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.
Can my assistant, paralegal, or associated California attorney submit a PHV application on my behalf?
Yes. Paralegals and assistants must create their own account in the Office of Admissions' Applicant Portal using their own credentials (email address and name). Once the paralegal or assistant has access to the Applicant Portal, they may submit a PHV application with the fee on behalf of the out-of-state attorney.
A licensed California attorney may also submit a PHV application on behalf of the out-ofstate attorney. The California attorney must sign into the Applicant Portal using their credentials or contact the Office of Admissions at 800-843-9053 to reset their login information for the Applicant Portal.
My client and I were both sanctioned. Do I still need to report it?
Yes. If you are named either individually or jointly with a client or other party, you must report the sanctions.
Do I need an account to purchase and access courses?
Yes, you need an account to purchase and access courses.
Nonattorneys: Create a new account or log in using your existing credentials.
Attorneys: Log into My State Bar Profile , access the e-Learning Portal, and go to the “Catalog” to view available courses
How long do I have access to the course after purchase? Do courses have an expiration date?
You’ll have access to the course for 90 days from the date of purchase. Please check the course details for specific expiration information.
Please note: Course completion or MCLE certificates are only available for 30 days after you complete the course.
Do I have to enter my home address on the Live Scan form?
The DOJ procedures recommend entering a home address when completing the California DOJ Live Scan form. However, some Live Scan vendors may accept a non- California home address. The State Bar does not receive or track any information provided to the Live Scan vendor. You are not required to provide the same address reported to the State Bar.
I completed Live Scan fingerprints and my prints were rejected. Can I submit a fingerprint card in lieu of resubmitting my fingerprints to the Live Scan vendor?
No, the DOJ will not accept ink fingerprint cards from an individual who resides in or has a California address.
Will the State Bar retain my fingerprints?
No. The DOJ will retain fingerprints only for the purpose of notifying the State Bar of subsequent criminal offense information.
a declaration by the out-of-state attorney containing his/her name, home and business addresses; where he/she is licensed to practice; and whether the attorney is a member in good standing in his/her home state.
the name, phone number, address and bar number of the California attorney of record.
It is advisable to speak with the office of the arbitrator for information regarding its requirements and documentation
Do I need to send in anything else when reporting my Compliance online?
Except in the case of an audit, an attorney should never send in any MCLE-related documentation unless specifically requested to do so by the State Bar (otherwise, it will be returned).
However, in the event that an attorney's compliance is audited, attorneys are required to maintain sufficient proof of compliance with the education requirement or of an exemption status for at least one year from the date they report compliance.
Can the Governor appoint a candidate whom the JNE Commission finds not qualified?
Yes. If the Governor appoints a person to a trial court who has been found not qualified, the State Bar may make this fact public after due notice to the appointee of its intention to do so.
If the Governor nominates or appoints a person who has been found not qualified to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, the JNE commission submits its recommendation, and the reasons for such recommendation, to the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
Do I have to be a permanent or probationary employee in order to be exempt?
Yes. However, retired attorneys (annuitants) and consultants do not meet the standard of being a permanent or probationary employee and are not exempt from MCLE compliance.
I joined the Bar towards the end of the compliance period. How do I calculate my proportional hours?
This link includes a table you can use to verify your proportional requirement:
