The Ethics Hotline is a confidential research service provided by the State Bar of California. It offers guidance to licensed attorneys on questions related to their professional responsibilities under the Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Act.

Meeting materials are posted online in advance. Written comments may be sent to adrwg@calbar.ca.gov, and oral comments are allowed at the start of each Working Group meeting. Once a tentative proposal is ready, it will be posted online for preliminary public comment.

No. Your certification is only valid for the period stated in your application. You must submit a new Application for the Certified Law Student Program in the Applicant Portal with the required documentation and fee.

No. An applicant who graduates from a juris doctor (JD) program, completes one year in a Master of Laws (LLM) program, or completes their law study through the Law Office Study Program is eligible to apply for the Certified Law Student Program for up to 30 days after completing the program.

No, you cannot pause your studies during your six-month study period. A pause between sessions can take place; however, your participation in the LOS Program will be terminated if you fail to submit a semi-annual report within a year of your last semi-annual report. You will retain law study credit already received and recognized by the State Bar.

Poor recordkeeping, delayed responses, or lack of cooperation may prolong the compliance review and may be considered noncompliance with CTAPP requirements. Consequences can include: 

• Additional time and cost, as the CPA may need to spend more hours completing the review due to incomplete or unclear documentation 
• Serious or unresolved findings that may result in escalation to an investigative audit by the State Bar or possible referral to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel for potential disciplinary action 

Timely communication and good faith cooperation are essential. If you anticipate any delays, you are encouraged to notify the CPA or the State Bar as early as possible. Reasonable extensions may be granted when appropriate.

The standards of rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct require attorneys to maintain the following trust account records for each client matter:

• Account journal for each trust account, organized in chronological order with the daily running balance for the overall trust account
• Client ledgers showing all receipts and disbursements for individual clients, organized in chronological order with the daily running balance
• Bank statements with copies of checks
• Monthly three-way reconciliations balancing the account journal, client ledgers, and bank statements, including support documentation required to complete monthly reconciliations, such as monthly client ledger summaries, lists of outstanding deposits, and lists of outstanding disbursements

In addition, records supporting Rules of Professional Conduct, rule 1.15, and other related statutes governing trust account recordkeeping practices include:

• Records of notices to clients or other persons of the receipt of funds within 14 days
• Records supporting all deposits and disbursements to establish compliance
• Engagement letters, fee agreements, settlement agreements, invoices or billings, and client communications regarding fees, accounting, and disputes

We recommend completing the Firm Self-Assessment with Practice Aid for a complete list of records and recordkeeping practices to evaluate compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct and applicable law regarding the safekeeping of funds entrusted by clients or others and any related obligations.

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.

If you do not complete NAT by your deadline, you will be assessed a noncompliance penalty, which may take up to 90 days to appear in My State Bar Profile. To pay the noncompliance penalty:

1. Log in to My State Bar Profile.
2. Select “Compliance Dashboard” in the top navigation menu.
3. In the “Annual License Fee Status” section, select “Pay your annual fees.”
4. Select “Calculate and pay my fees.”
5. Follow the instructions to pay any outstanding balance.

Even after a noncompliance penalty has been assessed, you are still required to complete NAT. If you do not complete NAT and resolve any assessed fees by the applicable deadlines, you may be enrolled as involuntarily inactive and become ineligible to practice law.

The New Attorney Training Program courses can be accessed through My State Bar Profile. The fee to access all nine courses is $55. Fee waivers are not available.

To purchase the courses:

1. Log in to My State Bar Profile. 

2. Locate the e-learning section toward the bottom of the home page, and select “E-Learning Portal.”

3. On the E-Learning Dashboard’s top navigation bar, select “View Catalog.”

4. In the search box, type “New Attorney Training.”

5. Select “Add to Cart” and complete the checkout process.

After you purchase the courses, when you return to the E-Learning Dashboard, select “Not Started” to locate the course you want to start. Then, select the red + button to the right of the course title, and select “Launch.”

You have two options: (1) You can return to California and follow the instructions for being re-fingerprinted by a Live Scan vendor using the same OATI number; OR (2) You can order fingerprint cards and follow the instructions for out-of-state attorneys or out-of-country attorneys.

The Handbook on Client Trust Accounting for California Attorneys is the primary resource. The State Bar also maintains an online list of resources on client trust accounting as well as information about IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) requirements. If you have questions, please fill out the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry Form.

Absolutely! All attorneys are encouraged to contribute their time and/or financial support. Please consider making a contribution directly to a pro bono legal services provider, or contribute to the Greg E. Knoll Justice Gap Fund annually through the State Bar licensee fee statement or on the State Bar’s website. 

No. To complete the audit you need to submit proof of completion of the required number of participatory courses. At least one-half of any MCLE requirement must be completed via participatory courses.

Contact the LAP office for details about the income eligibility requirements and the application process. Financial assistance can cover up to one year of LAP group fees and one year of lab testing fees.

For more information, see the LAP Growth Grant Criteria.

Yes. Many legal aid and pro bono legal services providers offer training in substantive legal areas that volunteer attorneys may not already be familiar. You can learn about a new area of law and, in many cases, be connected with a mentor who is an expert in the field, who can answer questions that may come up as you go along. Pro bono work is a great way to gain both knowledge and experience. Contact a pro bono or qualified legal services provider to explore the opportunities. You can also find training opportunities through the Practising Law Institute or Pro Bono Training Institute.

A Registered Foreign Legal Consultant is admitted to practice and is in good standing as an attorney, counselor at law, or the equivalent in a foreign country and has a current State Bar Certificate of Registration as a Foreign Legal Consultant. A Registered Foreign Legal Consultant may practice the law of their country in California but may not practice California law. Please see rule 9.44 of the California Rules of Court and Title 3, Division 3, Chapter 4 of the Rules of the State Bar.

The State Bar does not oversee Live Scan vendors and cannot endorse or recommend vendors to attorneys.The DOJ has a list of certified Live Scan vendors. Attorneys are encouraged to select a California DOJ certified Live Scan vendor.

None. IOLTA only involves funds that a lawyer would not otherwise invest on the client's behalf because those funds would not produce net income over the cost of investing them.

Administers the Client Security Fund, which reimburses those who have lost money or property due to theft or dishonest conduct by a California attorney. Supports law students, State Bar applicants, and current and former attorneys who require monitoring for substance use and behavioral health issues, including attorneys participating in the State Bar Court’s alternative discipline program. In addition, the office administers the voluntary portion of the Lawyer Assistance Program, which provides a variety of services to help law students, State Bar applicants, and current and former attorneys who are struggling with substance use, behavioral health issues, or other personal and/or career concerns. The office also monitors attorneys who are disciplined and must comply with conditions pursuant to a probation or reproval matter.