the DOJ in the future, the State Bar cannot advise an attorney that a background check is “complete.”
Criminal information reports received by the State Bar from the DOJ are required to be kept confidential. If you would like to request a copy of a DOJ record relating to yourself, you must request that record from the DOJ pursuant to procedures set forth in the California Penal Code. See Ca. Penal Code sections 11122-11123.
How do I ensure my fingerprints are successfully processed by the Live Scan vendor?
Review the Live Scan Form Check List attached to your prepopulated Live Scan form that you obtained via your My State Bar profile. When completing the form you must write in the following: sex, height, weight, eye color, hair color, place of birth, social security and address. You may need to write in any additional middle names. Please contact the State Bar, if your personal information is inaccurate. The form is prepopulated with specific codes required by the DOJ.
It is important to verify with the Live Scan vendor to prevent the rejection of your fingerprints. Review the cover page and Live Scan form with your Live Scan technician. Confirm technician has accurately entered the information into the Live Scan program.
If I live outside of California, can I travel to California to submit my fingerprints through a Live Scan vendor?
Yes. Attorneys residing outside of California can choose to travel to California to submit fingerprints through a California Live Scan vendor in lieu of submitting fingerprint cards. All attorneys impacted by the fingerprinting rule can download a prepopulated Live Scan form on their My State Bar profile. However, in the event an attorney’s Live Scan fingerprints are rejected by the DOJ and/or FBI, the attorney must return to a Live Scan vendor in California to resubmit their fingerprints without new processing charges. If the attorney chooses not to return to a California Live Scan vendor, they must be fingerprinted using a fingerprint card, which will incur additional costs.
I am no longer eligible to practice in California. Do I need to satisfy the fingerprinting rule requirements?
No. Currently, you are not required to take any action. If and when you are reinstated to active status, you will be required to satisfy the fingerprinting rule requirements. If you are reinstated to inactive status, you are not required to take any action. However, prior to transitioning from inactive status, you will be required to satisfy the fingerprinting rule requirements.
Will the State Bar share my information with my employer and/or other agencies?
No. The State Bar is legally prohibited from sharing the information received and from using it for any purpose other than licensing and regulation.
How long must I keep my compliance records?
MCLE records should be kept at least one year from the date compliance is reported online. Records should be kept in the event that an attorney's compliance is audited. Go to Compliance Information for information on what records to keep.
What does the State Bar do when a California attorney is convicted of a crime?
The convicted attorney, the district attorney and the court are each required, by law, to notify the State Bar any time that an attorney is arrested and charged with a crime or criminally convicted. These overlapping requirements help assure that the State Bar will be notified. When the State Bar receives such a report, the information is forwarded to the State Bar Court. Then it is handled in several different ways, depending upon the nature of the conviction.
If the attorney is convicted of a felony, they are placed on interim suspension pending a disciplinary hearing on the merits in State Bar Court. Attorneys convicted of a misdemeanor also are put on interim suspension if the crime involved "moral turpitude" by its very nature. Some crimes, such as theft, are designated by law as crimes involving moral turpitude.
But if the attorney's misdemeanor conviction does not by its very nature involve moral turpitude, they face a hearing in State Bar Court to determine the discipline, if any, to be imposed in the case.
If I have a problem with my attorney, who should I contact?
For questions about filing a complaint against a lawyer, go to Attorney Complaints on the State Bar’s website. Or, call the Attorney Complaint Hotline:
1-800-843-9053 (California)
1-213-765-1200 (from outside California)
Do I need to search for an attorney by name?
You may search the online directory to find a specific attorney or an attorney meeting specific criteria, such as location or languages spoken.
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