Does the State Bar have a program for attorneys to provide pro bono services?
The State Bar offers attorneys who would otherwise be inactive the opportunity to contribute their legal expertise to Californians in need through its Pro Bono Practice Program.
Participants who qualify can have their State Bar annual fees waived and also get free and reduced rates to attend Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE).
Learn more about the eligibility requirements and how to apply here.
The State Bar does not have a formal program for active attorneys.
What are the different levels of discipline that the State Bar Court imposes on attorneys?
The Probation Unit of the Office of Chief Trial Counsel monitors attorneys’ compliance with the conditions imposed on suspensions and reprovals.
The State Bar Court also may put attorneys on involuntary inactive status if they appear to pose a serious threat to the public.
If a State Bar investigation indicates that an attorney’s conduct only bordered on a violation or was a minor breach, State Bar prosecutors may choose an alternative to discipline.
The State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel could decide to:
Send a Directional or Warning Letter to the attorney, and close the case.
Issue an Admonition informing the attorney that no further action will take place as long as they stay out of trouble for two years.
Settle on an Agreement in Lieu of Discipline that requires the attorney to fulfill specially tailored remedial conditions.
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
What kinds of violations typically result in disbarment and other levels of discipline?
Each case is different. Most disbarred attorneys fall into one of two categories: (1) They committed a very serious violation, such as perjury or stealing client funds, or (2) they have a history of misconduct.
Reproval, either public or private, usually is reserved for first-time offenders whose misconduct falls on the low end of the scale.
For example, abandoning one client might lead to a private reproval or remedial action, such as Ethics School. Abandoning 12 clients, however, would likely result in much more serious discipline.
An attorney is placed on probation so that his or her conduct in the practice of law can be monitored—much like supervised probation in the criminal justice system.
Occasionally, another practicing attorney—serving as a probation monitor—meets with the disciplined attorney. The disciplined attorney then files regular reports and could be required to meet special conditions during the probationary period. Most conditions of probation are monitored by the Probation Unit.
I’ve lost (or never received) my MCLE Audit Notice. What do I do now?
Requests for duplicate audit notices and general questions regarding the MCLE Audit should be submitted to the State Bar’s MCLE Audit Team by completing a Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form online. You may also call Attorney Regulation at 888-800-3400.
When can I set up my E-Bill Express account?
After April 10, 2025, the State Bar will send you a one-time enrollment email to set up your EBill Express account. Once you receive that email, you can follow the instructions provided to complete your account setup.
Where do I go if I have questions about my MCLE compliance?
What qualifications does the attorney or judge under whom I study need?
An attorney must be an active licensee in good standing of the State Bar, who has practiced law continuously for at least five years in any United States jurisdiction and actively practiced law in California or taught law in a California law school for at least two years immediately preceding the time of supervision. A judge must be a judge of a court of record in California, such as a California Superior Court or California Court of Appeal. Please refer to rule 4.29(B) of the Rules of the State Bar.
In addition, a supervising attorney or judge may not supervise more than two LOS students simultaneously.
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.
What legal work qualifies as pro bono?
The State Bar Board of Trustees defines pro bono as providing or enabling “the direct delivery of legal services, without expectation of compensation other than reimbursement of expenses, to indigent individuals, or to not-for-profit organizations with a primary purpose of providing services to the poor or on behalf of the poor or disadvantaged, not-for-profit organizations with a purpose of improving the law and the legal system, or increasing access to justice.” See the Pro Bono Resolution on the State Bar’s website.
Legal work for clients referred from a legal aid program generally qualifies, but waiving fees for clients unable to pay does not count as pro bono if payment was initially expected. For the work perfrmed to fall within the meaning of pro bono, the lawyer providing the legal services must intend to do so for free, and the recipient must be indient. Pro bono opportunities vary depending on the needs of the client community. Examples might include:
Representation (full or limited scope)
Negotiation and settlement
Screening and intake
Brief service by phone or in person
Legal informationor "Know Your Rights" workshops
Document preparation and review
Mentoring and training less experienced staff and volunteer attorneys
