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.
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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.
What activities qualify for general MCLE credit?
Activities that qualify for general MCLE credit are those that relate to legal subjects directly relevant to State Bar licensees and have current significant educational, professional, or practical content, with an objective to increase each participant’s professional competency as an attorney. Activities designed for nonattorney participants do not qualify and will not be approved for general MCLE credit. More on Standards for MCLE Activity Approval
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.
What is the role of the JNE Commission?
The role of the JNE Commission is to gather information about the candidates and to conduct a confidential evaluation of the judicial qualifications of candidates whose names have been submitted to the commission by the Governor and to report its findings, in absolute confidence, to the Governor.
The commission, in evaluating candidates, functions independently of the Board of Trustees of the State Bar. Board liaison attend the commission meetings periodically but do not participate in discussions, express opinions, or vote, and are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as commission members.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the State Bar?
Common questions
Can the State Bar help me find a lawyer for my legal problems?
The State Bar does not refer clients to lawyers or provide legal advice. We provide a directory of certified Lawyer Referral Services in your area who may be able to help you find a lawyer. Please see our Find Legal Professionals section for resources. The State Bar also publishes free legal information for consumers.
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 are those that relate to legal subjects directly relevant to State Bar licensees and have current significant educational, professional, or practical content, with an objective to increase each participant’s professional competency as an attorney. Activities designed for nonattorney participants 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.
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Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
Please email DEILeadershipSeal@calbar.ca.gov with any questions or feedback.
What do the fees for active and inactive attorneys include?
Fees for active attorneys
The total fees will be $598. This includes a $478 base fee (Bus. & Prof. Code, §6140, 6140.10, 6140.11, 6140.13, and 6140.14) and the following legislatively mandated fees:
$25 for disciplinary activities (§6140.6)
$40 for the Client Security Fund (§6140.55)
$10 for the Lawyer Assistance Program (§6140.9)
$45 for legal aid (§6140.03)
Fees for inactive attorneys
The total fees will be $205. This includes a $120 base fee (Bus. & Prof. Code, §6140) and the following legislatively mandated fees:
$25 for disciplinary activities (§6140.6)
$40 for the Client Security Fund (§6140.55)
$10 for the Lawyer Assistance Program (§6140.9)
$45 for legal aid (§6140.03)
Where can an attorney find out more information about the State Bar's programs and services?
Go to the Attorneys area. In addition, attorneys may call Licensee Regulation and Compliance at 888-800-3400 for questions about licensing duties and responsibilities.
Discipline Costs and Sanctions
The State Bar recovers costs associated with disciplinary investigation and court proceedings as directed by Business and Professions Code section 6086.10. However, State Bar determines the exact costs imposed. Attorneys who do not pay discipline costs have their license to practice suspended until payment is made. Current discipline costs range from $3,693 to $24,695. Discipline costs are imposed on attorneys even if they are not found “guilty” by the State Bar Court on some or all allegations of misconduct.
In addition, disciplined attorneys can be ordered to pay sanctions of between $1,000 and $5,000, mandated by Business and Professions Code section 6086.13.
- In studying the issues of discipline costs and sanctions the Ad Hoc Commission on the Discipline System found that:
- State Bar discipline costs are much higher than those assessed by other state bars, comparable California regulatory boards, and other state attorney regulatory agencies;
- No other states identified imposed sanctions in any amount.
- The current cost structure unfairly penalizes attorneys for contesting charges of misconduct, with costs increasing if attorneys chose to go to trial.
As a result, the commission recommended that the Board of Trustees:
- Reevaluate the current discipline cost model with a focus on reducing costs. This includes, but is not limited to, restructuring the costs structure so that attorneys are not penalized for going to trial or review and scaling fees when charges are dismissed.
- Seek a statutory amendment to eliminate disciplinary sanctions.
How frequently is the Leadership Bank list updated?
The list will be updated periodically as requests for Leadership Bank designation are received or changed, but at a minimum, quarterly.
What is the State Bar?
Founded in 1927 by the state legislature, the State Bar of California regulates the practice of law in California. Our mission is public protection. The agency is an arm of the California Supreme Court, which has the final say in attorney discipline and admissions.
What is the State Bar?
Founded in 1927 by the state legislature, the State Bar of California regulates the practice of law in California. Our mission is public protection. The agency is an arm of the California Supreme Court, which has the final say in attorney discipline and admissions.
Can the Governor appoint a candidate whom the JNE Commission finds not qualified?
Yes. If the Governor appoints a person to a trial court who has been found not qualified, the State Bar may make this fact public after due notice to the appointee of its intention to do so.
If the Governor nominates or appoints a person who has been found not qualified to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, the JNE commission submits its recommendation, and the reasons for such recommendation, to the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
What, if any, information on a candidate can the State Bar release and when can it do so?
Information received during the investigation process or discussed during the evaluation process cannot be released by the commission. Under the statute, information received by the commission is absolutely confidential and it would be a clear-cut violation of the law to divulge how the commission conducted any part of the investigation or the weight given to evidence of a negative or positive nature.
The commission reports its recommendations, in absolute confidence, to the Governor. The rule ". . . prohibits disclosure of any information of any nature to anyone. . ." except as otherwise provided by the statute. The commission does inform a candidate who has been found not qualified of that fact.
The only other exception is if the Governor appoints a person to a trial court who has been found not qualified, the State Bar may make this fact public after due notice to the appointee of its intention to do so.
When the Governor nominates a person to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, the JNE Commission submits its recommendation, and the reasons for such recommendation, to the Commission on Judicial Appointments, and appears at the public hearing to present its recommendation and reasons.
When does the approval period begin for an activity that is approved retroactively?
Generally, from the date of the single activity or from the date noted in the approval email sent to the provider.
Can I issue Certificates of Attendance to participants if my activity is not yet approved?
No. A Certificate of Attendance cannot be issued until the MCLE program has been approved by the State Bar.
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.
Do I qualify if my income from the practice of law is less than the qualifying amount?
Eligibility is based on your total 2024 gross annual individual income from all sources and is not based on income earned from the practice of law only.
Are new licensees admitted after May 31 eligible to fee scale the half-year active fees?
No, new licensees admitted after May 31 are not eligible to fee scale the half-year active fees.
How do I access the Fresh Start Settlement Program’s website?
You will be sent a letter and an email, which will include the website link and your login details (your State Bar Number and a personal PIN). After logging in, you can create your own password or continue using the provided PIN.
What if I want to speak to someone in person?
We want to make this process as easy as possible for you. Call 1-855-394-5084 and please have your State Bar Number ready.
What methods of payment does the Fresh Start Settlement Program accept?
We strongly encourage online payment via credit card or ACH. All credit cards are accepted. Click on the link on the Fresh Start Settlement Program website to pay through Wells Fargo.
If for some reason you are unable to pay online, we also accept mailed check payments made payable to State Bar of California, mailed to:
State Bar of California
Attn: Collections
180 Howard St San Francisco, CA 94105
Your check must include your State Bar Number in the memo line. Please do not mail a check until you have signed the settlement agreement. Please include a signed copy of your settlement agreement with your check.
What is the State Bar DEI Leadership Seal program?
The DEI Leadership Seal Program is an optional program that employers with California attorneys can participate in to signal their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
As part of its 2022 Diversity Report Card, the State Bar of California published Calls to Action that legal employers and attorneys can implement to support greater DEI in the workplace. The DEI Leadership Seal program recognizes California legal employers that commit to and implement specific DEI action items.
Can legal departments or teams within a larger employer (like a corporation’s legal department, or a university’s law school) participate in the program?
Yes. Employers may choose to commit to and implement the Action Items for either their entire organization or only their legal department or team. If an employer commits to and implements the Action Items only for their legal department, only that department would be listed as a participating employer and eligible to use the DEI Leadership Seal on its materials.
My employer is a committed participating employer, but we have implemented at least five of the Action Items. Do we need to wait until June to receive the DEI Leadership Seal?
Committed participating employers who have implemented five or more Action Items and want to receive the DEI Leadership Seal before the June deadline must complete and submit a DEI Leadership Seal Tier Advancement Application and supporting documentation. There will be several opportunities throughout the year for committed employers to submit this documentation and receive the seal early. To be considered for tier advancement, please submit your application and supporting documentation.
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