Fees have not been set. By law, the program must be self-funded through certification fees. Attorney license fees may not be used to support the program.
At its February 26–27, 2026, meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the final 2026 State Bar budget. The 2026 budget includes total projected revenue of $374.5 million and total expenses of $463.5 million, resulting in a budgeted deficit of $89.0 million.
The Ethics Hotline is a confidential research service provided by the State Bar of California. It offers guidance to licensed attorneys on questions related to their professional responsibilities under the Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Act.
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.
How do I contact the Ethics Hotline?
You can reach the Ethics Hotline in two ways:
By phone: Call 1-800-238-4427 (within California) or 415-538-2150 (outside of California). Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon (PST). You may speak with a live agent or leave a callback number. Calls are returned in the order received.
Online request form: Submit a Research Assistance Request Form at any time. A staff member will respond by phone within one to two business days in the order received.
What types of questions can the Ethics Hotline help with?
The types of ethical questions that the Ethics Hotline can assist with include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conflicts of interest
Communication with the represented person
Duties of confidentiality and competence
Advertising and solicitation
Fee arrangements and client trust accounting
Withdrawal from representation of a client
Other issues under the California Rules of Professional Conduct and Business and Professions Code
Staff can provide citations to relevant rules, cases, and ethics opinions (State Bar or local bar associations).
What can’t the Ethics Hotline do?
The Ethics Hotline:
Cannot offer legal advice. Staff cannot tell you what to do, review documents, or recommend a specific course of action; they can only provide references to applicable rules and authorities.
Cannot assist with administrative or compliance issues, such as:
Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP)
Law Corporations or Limited Liability Partnerships
Yes. All communications with the Ethics Hotline are confidential and not shared with third parties or disciplinary authorities. The Ethics Hotline does not make referrals to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel.
Additional tips before you call:
Have a clear and concise summary of your ethical question or fact pattern.
Be prepared to provide relevant context but avoid disclosing client-identifying information.
