What kinds of violations typically result in disbarment and other levels of discipline?
Each case is different. Most disbarred attorneys fall into one of two categories: (1) They committed a very serious violation, such as perjury or stealing client funds, or (2) 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.
What are the different levels of discipline that the State Bar Court imposes on attorneys?
The Probation Unit of the Office of Chief Trial Counsel monitors attorneys’ compliance with the conditions imposed on suspensions and reprovals.
The State Bar Court also may put attorneys on involuntary inactive status if they appear to pose a serious threat to the public.
If a State Bar investigation indicates that an attorney’s conduct only bordered on a violation or was a minor breach, State Bar prosecutors may choose an alternative to discipline.
The State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel could decide to:
Send a Directional or Warning Letter to the attorney, and close the case.
Issue an Admonition informing the attorney that no further action will take place as long as they stay out of trouble for two years.
Settle on an Agreement in Lieu of Discipline that requires the attorney to fulfill specially tailored remedial conditions.
What happens to an attorney after charges are filed against them in State Bar Court?
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.
What happens if the State Bar files charges against the attorney?
If the State Bar decides to file charges against the attorney, the case will go to the independent State Bar Court and will become public, with notice on the attorney’s online profile. A judge can dismiss the case, issue an admonishment or reproval, or recommend suspension or disbarment. The California Supreme Court has the final say in all discipline cases involving suspension or disbarment.
What happens if the complaint does not establish a serious violation?
If, after investigation, the evidence does not establish a serious violation, the State Bar may:
Issue a warning to the attorney;
Place the attorney on diversion, under which the attorney agrees to take corrective action; or
Issue an Agreement in Lieu of Discipline (ALD), under which the attorney agrees to take corrective action.
A warning, diversion, or an ALD is not considered discipline.
After a complaint has been filed, how long does it take for disciplinary charges?
An investigation of a complaint typically takes up to six months to be completed. In particularly complex cases, the investigation could take as long as a year. Many complaints are diverted out of the process along the way. For example, there could be a referral to mandatory mediation (an agreement requiring the attorney to meet certain conditions) or the attorney’s participation in other programs.
What does the State Bar do when a California attorney is convicted of a crime?
The convicted attorney, the district attorney, and the court are each required, by law, to notify the State Bar any time that an attorney is arrested and charged with a crime or criminally convicted. These overlapping requirements help assure that the State Bar will be notified. When the State Bar receives such a report, the information is forwarded to the State Bar Court. Then it is handled in several different ways, depending upon the nature of the conviction.
If the attorney is convicted of a felony, they are placed on interim suspension pending a disciplinary hearing on the merits in State Bar Court.
Attorneys convicted of a misdemeanor also are put on interim suspension if the crime involved “moral turpitude” by its very nature. Some crimes, such as theft, are designated by law as crimes involving moral turpitude.
If the attorney’s misdemeanor conviction does not by its very nature involve moral turpitude, they face a hearing in State Bar Court to determine the discipline, if any, to be imposed in the case.
How does the State Bar handle attorney misconduct?
The State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel handles complaints about unethical attorney conduct from several different sources, including clients, family and friends of clients, courts, opposing counsel, members of the public or other third parties, and anonymous submissions.
An inquiry is opened for every written communication that involves a complaint about an attorney’s conduct. After the inquiry is evaluated, the accused attorney may be diverted out of the system, or the inquiry may be closed.
If it appears that the attorney may be a repeat offender or may have committed a violation where there is a serious likelihood of discipline being imposed, an investigator and a State Bar prosecutor take responsibility for the investigation.
The accused attorney is given an opportunity to respond, witnesses are contacted, and documents are reviewed. At the investigation’s conclusion, the State Bar decides whether to:
Dismiss the complaint,
Impose an informal confidential resolution, or
File disciplinary charges.
The Notice of Disciplinary Charges is filed in State Bar Court, where it is assigned to a hearing judge. The accused attorney then must file an answer or risk a default judgment or involuntary enrollment as an inactive bar member.
If a settlement cannot be reached, the case goes to trial in State Bar Court. After the trial, the hearing judge issues a written decision. Either side may appeal the decision to the State Bar Court’s Review Department.
The California Supreme Court is the final arbiter in attorney discipline cases.
Are State Bar investigations into attorney misconduct public or confidential?
State Bar investigations and inquiries are, by statute, confidential. The complaint becomes public when disciplinary charges are filed against an attorney in State Bar Court. By law, however, any other pending investigations involving the same attorney must remain confidential at that point. If it is determined that public protection is seriously at stake in a particular case, the Chief Trial Counsel does have the authority to publicly reveal a pending investigation.
Under limited circumstances, the Board of Trustees, or the Chief Trial Counsel and Chair of the Board of Trustees, may waive confidentiality, but any public disclosure will remain limited to confirming the fact of a complaint or investigation; a brief factual summary to identify the subject matter of the complaint or investigation; and the status of the complaint or investigation.
If criminal conduct is suspected, the State Bar may also refer the matter to a law enforcement agency for investigation and potential prosecution.
What happens after a complaint has been filed?
With the exception of anonymous complaints, the State Bar notifies the complainant of receipt of the complaint. An experienced State Bar attorney will review the complaint to determine if the facts are sufficient to show that an ethical violation occurred. Additional documents from the complainant may be needed to complete this evaluation.
In the course of the investigation, the State Bar will be required to disclose to the attorney who is the subject of the complaint the facts and circumstances being investigated—ordinarily this will include disclosure of the complainant’s identity. If a complaint is filed by an attorney’s client, the complainant’s identity will need to be disclosed to the attorney to establish a waiver of attorney-client confidentiality in connection with the investigation.
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.
What is a certified lawyer referral service and how does it work?
Certified lawyer referral services (LRS) have been approved by the State Bar of California to refer potential clients to lawyers. They are operated by local bar associations, nonprofit legal service programs and for-profit organizations. The State Bar holds nonprofit and for-profit LRS providers to the same standards.
When you contact a certified LRS, staff or an automated referral system will ask you about your situation. The LRS will then try to match you with a qualified lawyer who handles the type of legal problem you have and arrange a consultation, which typically costs a small fee. After the initial consultation, it is up to you whether or not you want to hire the lawyer.
If your problem can be resolved without a lawyer, the LRS may be able to provide information about other organizations or agencies that may be able to help you. Search our LRS Provider Directory or call 866-44-CA-LAW (866-442-2529). If you are out of state, call 415-538-2250.
Every LRS certified by the State Bar has a certification number. Ask about or look for the LRS’s State Bar certification number, which must appear in all advertising. If an organization is claiming to be a certified LRS, but does not have a number, contact the State Bar right away at LRS@calbar.ca.gov.
Where can I find information about avoiding fraud, finding help with immigration matters, and other subjects?
The State Bar offers information for consumers on subjects such as finding an attorney, avoiding fraud, how to avoid being a victim of nonattorney fraud, resolving a dispute with a lawyer, and what Lawyer Referral Services do.
Where can a member of the public find more information about services offered by the State Bar?
You can file a complaint online. If you prefer, you can download a complaint form, fill it out, and return it by mail. If you have questions about what information to provide on a complaint form, please call 800-843-9053.
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.
How many attorneys are in California?
The State Bar of California licenses more than 250,000 attorneys. For more details, go to Bar Numbers.
After a complaint has been filed, how long does it take for disciplinary charges?
An investigation of a complaint typically takes up to six months to be completed. In particularly complex cases, the investigation could take as long as a year. Many complaints are diverted out of the process along the way. For example, there could be a referral to mandatory mediation (an agreement requiring the attorney to meet certain conditions) or the attorney’s participation in other programs.
What is the State Bar of California?
The State Bar of California is the regulatory arm of the California Supreme Court responsible for licensing and disciplining attorneys. Read about the State Bar's mission.
What is the mailing address of the State Bar?
The mailing address for the State Bar of California is: 180 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. See the Contact Us page for more information.
Where can I find information about studying law and taking the California Bar Exam?
Are State Bar investigations into attorney misconduct public or confidential?
State Bar investigations and inquiries are, by statute, confidential. The complaint becomes public when disciplinary charges are filed against an attorney in State Bar Court. By law, however, any other pending investigations involving the same attorney must remain confidential at that point. If it is determined that public protection is seriously at stake in a particular case, the Chief Trial Counsel does have the authority to publicly reveal a pending investigation.
Under limited circumstances, the Board of Trustees, or the Chief Trial Counsel and Chair of the Board of Trustees, may waive confidentiality, but any public disclosure will remain limited to confirming the fact of a complaint or investigation; a brief factual summary to identify the subject matter of the complaint or investigation; and the status of the complaint or investigation.
If criminal conduct is suspected, the State Bar may also refer the matter to a law enforcement agency for investigation and potential prosecution.
How important is certification?
To operate in California, all lawyer referral services must be certified by the State Bar of California. The reason for this is to provide public protection. To qualify for certification, an LRS must meet certain standards approved by the California Supreme Court and enforced by the State Bar. If you use one of the certified services, you can be assured of the following:
All lawyers who participate in a certified LRS must carry malpractice insurance.
All certified LRSs have lawyers with experience in many legal areas such as family law, personal injury, probate and landlord-tenant law. Many LRSs have subject matter panels, on which lawyers can serve only if they have demonstrated experience in a certain legal area or meet certain other requirements.
There are consumer protections when using a certified LRS’ automated referral system. Some LRSs can assess a potential client’s needs and find a referral to a lawyer through an automated system outside of regular business hours. This may be especially helpful if you need to search for a lawyer in the evenings or on weekends. If you experience problems with the automated system or need help, you should contact the LRS by email or phone during regular business hours.
A certified LRS can give you information about other services or programs if your issue does not require lawyer assistance. Some problems may at first seem to require a lawyer’s help, but actually may not. For example, you may have a problem that can be handled by a rent control board, small claims advisor, or community mediation program. An LRS may be able to direct you to government agencies or other organizations that may be better suited to assist you.
All certified LRSs are required to offer services for people of limited means at a reduced rate. See FAQ #2 for more information.
How can I find a lawyer to represent me?
Review our tips on finding the right lawyer. Most county bar associations also offer Lawyer Referral Services. The State Bar cannot refer clients to lawyers, and we cannot offer legal advice.
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