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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How can I find information about an attorney?
By statute, the State Bar is required to maintain certain information about California attorneys. Go to Look Up A Lawyer and follow the directions. For information about hiring an attorney, see our Need Legal Help section.
What are the requirements for a financial institution to become a Leadership Bank?
There are only two criteria. A financial institution must agree that it will pay at least 68 percent of the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) on IOLTA accounts or a floor rate of 0.68 percent, whichever is higher, and waive fees and charges on ALL IOLTA accounts, regardless of the account’s size.
How much will I have to pay for a referral to a lawyer?
Most certified LRSs charge a fee — about $40 to $75 — for a referral to a lawyer. This referral fee sometimes includes the initial consultation with the lawyer(s). Under the State Bar rules, the combined referral fee and the fee for the lawyer cannot cost more than it would if you found the lawyer yourself, without the help of an LRS.
An LRS may also be able to recommend a free or low cost legal service program in your area depending on the nature of your issue and your income. Such services include a modest means panel (lawyers charging reduced fees), a limited scope panel (lawyers offering help with a specific portion of case as opposed to the whole case), a flat fee panel (where the client is charged a set fee rather than an hourly fee for the service), sliding scale options, a payment schedule or a free referral for a 30-minute initial consultation.
Note that LRSs are not required to offer reduced rate panels or services for people of limited means across all referral panels. Be sure to ask which service(s) the LRS provides.
For more information on hiring a lawyer, read the free Finding the Right Lawyer legal guide.
How do I file a complaint against an attorney?
The State Bar investigates complaints of attorney misconduct. This website provides instruction and online forms in several languages for filing a complaint. If you need help you can also call the multilingual Attorney Complaint Hotline at 800-843-9053.
Meetings
The meetings of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation are not open to the public.
Where can I find information about studying law and taking the California Bar Exam?
Information about becoming an attorney is in the Admissions section. There you'll find additional information about getting a legal education. You can also find information about taking the California Bar Exam.
Where can an attorney find information about Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)?
You can find information about Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) compliance requirements and providers.
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 can be considered as written materials?
Handouts, presentations, or other written materials containing substantive written information relevant to the MCLE activity and discussing the subject matter and/or legal authorities discussed during the MCLE activity.
Is it the responsibility of the provider or the attorney to report credit hours earned to the State Bar?
The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period.
What is the process for calculating credit for panelists?
Panelist credit hours should be calculated by dividing the actual program time by the number of panelists participating. The following is an example of a 1-hour program with three panelists:
- 60 minutes (program time) ÷ 3 (number of panelists) = 20 minutes of speaking time for each panelist;
- 20 minutes (speaking time) x 4 = 80 minutes, rounded to the nearest quarter-hour = 1.25 hours of total speaking time to be awarded to each panelist.
How do I determine eligibility if I have not yet received my tax documents?
Calculate your total gross annual individual income for 2024 to the best of your ability. If you later determine that you do not qualify, contact the Division of Regulation to coordinate payment of the difference owed.
Who can participate in the Fresh Start Settlement Program?
Disbarred, resigned, not-eligible, active, and inactive licensees with outstanding debt owed to the State Bar.
How is the settlement offer calculated?
The offer considers several factors, including the type of debt, the licensee status of the individual, and the amount of debt.
If I pay in installments, are there additional fees or interest?
No, there are no additional fees or interest for choosing the installment payment option. If you opt for an installment plan of four or less payments, your monthly installments will be of equal value. If you opt for an installment plan of five or more payments, the first installment will be 25% of the settled value and subsequent installments will be of equal value.
Why is there interest included in my total debt balance?
Business and Professions Code section 6140.5 authorizes the State Bar to collect interest on CSF payments due. The interest rate is approved annually by the Board of Trustees (CSF Rule 3.45), and has been set at 10 percent per year, calculated from the date of disbursement. Judgments with underlying CSF debt also accrue interest on the CSF payments at the same rate.
What if my employer has already implemented at least five of the ten Action Items? Do I need to wait a year to receive the DEI Leadership Seal?
If your organization has already implemented five of the ten Action Items (including the two that are required) at the time of application, please indicate that on your application and provide the requested documentation. If your employer’s implementation of the Action Items is sufficient, you can receive the DEI Leadership Seal as soon as your application is reviewed.
Where did the list of Action Items come from?
The Action Items were derived, in part, from the Calls to Action in the State Bar’s 2022 Diversity Report Card and based on research on best practices to improve workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as feedback from various stakeholders across a variety of sectors in the legal profession. The Calls to Action, available by sector, provide additional best practices and resources. Calls to Action for attorneys are also available to encourage individuals to take an active role in advancing DEI in the workplace.
What benefits are available to participating employers?
Participating employers and seal recipients will be listed on the State Bar website. The State Bar plans to provide opportunities for participating employers to convene and discuss their DEI efforts, for example, at future Diversity Summits. The State Bar regularly hosts Diversity Summits to convene stakeholders to present and discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices in the legal profession.
The State Bar is also exploring additional benefits and opportunities it can provide to or facilitate for participating employers and seal recipients. These might include opportunities to participate in social media campaigns about the program, preferred job boards, and career fairs.
How do I calculate and submit Speakers Credit and Teaching Credit?
Speaking
Please submit course marketing materials that clearly show that the course was approved for MCLE, who the speakers were and how long the course was. You should also submit your certificate of attendance for that course if you were provided with one.
You may only claim speakers credit for approved MCLE activities. If you were part of a panel or you only presented a portion of the program you may only claim incremental speakers credit for the activity.
Teaching
You receive 12 times the credit hours awarded by the law school for the course. There is an exception for subfield requirements in Ethics, Elimination of Bias, Implicit Bias, Mental Competence (mental issues in the legal world or society), Wellness (mental competence specifically in the legal world ), Civility and Technology hours. For these "subfields," you only receive the actual speaking time.
To fill out the online form use the law school as the provider, the course title as the course and the date the class started as the date. Mark the course as participatory and note any qualifying subfield hours. Submit a syllabus and a letter from the law school stating that you were an instructor, the dates of the course, and the number of academic credits the school awarded for it.
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