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.
Does the State Bar have any guidance on how to implement the Action Items?
The State Bar has created a Resource Guide that provides tips and best practices to consider when implementing the Action Items. The guide is intended to be one tool to help organizations develop and achieve their DEI goals and is not intended to provide step-by-step instructions.
Why is the State Bar administering this program?
The State Bar’s mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system. Additionally, the State Bar of California’s strategic goals include “promot[ing] diversity and inclusion in the legal system.”
1.5 What measures are the State Bar taking to ensure the information reported for CTAPP is secure?
The State Bar takes reasonable precautions and has security measures in place to protect the personal information we collect and maintain against loss, unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure. We take the following measures to secure the information that is stored within our applications:
Protecting the security of individuals’ personal information during transmission by using encryption protocols and software.
Storing personal information in secure locations in an encrypted format.
Ensuring staff is trained on procedures for the management and release of personal information. This information can only be accessed by staff whose work requires it.
Conducting periodic audits to ensure that proper information management policies and procedures are being followed.
2.8 I don’t handle entrusted funds. Do I have to report?
If you do not maintain a trust account, a trust account is not maintained on your behalf, and you do not need a trust account because you are not responsible for complying with any of the requirements or prohibitions in rule 1.15—other than the disclosure and agreement requirements in rule 1.15(b) pertaining to depositing a flat fee paid in advance into a lawyer’s or law firm’s operating account—you can answer “no” to the Screening Question: “At any point during the reporting period of January 1, 2025–December 31, 2025, or, if you are a new licensee who must pay your initial license fees pursuant to rule 2.12 of the Rules of the State Bar, from your date of admission through the following December 31, 2025, or the due date for payment of fees, whichever is earlier, were you responsible for complying with any of the requirements or prohibitions governing the safekeeping of funds of clients and other persons under rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct?” After submitting that response and declaring the information is true, your compliance with CTAPP will be deemed complete.
If your practice does not require a client trust account, you do not need to open one to report it to the State Bar as part of the CTAPP requirements. If you have questions about using trust accounts, including whether you are responsible for complying with any of the requirements or prohibitions in rule 1.15 or whether you need a trust account, please contact the State Bar’s Ethics Hotline research service at 800-238-4427 (toll-free in California). The Ethics Hotline might be able to provide helpful citations and resource references. The Ethics Hotline cannot provide legal advice, nor tell you how to comply with any of the CTAPP requirements, including the self-assessment.
How long is Client Trust Accounting School, and will I receive MCLE credit?
The course is approximately one and a half hours long, but you may complete it at your own pace and save your progress.
If you are taking the course as the result of being disciplined by the State Bar, CLE credit is not available. Attorneys completing the course for this purpose must submit a certificate of completion to the Office of Case Management and Supervision upon completion of the course.
If you are taking this course as a condition of an abeyance stipulation related to an Application for Determination of Moral Character, MCLE credit is not available. Individuals completing the course for this purpose must submit a certificate of completion to the Office of Admissions upon conclusion of the course.
When browsing the course catalog, select “CTA School—Client Trust Accounting Rules and Regulations.” Do not select the course that covers similar content (e.g., “Client Trust Accounting Rules and Regulations”). Taking any similar voluntary course will not satisfy your mandatory obligation to complete the course, whether mandated by an order of the California Supreme Court or the State Bar Court, or required by the Office of Admissions. To satisfy a mandatory obligation, you must take the mandatory CTA School course, which is not eligible for MCLE credit.
Who can use the Ethics Hotline?
This service is available to all licensed attorneys so long as the question is not related to a pending disciplinary investigation or case with the State Bar.
When will the tentative proposal be released?
A date has not been set. It depends on when subgroups finish their recommendations and the Working Group approves its complete tentative proposal.
What are the possible outcomes?
Possible outcomes of the compliance review include:
Confirmation of compliance with no further action
Recommendations for best practices for a compliance review with minimal findings
A mandatory corrective action plan
Escalation to an investigative audit
Referral to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel for possible disciplinary action
What happens if I can’t find some of the records?
If certain records are unavailable, you must notify the CPA or State Bar reviewer as soon as possible. You may be asked to explain the reason for the missing documents and provide any alternative documentation or context available.
Are appellate counsel appointed to indigent defendants exempt from reporting?
No. Appellate counsel appointed to represent indigent defendants are not included in any of the categories of attorneys who are exempt from reporting pro bono or reduced fee hours under Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d). Although work performed by appointed appellate counsel does not meet the definition of pro bono services under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c), this work may qualify as reduced fee or “low bono” legal services. Under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(d), reduced fee legal services means providing or enabling the direct delivery of legal services at a substantially reduced rate that is affordable to persons of limited means to either a person of limited means or a person or an organization identified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1) in subdivision (c) of section 6073.1.” Attorneys are encouraged to use their best good-faith judgment when making these determinations.
The Live Scan vendor is requesting a rejection notice that was issued by the DOJ or FBI. How do I obtain a copy of this rejection notice? How is this information different from the State Bar–issued rejection emails?
You can email the State Bar and request a copy of your DOJ/FBI rejection notice. These notices include information on the reason why the DOJ and/or FBI rejected your fingerprints. The State Bar reviews each response and provides attorneys with a rejection email that summarizes the reason for the rejection and details the necessary steps to successfully resubmit fingerprints.
What percent of candidates have been found not qualified?
2025: 9.9 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2024: 8.7 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2023: 15.1 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2022: 8.7 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2021: 11.1 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2020: 6.5 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2019: 8.1 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2018: 7.2 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2017: 7.9 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2016: 5.5 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2015: 7.9 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2014: 7.1 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2013: 10.7 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2012: 13.82 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2011: 6.36 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
2010: 9.13 percent of candidates were rated not qualified.
What happens if I just ignore the MCLE audit?
Failure to comply with the audit by the deadline will result in the assessment of a $103 late penalty and the issuance of a 60-day notice. Failure to pay the penalty and comply with the audit by the deadline on the notice will result in your placement on Administrative Inactive Status or Not Eligible to Practice status until you submit the required proof of compliance, pay the $103 penalty and an additional $205 reinstatement fee. You will not be eligible for reinstatement until you comply with the audit. You may also be referred to the State Bar discipline system for filing a false declaration of compliance.
Does the letter from my supervisor have to be on company letterhead or will you accept an email?
