Will you send me a reminder before my deadline? Will there be a reminder in My State Bar Profile?
No. The State Bar will not send a reminder before your NAT completion deadline. You are personally responsible for tracking and meeting your deadline.
If you do not complete NAT by your deadline, the State Bar will send you a notice of noncompliance. The notice will explain that you must complete NAT and pay any assessed noncompliance penalty to avoid being enrolled as inactive and becoming ineligible to practice law.
Because NAT is a onetime requirement, it may not appear in the same area of My State Bar Profile as your annual MCLE compliance obligations. Remember to:
Keep your email address and mailing address current with the State Bar,
Review your notifications in My State Bar Profile regularly, and
Complete NAT well before your deadline.
If I miss the deadline, how do I pay the noncompliance penalty?
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:
Select “Compliance Dashboard” in the top navigation menu.
In the “Annual License Fee Status” section, select “Pay your annual fees.”
Select “Calculate and pay my fees.”
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.
What is the New Attorney Training Program?
The State Bar of California’s New Attorney Training (NAT) Program is a mandatory online training program for all newly admitted California attorneys. It consists of nine State Bar–produced courses covering professional responsibilities and practical skills for practicing law. The courses may be completed in any order and at your own pace.
Topic
MCLE Credit
Attorney as an Officer of the Court—Civility and Pro Bono Legal Services
1.0 hour of Civility
Attorney Communication Duties
1.25 hours of Legal Ethics
Attorney Well-Being: The Bedrock of Competence
1.0 hour of Competence: Prevention and Detection
Attorney-Client Relationships
1.25 hours of Legal Ethics
Conflict Resolution, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, and Technology
0.75 hours of General
Elimination of Bias
1.0 hour of Elimination of Bias
Introduction to Law Practice Management Skills
1.0 hour of General
The Attorney as a Fiduciary of Funds and Property of Clients and Others
1.5 hours of Legal Ethics
The Duty of Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest
1.25 hours of Legal Ethics
Can I claim MCLE credit for NAT courses?
The State Bar’s New Attorney Training is a separate requirement and is not MCLE. However, you may apply NAT course hours toward your MCLE requirements if you complete the hours during your first MCLE compliance period. (Rule 2.142.) Review your MCLE requirements, including any proportional requirement, to determine whether and how the NAT hours apply to your situation.
When is my deadline to complete NAT?
You must complete NAT by the last day of the month of your one-year anniversary as a State Bar licensee. (Rule 2.141.)
For example, if you were admitted on October 15, your deadline is October 31 of the following year. If you have a question about your deadline, complete the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form.
How do I access the New Attorney Training?
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.
Locate the e-learning section toward the bottom of the home page, and select “E-Learning Portal.”
On the E-Learning Dashboard’s top navigation bar, select “View Catalog.”
In the search box, type “New Attorney Training.”
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.”
Can I get a fee waiver for the course?
No. Fee waivers are not available. The fee to access all nine NAT courses is $55.
Can I request an exemption or time extension?
There are no exemptions from the NAT requirement. (Rule 2.143.)
Time extensions are granted only in rare cases involving documented personal hardship. (Rule 2.144.) If you believe you have a qualifying hardship, submit the applicable State Bar request as soon as possible and ideally before your NAT deadline, if feasible.
Submitting a request does not excuse compliance unless the State Bar grants it. Do not delay beginning or completing NAT while awaiting a decision.
I’m a former Provisional Licensure Program (PLP) participant and was recently admitted. Do I need to take NAT again?
If you completed any portion of NAT while enrolled in the State Bar’s PLP, you are considered to have satisfied that portion of the NAT requirement and do not need to retake it. Make sure you complete all nine NAT courses by the deadline.
Check your E-Learning Portal to confirm that your completed courses are reflected. If a completed course does not appear in your record, contact elearning@calbar.ca.gov for assistance.
As a federal or state employee, am I exempt from completing NAT?
No. Although certain federal or state employees may be exempt from the general MCLE requirement, there are no exemptions from the NAT requirement for new licensees. (Rule 2.143.) You must complete NAT by your one-year admission anniversary deadline.
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.
I was an active licensee for only part of the reporting period. Do I still need to report?
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.
Is my call with the Ethics Hotline confidential?
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.
Applications will be accepted once the program is operative.
Why is the State Bar developing an ADR Certification Program?
State law (Business and Professions Code section 6173) requires the State Bar to create a certification program for ADR firms, providers, and practitioners. The statute also establishes some requirements for the program.
Who qualifies to be a Supervising Attorney?
Your Supervising Attorney must be an active licensee of the State Bar of California in good standing. They must have practiced law for at least four years in any United States jurisdiction and have actively practiced law in California or taught in a California law school for at least two years immediately preceding the time of supervision. Please refer to California Rules of Court 9.42 (a)(4).
I have graduated from law school or completed four years of recognized study through the Law Office Study Program. Am I eligible to apply for the CLS Program?
An applicant who graduates from a JD or LLM program or completes four years of recognized study through the LOS Program is eligible to apply for the CLS Program for up to 30 days after their graduation or completion of studies.
Where can I find additional resources to help me prepare for a CTAPP compliance review?
What happens to my files and records after the review is over?
All records submitted for the compliance review are retained securely by the State Bar and/or CPA firm within the State Bar Audit Platform for the duration required to complete the review and fulfill regulatory obligations. The CPA firms agree that the State Bar will retain all files. Confidentiality and privilege protections remain in place. After the review is concluded, records are handled in accordance with the State Bar’s retention policies and applicable confidentiality rules.
How much will a compliance review cost?
When the State Bar selects an attorney for a compliance review, the review is conducted on the firm’s trust accounting practices. The cost of a compliance review will generally range between $5,000 and $10,000. However, poor recordkeeping, slow response times in turning over requested documents, and unclear communications will generally require the CPA to spend more time completing the compliance review, potentially increasing the cost. On the other hand, records that are well-maintained and comply with the rules outlined in the scope of the compliance review procedures published for public comment will likely result in lower costs to attorneys.
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.
As an inactive attorney, do I still need to complete NAT during my first year?
Yes. NAT is a requirement for new licensees, and there are no exemptions based on inactive status. (Rule 2.143.)
Will the State Bar require me to resubmit criminal information previously reported?
No. If you already reported criminal information to the State Bar in the moral character process or under the self-reporting mandate, you are not required to report the same information again.
Does the State Bar have a legal specialist program?
Replace with the following:
The State Bar certifies specialists in 11 areas: Admiralty & Maritime, Appellate, Bankruptcy, Criminal, Estate Planning, Family, Franchise & Distribution, Immigration, Legal Malpractice, Taxation, and Workers' Compensation. If you have questions, please fill out the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry Form or call 415-538-2120.
How long do I need to keep my records on file once my audit is complete?
For a year after reporting MCLE compliance, a member must retain and provide upon demand and to the satisfaction of the State Bar the following:
a provider’s certificate of attendance
a record of self-study that includes the title, provider, credit hours and date of each activity
proof of exempt status
Rule 2.73 adopted effective Jan. 1, 2008
How do I get proof of completion for courses I took through the State Bar of California?
You may sign into your My State Bar Profile page and navigate to the E-Learning Portal. Each MCLE course will offer a PDF-formatted certificate you may print or save, provided the courses haven’t expired. The State Bar only offers courses through the E-Learning Portal.
Please note we do not require copies of certificates for expired courses. We will have internal record of the courses you have completed via the E-Learning Portal as the direct provider. Also, the Portal will always have record of the courses you have completed, and you may view the list at any time.
Can I opt out of the survey?
This survey is entirely voluntary: you may decline to answer any question that you prefer not to answer.
Do government attorneys lose their Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) exemption by doing pro bono work?
No, MCLE Rule 2.54 allows attorneys in California employed by the State of California or federal government to keep the MCLE exemption if they are doing pro bono work for a qualified legal services provider.
Where can I find pro bono opportunities?
There are many places to look for interesting and rewarding pro bono work. Refer to the State Bar's Pro Bono Opportunities Directory to find programs by region or the California Pro Bono Portal to explore volunteer opportunities throughout the state.
I’m having technical difficulties with the online summary log. Whom can I call for help?
