The State Bar encourages individual licensees to pay their annual fees online through My State Bar Profile. When it is necessary to mail a payment, you must include either a copy of your invoice which can be generated online in your profile, or a copy of your fee statement, which is available to download in My State Bar Profile. The only exception to this is if your payment clearly indicates your bar number and VAK (your VAK is an additional bank validation code provided on your invoice and fee statement).
Failure to include a copy of your invoice or fee statement with your mailed payment may result in your payment being rejected and subject you to nonconforming payment penalties.
The State Bar no longer accepts cash payments, and we do not accept payments in person or over the phone.
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
How does the program work?
If an attorney claims you owe an outstanding balance of fees or costs, they must provide to you a “Notice of Client’s Right to Fee Arbitration” form approved by the State Bar before or at the time of filing a lawsuit, or other proceeding to collect the amount. You will then have the option of asking for mandatory fee arbitration with the appropriate local bar association program within 30 days of receiving that notice, or with the State Bar if the appropriate local bar association does not offer mandatory fee arbitration. If you fail to request mandatory fee arbitration within 30 days, you will have waived your right to arbitration, and the attorney may take legal action to collect the fees or costs.
After you submit a request for arbitration form and filing fee to the appropriate program, the attorney can respond to your request. A neutral arbitrator, or a panel of three arbitrators, depending on the amount in dispute, will be assigned to listen to both you and the attorney, and decide the appropriate fees. The arbitrator may decide that you paid the attorney more than is appropriate, and you may be awarded a refund of attorney’s fees or costs already paid.
The arbitrator may also decide that you must pay the attorney unpaid fees, or that neither of you owe anything further. In no event will an arbitrator order you to pay more than what you agreed to in your fee agreement.
Where do I send my payments if I want to mail a check?
Payments submitted by mail are required to include either a copy of your invoice or fee statement. Send the invoice/fee statement and check to:
The State Bar of California P.O. Box 842142 Los Angeles, CA 90084-2142
Depending on the circumstances, the arbitrator will consider several factors in reaching a decision. These may include:
Whether there was a written fee agreement;
The value of the attorney’s services;
Whether the attorney spent an appropriate amount of time on your case;
Whether there are any billing errors; and
Whether any professional negligence or misconduct by the attorney affected the value of the services
The arbitrator will decide the matter based on written submissions and the evidence presented at the hearing. The award will be either binding or nonbinding, depending on what the two parties choose.
How long does the provider’s status remain effective once approved?
A SAP’s application/program is approved for a period of two years from the date of the activity. An approval for MAP status is granted for a period of two years.
What do the fees for active and inactive attorneys include?
What is the difference between binding and nonbinding arbitration?
Nonbinding arbitration means that after the arbitration decision is mailed, either party may file an action in court within 30 days, rejecting the award and requesting a trial in court. The party who files the action to reject the award will become the plaintiff in a lawsuit against the other party. This may entail additional costs and—for lawsuits filed in the Superior Court—the assistance of a lawyer.
