I am not allowed to practice law as of January 1, 2025, and am experiencing extreme financial hardship, and cannot settle for the amount offered. What can I do?
If you reject the settlement offer and are experiencing extreme financial hardship, please enter an amount you would be able to pay on the feedback form or indicate in the comments that you are experiencing financial hardship. You will receive an email with a link to a questionnaire about your financial situation. All information and attachments will be kept securely and confidentially. The State Bar will review the answers in your questionnaire and email a response from eConciliador.
What if I want to speak to someone in person?
We want to make this process as easy as possible for you. Call 1-855-394-5084 and please have your State Bar Number ready.
After I sign the Settlement and Release of Claims Agreement, when do I have to pay?
You can elect to pay immediately in one lump-sum payment or choose to pay in installments. If you chose to pay in installments, full payment must be received by December 31, 2025.
What's the benefit of paying the settlement in one lump-sum payment?
Paying the settlement all at once entitles you to an additional five percent reduction in the amount owed.
If I pay in installments, are there additional fees or interest?
No, there are no additional fees or interest for choosing the installment payment option. If you opt for an installment plan of four or less payments, your monthly installments will be of equal value. If you opt for an installment plan of five or more payments, the first installment will be 25% of the settled value and subsequent installments will be of equal value.
How long do I have to pay?
The entire settlement must be paid by December 31, 2025. No exceptions. If you do not pay the new settlement amount by December 31, 2025, the Settlement Agreement will be terminated. You will owe the original amount of the debt (less what you have paid) and the State Bar reserves all rights to pursue, or continue to pursue, all available legal remedies to recover the total owed debt, including without limitation reporting the debt to FTB, credit reporting agencies, entry of a Superior Court money judgment and/or pursuing legal actions.
When can I expect my billing record to be updated once I complete the Fresh Start settlement payment?
Upon completion of your Fresh Start settlement payment, please allow two weeks for your billing record to be updated. This applies to nondisbarred and nonresigned attorneys only. Disbarred and resigned attorneys do not have active billing records.
What happens to my payment plan with FTB, or my garnishments through FTB, if I settle through the Fresh Start Settlement Program?
When you sign the Settlement Agreement, the State Bar will recall your debt from FTB within two weeks. Any payments already in transit from FTB to the State Bar at that time belong to the State Bar and will not be refunded to you.
What happens to my installment plan granted by State Bar Court, if I settle through the Fresh Start Settlement Program?
Settlements made through the Fresh Start Settlement Program will supersede any existing installment order from State Bar Court.
What methods of payment does the Fresh Start Settlement Program accept?
We strongly encourage online payment via credit card or ACH. All credit cards are accepted. Click on the link on the Fresh Start Settlement Program website to pay through Wells Fargo.
If for some reason you are unable to pay online, we also accept mailed check payments made payable to State Bar of California, mailed to:
State Bar of California
Attn: Collections
180 Howard St San Francisco, CA 94105
Your check must include your State Bar Number in the memo line. Please do not mail a check until you have signed the settlement agreement. Please include a signed copy of your settlement agreement with your check.
