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.
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.
Are county employees considered exempt?
No. County employees are not exempt. Employees of California Superior Courts are exempt from MCLE requirements.
Is my out-of-state/country CLE acceptable in California?
You may apply the MCLE credit from courses approved by many states and a few overseas jurisdictions if you were physically outside California when you completed them. This is by rule, so no special forms or requests are needed. Check the approved jurisdictions list on the State Bar website.
If I took and failed the California bar exam, does that affect my eligibility?
Yes. If you took and failed it within five years immediately preceding your application to register as a legal services attorney, you are not eligible for registration.
Under 9.45, may a non-California attorney register to work with more than one qualifying public interest organization?
Legal services attorneys may only register to work with a single qualifying public interest organization.
What constitutes a formal legal proceeding?
A formal legal proceeding refers to litigation, arbitration, mediation, or a legal action before an administrative decision-maker.
How will attorneys know that we are a Leadership Bank?
Starting in January 2020, the State Bar will highlight the Leadership Bank Program through press releases and social media accounts. In addition, the State Bar will ensure that Leadership Banks are prominently displayed on its website and have active hyperlinks to the Leadership Banks’ IOLTA websites. Lastly, designated Leadership Banks may advertise their IOLTA offerings with the State Bar Leadership Bank logo.
My fingerprints were rejected and the State Bar rejection letter is requiring that the Live Scan reference the Original Applicant Tracking Identifier (ATI) for re-submittal. What does that mean?
When the DOJ/FBI rejects an individual’s fingerprints, the individual must be re-fingerprinted by the same Live Scan vendor to avoid paying another processing fee. The Live Scan vendor must submit the subsequent set of fingerprints as a re-submittal using the Original Applicant Tracking Identifier (OATI). The OATI refers to the ATI number that is associated with the fingerprints that were previously rejected. If the Live Scan vendor does not enter the OATI correctly or fails to enter the OATI when submitting the subsequent set of fingerprints, the DOJ/FBI will not associate the subsequent set of fingerprints as a re-submittal. The OATI indicates to the DOJ/FBI there were a previous set of fingerprints submitted through the Live Scan process and rejected. Attorneys should contact the State Bar when a Live Scan vendor fails to re-submit the fingerprints correctly and multiple rejections occur.
Would it be permissible to amend the Live Scan form, assuming we have authorization from our agency, to include an agency billing number that will allow my employer to cover the cost for submitting fingerprints to the DOJ and FBI?
Yes, attorneys are allowed to modify the Live Scan form to include their employer’s agency billing number on the billing number line. Attorney must confirm that their agency has an active account with the DOJ and the Live Scan vendor to pay fingerprinting fees.
Do I have to enter my home address on the Live Scan form?
The DOJ procedures recommend entering a home address when completing the California DOJ Live Scan form. However, some Live Scan vendors may accept a non- California home address. The State Bar does not receive or track any information provided to the Live Scan vendor. You are not required to provide the same address reported to the State Bar.
I completed Live Scan fingerprints and my prints were rejected. Can I submit a fingerprint card in lieu of resubmitting my fingerprints to the Live Scan vendor?
No, the DOJ will not accept ink fingerprint cards from an individual who resides in or has a California address.
Will the State Bar retain my fingerprints?
No. The DOJ will retain fingerprints only for the purpose of notifying the State Bar of subsequent criminal offense information.
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