The notice of the adverse determination will provide you with the date on which you may submit a new Application for Determination of Moral Character. You are encouraged to engage in affirmative rehabilitative activities during the period you must wait to reapply.

Alternatively, you may choose to request administrative review by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE). If you request review by the CBE, the date on which you will be eligible to reapply may change, as it will be determined by the CBE in the event it issues an adverse determination.

The only licensees who are exempt from the annual reporting requirement are licensees who were on voluntary inactive status for the entirety of the reportable time period. All other licensees, including those who were active, suspended, or not entitled to practice law at any point in the reportable time period, are required to complete the CTAPP reporting requirements for that reportable time period.

When a licensee performs both legal and non-legal professional services for a client, the licensee is subject to the Rules of Professional Conduct with respect to all of those services. (See Cal. State Bar Formal Opn. Nos. 1982-69, 1995-141, and 1999-154.) 

Therefore, a key question is whether the licensee is performing legal services and, as a result, is subject to rule 1.15 and the other Rules of Professional Conduct. If not, and the licensee is merely a real estate broker who happens to be a lawyer, rule 1.15 may not apply. Similarly, if the licensee is a trustee but did not perform any legal services related to the creation of the trust and does not perform any legal services related to the trust, rule 1.15 may not apply. On the other hand, if the licensee is acting as both the real estate lawyer and broker, and the lawyer receives entrusted funds from, or for, the transaction, rule 1.15 would apply, and any accounts need to be reported and registered as part of the licensee’s CTAPP compliance. The same is true of lawyers providing other non-legal professional services, regardless of whether they, as a trustee, for example, report to the probate court.

If you have further questions on dual capacity, including whether you are responsible for complying with any of the requirements or prohibitions in rule 1.15, please contact the State Bar’s Ethics Hotline research service at 800-238-4427 (toll-free in California). The Ethics Hotline cannot provide legal advice, nor tell you how to comply with any of the CTAPP requirements, including whether to answer “yes” or “no” in any portion of the CTAPP reporting requirements.

The State Bar collects information on attorneys’ pro bono and reduced fee hours to better understand how these services are being provided across the profession. The data will be analyzed to identify trends, support efforts to expand access to legal services, and help address the justice gap. All reported data will be aggregated and not linked to individual attorneys.

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.

You may request to study under a different attorney or judge by submitting a new LOS application, the required documentation, and the fee in the Applicant Portal at least 15 days prior to beginning study with the new supervisor. The new application must include a completed declaration signed by the new supervising attorney or judge and a new law study outline.

If you change the attorney or judge under whom you are studying during a six-month study period, you must submit a report from your previous attorney or judge that indicates all study completed with that person, along with the semi-annual report fee in the Applicant Portal, within 30 days of beginning study with the new attorney or judge. Within 30 days of completion of the six-month study period, you will also have to submit a semi-annual report reflecting the study conducted under the new attorney or judge that covers the remainder of the six-month study period.

Click the ← MY STATE BAR PROFILE button at the top right of the e-learning portal to log out and return to the My State Bar Profile page.

The recently signed licensing fee bill requires the State Bar to offer an installment payment plan to active licensees eligible for fee scaling. This plan allows attorneys to divide their total annual fees into six equal payments instead of paying in full by the original deadline of April 1, 2025.

No, once you opt in for the installment payment plan, you cannot opt out unless you are ineligible for fee scaling.

The court must approve your application in order for you to appear as PHV in a case. While the State Bar's Applicant Portal may show that your PHV case is "approved," this refers to the internal processing of your application and should not be taken as the court's approval of your appearance as PHV.  

If the State Bar Court determines that a PLL is culpable of conduct that would result in discipline if they were fully licensed by the State Bar, or if the PLL is sanctioned for misconduct by any court or professional licensing authority, the provisional license terminates, and the matter is referred to moral character. 

If you are a PLL or a Supervising Lawyer, please send an email to provisionallicensure@calbar.ca.gov to share any concerns, challenges, or feedback about your experience in the PLP. While this is not a formal complaint process, we value your input and feedback.  

Staff who review the submissions may: 

• Reach out to your supervisor, with your permission, to discuss with them the concerns you are having;
• Connect you with the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) to get career counseling;
• Connect you with professional associations or your law school to assist in locating a new Supervising Lawyer;
• Pursuant to rule 8.4.1, if you believe your Supervising Lawyer has engaged in discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, we will direct you to the complaint process and provide assistance, as needed; or
• Collect data to understand systemic issues, etc. 

Applicants who are eligible for the PLP as first-time takers were notified by the Office of Admissions in June 2025 via email.  

You may also verify your eligibility via the status screen in the Applicant Portal. There are multiple PLP programs listed in your applicant portal. Make sure you are checking your eligibility for the PLP for first-time takers of the February bar exam, and not the expansion program also listed on the portal. 

Yes. Even if you were not named individually, but the firm at which you are a partner or shareholder was named, you must report the action or proceeding.[5] The only exception to this is if you know that the firm has already reported the action; in this instance, you are relieved of the obligation.

Yes, you need an account to purchase and access courses. 

• Nonattorneys: Create a new account or log in using your existing credentials.
• Attorneys: Log into My State Bar Profile , access the e-Learning Portal, and go to the “Catalog” to view available courses 

You’ll have access to the course for 90 days from the date of purchase. Please check the course details for specific expiration information.

Please note: Course completion or MCLE certificates are only available for 30 days after you complete the course. 

The accused attorney must file an answer, or risk a default judgment and involuntary enrollment as an inactive State Bar member pending the outcome of the case. The clerks in State Bar Court schedule a status conference (a meeting of all parties), to be held within 45 days after the complaint is filed. The next step depends on the individual case. There could be additional status conferences, settlement conferences, or simply the trial date.

Yes. Any licensee who was active for any part of the reporting period and who did not meet one of the exemptions in Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d) for the entire reporting period is required to report the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year. Even licensees who are exempt from reporting their pro bono hours must declare their exemption status in My State Bar Profile. 

Yes. All communications with the Ethics Hotline are confidential and not shared with third parties or disciplinary authorities. The Ethics Hotline does not make referrals to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel.

Additional tips before you call:

• Have a clear and concise summary of your ethical question or fact pattern.
• Be prepared to provide relevant context but avoid disclosing client-identifying information.
• Review the California Rules of Professional Conduct beforehand, if possible—it may help you frame your question more effectively.

Applications will be accepted once the program is operative.