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.

The course is approximately one and a half hours long, but you may complete it at your own pace and save your progress.

If you are taking the course as the result of being disciplined by the State Bar, CLE credit is not available. Attorneys completing the course for this purpose must submit a certificate of completion to the Office of Case Management and Supervision upon completion of the course.

If you are taking this course as a condition of an abeyance stipulation related to an Application for Determination of Moral Character, MCLE credit is not available. Individuals completing the course for this purpose must submit a certificate of completion to the Office of Admissions upon conclusion of the course.

When browsing the course catalog, select “CTA School—Client Trust Accounting Rules and Regulations.” Do not select the course that covers similar content (e.g., “Client Trust Accounting Rules and Regulations”). Taking any similar voluntary course will not satisfy your mandatory obligation to complete the course, whether mandated by an order of the California Supreme Court or the State Bar Court, or required by the Office of Admissions. To satisfy a mandatory obligation, you must take the mandatory CTA School course, which is not eligible for MCLE credit.

This service is available to all licensed attorneys so long as the question is not related to a pending disciplinary investigation or case with the State Bar.

A date has not been set. It depends on when subgroups finish their recommendations and the Working Group approves its complete tentative proposal.

Once you become ineligible for the CLS Program, you must promptly inform the State Bar by submitting a general request through your Applicant Portal, and cease any activity a Certified Law Student can perform.

Once you have been certified by the State Bar, you may engage only in the activities permitted by rule 9.42(e) of the Rules of Court under supervision.

To receive credit for a six-month study period, applicants must study law under the supervision of their approved attorney or judge for at least 72 hours per month for six consecutive months, lasting at least 24 weeks and no longer than 26 weeks, as well as submit a semi-annual report within 30 days of completion for each six-month period that conforms to the State Bar requirements.

The supervisor must supervise the applicant directly for at least 20 hours per month, either in person or remotely. At least 10 of those hours over each six-month period must be in person.

If the CPA identifies issues or discrepancies in your trust accounting practices, the State Bar will evaluate the findings, discuss with the designated licensee, and determine the appropriate next steps. Depending on the nature and severity of the issues, next steps may include education, a corrective action plan, further investigation, or a referral to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel.

The scope of a compliance review will encompass at least one year of trust account activity, which will generally be January 1 to December 31 of the prior year. If a compliance review identifies findings that require a licensee to participate in an investigative audit performed by the State Bar, the scope of the audit will encompass at least three (3) years of trust account activity but will not go beyond five (5) years; see Rules of the State Bar, rule 2.6(B) and Rules of Professional Conduct, rule 1.15(d)(5).

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.

The State Bar also accredits the following organizations, which certify attorneys in eleven additional practice areas: 

 American Board of Certification

• Business Bankruptcy Law
• Consumer Bankruptcy Law
• Creditors' Rights Law

National Board of Trial Advocacy

• Civil Trial Advocacy
• Criminal Trial Advocacy 
• Family Law Trial Advocacy
• Social Security Disability Law

National Elder Law Foundation

• Elder Law

American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys

• Legal Malpractice
• Medical Malpractice

National Association of Counsel for Children

• Juvenile Law (Child Welfare)

Retired attorneys or attorneys taking a break from the active practice of law can participate in a wide range of pro bono activities including mentoring, participation in a legal clinic or full representation. The State Bar waives the annual fee for those who practice solely for the purpose of providing pro bono legal assistance through pro bono legal services providers. For more information and an application see the Pro Bono Practice Program.

The State Bar sponsors professional liability insurance through CalBar Connect.

Most legal aid and pro bono programs provide malpractice insurance for attorneys and other advocates volunteering through their organizations. You should always check with your pro bono provider for more specific information about coverage.

Go to your MCLE summary log. Look for the course you’d like to edit and click the red “Edit” button on the right side of the log. Make your changes and save each one. Remember to hit “Submit” when you are done. Whenever you update your online log, please complete the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form.

See Title 3, Division 3, Chapter 4 of the Rules of the State Bar. 

The evidence of security for claims may be a certificate of insurance, a letter of credit, a written guarantee, or a written agreement executed by the applicant. It must be provided in a form acceptable to the State Bar and must be computed in U.S. dollars.

Yes, you must submit an annual renewal application in the Applicant Portal along with:

• the required fee;
• current certificate(s) of good standing; and
• proof of security for claims.

Attorneys who meet the exempt criteria must report compliance by claiming their exemption every compliance period. They should do so online by logging on to "My State Bar Profile." Without a statement of compliance, the State Bar has no way of determining whether or not an attorney was exempt for any particular compliance period.

Because the amount the program collects varies depending on interest rates, grant distribution has ranged from a high accumulation of over $22 million in 2008 to a low distribution of grants of slightly more than $6 million in 2016.

More than 95 percent of the funds received are distributed in grants to legal services programs. All administrative costs are paid out of the funds received; no attorney fees or other State Bar income is used. Over the course of its 25-year history, the State Bar has used less than 5 percent of the funds received to administer the program.

California is the only state with an independent professional court dedicated to ruling on attorney discipline cases. The State Bar Court impartially adjudicates matters filed by the Office of Chief Trial Counsel and has the power to recommend that the California Supreme Court suspend or disbar attorneys found to have committed acts of professional misconduct or convicted of serious crimes. For lesser offenses, the State Bar Court may issue public or private reprovals. The court also adjudicates other regulatory matters, including attorney reinstatements, matters where applicants for admission are challenging an adverse moral character determination, and challenges to the denial of certification for a lawyer referral service.

The State Bar's operations are primarily funded by licensing fees, but the agency also manages a variety of specialized funds. Finance is responsible for financial reporting and analysis, budget development and oversight, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, investments, payroll, processing licensee and other fee payments for the agency, and certain mandated financial audits.