I work part-time at a government agency. Do I need to report?
Yes. Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d)(2) only applies to full-time employees or officers or elected officials of the State of California, or political subdivision thereof, or the federal government. Part-time employees are required to report either the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, that they did not track their pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, that they did not complete any pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or that they decline to answer.
How do I make changes to the response I submitted?
Prior to the March 30, 2026, deadline, you can make changes to your pro bono hours reporting by going to My State Bar Profile, navigating to the Summary tab (located on the top navigation bar), and selecting “Edit your Pro Bono Hours” from the Pro Bono Hours tile (located about three-quarters of the way down the page).
Does the State Bar have a program for attorneys who only want to do pro bono work?
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.
How do I track and report my pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours?
Attorneys are expected to track their own hours for the purposes of this reporting requirement. Some law firms require their attorneys to track this time already. A nonprofit with whom the attorney provides pro bono legal services may assist in tracking hours.
Attorneys are asked to report pro bono and reduced fee hours as a range (e.g., 1–5 hours, 6–10 hours, 11–19 hours, etc.). Attorneys will also be able to select 0 hours or less than 1 hour of pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or select the checkbox if you did not track your hours or you prefer not to answer.
Does volunteering with an LRS oversight panel count as pro bono legal services?
Possibly. Uncompensated work with an LRS oversight panel may count toward the pro bono hours requirement if it enables the delivery of legal services at a charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or education organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes as defined under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(C). Licensees should use their best judgment when determining whether the work performed, particularly non-legal tasks, enables the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofit organizations.
Does uncompensated work by volunteer attorneys at a legal aid organization or law school, or as a court mediator, count as pro bono legal services?
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.
Does serving on the board of a local or affinity bar association count as pro bono legal services?
It depends. Service to a local or affinity bar association counts toward the pro bono hours requirement if it is legal in nature (i.e., providing legal services to the nonprofit directly pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(B) or 6073.1(c)(1)(C)). General board service qualifies only to the extent that the work enables legal services to the indigent, to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means,” or to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes.” Licensees should use their best good-faith judgment in determining whether their non-legal board activities enable the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofits.
Does serving on the board of a legal aid organization count as pro bono legal services?
For purposes of this reporting requirement, board service for a legal aid nonprofit would qualify because all board work with such an organization is enabling the delivery of legal services to the indigent (since these organizations primarily serve indigent California residents). Please note that some legal aid providers and other nonprofits for which attorneys provide pro bono legal services may also ask attorneys to report pro bono hours, but the definition for pro bono legal services may vary for their purposes. Attorneys should confirm definitions with the entity before reporting pro bono hours to the entity.
What are some examples of pro bono legal services?
Pro bono opportunities vary depending on the needs of the client community. Examples of pro bono legal services to indigent clients may include, but are not limited to:
Representation (full or limited scope)
Negotiation and settlement
Screening and intake
Brief service by phone or in person
Legal information or “Know Your Rights” workshops
Document preparation and review
Legal research and writing
Litigation support
Legislative research and legal analysis
What is the guidance on pro bono and reduced fee hours reporting for pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools?
Any active licensee who does not meet one of the exemptions in Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d) is required to report the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, including pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools. Attorneys are asked to provide their best, good faith effort at reporting the amount of pro bono and/or reduced fee legal services hours provided to low-income individuals, nonprofit organizations, or public law libraries during the past year to meet the requirement of Business and Professions Code section 6073.2. Even licensees who are exempt from reporting their pro bono hours must declare their exemption status in My State Bar Profile.
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 must: (1) relate to legal subjects that are directly relevant to California attorneys, and (2) offer current, significant educational, professional, or practical content with the specific objective of increasing each participant’s professional competency as an attorney. Programs created primarily for nonattorney audiences (for example, general public, clients, or business staff) 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.
We are dissolving our LLP, how do we terminate our Certificate of Registration with the State Bar?
In order to voluntarily terminate the LLP's Certificate of Registration with the State Bar, you must submit an original certified copy of the Secretary of State's LLP-4 form (including the blue and white cover sheet with red date stamp), showing that the entity ceases to exist as a limited liability partnership. Pursuant to 9.0 of the State Bar's LLP Rules and Regulations, the termination shall be effective as of the date the LLP is dissolved by the Secretary of State.
Do I lose my exemption if I do work "outside the scope of my employment?"
Yes. You lose your exemption for the entire compliance period, with the exception of "qualified" pro bono work (see details below).
Full-time employees of the State of California or the United States government are exempt under 2.54(A)(3) and 2.54(A)(4) only if the sole legal work done by the attorneys is within the scope of their employment.
If these attorneys engage in any legal activity outside the scope of their employment, including pro bono work (see below for exception) or legal work for the attorney personally, close friends or immediate family (such as drafting a will for a relative, reviewing a contract for a non-profit association of which the attorney is a member and giving advice respecting it, they are not covered by the exemption of section 2.54(A)(3) and 2.54(A)(4) and must comply with the full MCLE requirements.
I was exempt during the compliance period. Do I still have to respond to the audit?
If you claimed exempt status for any portion of the compliance period, please complete the MCLE Online Summary Log by selecting “Yes” in the Exempt box and provide a letter from all of your supervisors confirming your titles and dates of employment relative to the MCLE compliance period along with the MCLE Audit Submission Cover Sheet by the deadline. If you also have a proportional requirement you should submit the necessary number of certificates.
What if I can’t attend an admission ceremony on any of these dates?
You don’t have to attend an admissions ceremony to take the attorney’s oath. You can also appear before a judge, justice or clerk of the court, State Bar of California trustee, military commanding officer, an American consul or anyone authorized to administer oaths. For more information, see this list of people who are qualified to administer the oath.
Does the State Bar have a standard certificate form for OSAAC?
Yes, see Forms.
How many hours of MCLE do I have?
The MCLE Compliance Department does not keep track of the education an attorney has completed: Attorneys are responsible for keeping certificates of attendance and a record of self-study activities. These records should be used to tally hours.
Certificates of attendance list the overall amount of credit available for an activity and whether any credit is available for legal ethics, prevention of substance abuse, or elimination of bias in the legal profession. Contact the provider directly regarding lost certificates of attendance or if information about an activity is incomplete.
What compensation and immunities do Special Masters receive?
Special Masters serve without compensation, but for purposes of immunities are considered public employees of the government entity causing the search warrant to be issued.
May an attorney who has complied with SB 94 accept payment for loan modification services he or she has provided if the lending institution denies the modification or forbearance?
Yes. SB 94 does not mandate that an attorney’s entitlement to a fee is contingent on a lending institution’s agreement to grant a modification or forbearance. An attorney may accept payment once he or she has completed all loan modification services he or she contracted to perform.
What will be decided in the fee arbitration?
The issues to be decided in the fee arbitration are limited. The arbitrator will decide the amount of fees and costs, if any, you owe the lawyer or whether you should receive a refund from the lawyer.
What if the fee agreement does not comply with the law?
If the fee agreement fails to comply with the law, you may "void" or reject it, but the lawyer may still be entitled to receive a reasonable fee. So, as discussed below, you must still be prepared to present a case to the arbitrator with the specific reasons why you believe the fee charged is not reasonable. You may present evidence of what a reasonable fee should be
How formal is the hearing?
The arbitration hearing is typically informal, although evidence is usually taken under oath. Arbitration hearings may be held in a conference room in the arbitrator's office or at the bar association. Generally, only the arbitrator, you, the lawyer, and maybe witnesses will be in the room. You do not need to be represented by a lawyer. However, you may choose to have a lawyer represent you if you wish.
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
I know that the lawyer’s conduct was already reported to the State Bar. Do I still need to report?
Yes, there is no exception in rule 8.3 for when a lawyer knows that a complaint was already filed with the State Bar, concerning the same conduct.
What is a Dashboard? How can I use it?
The dashboard provides a bird’s-eye view of your course availability and completion. The dashboard presents:
New courses that have been launched recently.
Messages: Check this section for important messages from the site administrator.
I just completed a course but the course does not appear on the Completed tab in the “Overall Course Credit Report.”
Although your Dashboard and Learning page update course completion in real-time, the LMS does not update completion progress for the system reports in real-time. The update of the reports will likely appear in your account the day following completion.
What is the Multijurisdictional Practice (MJP) Program? Can I participate?
The MJP Program allows an attorney licensed in a U.S. jurisdiction other than California to receive limited rights to practice law in California, under one of the three destinations: Registered In-House Counsel (RIHC), Registered Legal Aid Attorney (RLAA), or Registered Military Spouse Attorney (RMSA).
You can participate in the program if you are active, in good standing, and licensed to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction and meet the other requirements pursuant to rules 9.41.1 and 9.45-9.48 of the California Rules of Court and Title 3 Division 3 Chapter 1 Articles 1-3 of the Rules of the State Bar. Other requirements to participate in the program include but are not limited to:
• RIHC: reside in California and work at a qualifying institution, as defined by rule 9.46 of the California Rules of Court.
• RLAA: work at an eligible legal aid organization, as defined by rule 9.45 of the California Rules of Court, and not have taken and failed the California bar exam within five years immediately preceding the initial application to register under the rule.
• RMSA: reside in California; be married to, in a civil union with, or a registered domestic partner of, a Service Member; and not have taken and failed the California bar exam within five years immediately preceding the initial application to register as defied in rule 9.41.1 of the California Rules of Court.
You are ineligible to participate in the MJP Program if you are only licensed in a foreign jurisdiction
Do I need to notify the State Bar if my employer or supervising attorney changes? What happens if my employment or supervision ends?
Yes.
RIHC: Within 30 days, you must notify the State Bar of the date that your employment with the qualifying institution ended. If you have new employment with a qualifying institution, you must submit the RIHC Change of Employer Notice to register as RIHC before beginning the employment.
RLAA: Within 30 days, you must notify the State Bar of the date that your employment with the eligible legal aid organization ended. If you have new employment with an eligible legal aid organization, you must submit the RLAA Change of Employer Notice to register as RIHC before beginning the employment.
RMSA: Within 30 days, you must notify the State Bar of the date that the supervision by your supervising attorney ended. If you have a new qualified supervising attorney, you must submit the RMSA Change of Employer Notice to register as RMSA before beginning employment with the new supervising attorney.
If you are unable to secure new qualifying employment within one year from the date your employment or supervision ended, you will be terminated from the MJP Program. If you are terminated from the MJP Program, you will be required to submit a new application, not the change of employer notice. Additionally, if you are terminated from the MJP Program and your positive moral character determination has expired, you will be required to submit a new Application for Determination of Moral Character.
Click “Support Requests” o Select “New General Request”
For type, select “Other”
Provide the update in the description box and click “Confirm” when you are ready to submit the update.
You may find the change of employer notices in the Applicant Portal under the applications section called the “Multijurisdictional Practice Programs for Out-of-State U.S. Attorneys.”
If you are unable to access the Applicant Portal, please contact the Office of Admissions at Admissions@calbar.ca.gov or at 800-843-9053.
How are the exam questions provided?
Applicants will receive hard copy examination materials for the written and MBE sessions through the February 2028 exam. When registering for the exam, applicants will choose to either use their personal laptop to type their answers or handwrite their answers. The multiple-choice session is comprised of 200 questions where applicants must record their answers by darkening circles using a Number 2 pencil on an answer sheet.
Am I allowed to leave the test site for lunch, or do I remain on-site?
Applicants have approximately one hour for a lunch break. You are allowed to bring lunch but may not eat it in the exam room. Please review the sample schedules online, as lunch schedules vary. Each day may have one of three lunch designations:
• No lunch break: Typically, you will not have a lunch break if you only take one session of the exam that day for no more than four and a half hours.
• Lunch break between sessions: Typically, you will have a lunch break scheduled between sessions if you take two sessions of the exam that day, and they are each scheduled for no more than four and a half hours. You must leave the testing room and report at the designated time for the start of your next exam session. You are not allowed to eat lunch in the testing room unless you have received prior approval as an accommodation.
• Lunch break during a session in the secure lunchroom: Typically, you will have a lunch break during the session if you only take one session of the exam for more than four and a half hours. The timing of your lunch break will be determined on the day of the exam with your proctor, and you must eat lunch in the secure lunchroom. There may be other applicants eating in the secure lunchroom. Applicants are not allowed cell phones or reading materials in the secure lunchroom. You must bring your lunch as you will not be allowed to leave the secure testing area. You will not be permitted to retrieve your lunch from your car or buy lunch at the exam site. You are not allowed to eat lunch in the testing room unless you have received prior approval as an accommodation.
What is the fee to apply for the PLP?
At the joint meeting on August 14, 2025, the Board of Trustees and the Committee of Bar Examiners set the new fees for the PLP. Please find them below.
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