Unless exempt (see FAQ 2.3, above), California licensees, regardless of where they practice, must still comply with the CTAPP reporting requirements. To answer Step 1 (Annual Client Trust Account Reporting) questions, licensees must determine whether they are responsible for client funds and funds entrusted by others under the provisions of rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct. (See Rules Prof. Conduct, rule 8.5.) If so, because rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct requires attorneys who handle trust funds to hold those funds in one or more client trust accounts labeled as a “Trust Account,” or words of similar import, the licensee must answer “yes” to at least one of the CTAPP Annual Client Trust Account Reporting questions of whether they maintained any trust accounts under Business and Professions Code section 6211, subdivision (a) where the interest is paid to the State Bar, also known as an Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) or trust accounts under Business and Professions Code section 6211, subdivision (b) where the interest is payable to a client or other person, also known as non-IOLTA trust accounts, and complete the remaining CTAPP requirements.

Only if the licensee is not responsible for any client funds and funds entrusted by others under rule 1.15 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct may the licensee answer “no” to the CTAPP Annual Client Trust Account Reporting questions. 

For information on reporting an IOLTA account outside California, please refer to CTAPP FAQ 4.3, below.

Yes. Some categories of attorneys are exempt from reporting pro bono hours. However, even licensees who are exempt from reporting their pro bono hours must declare their exemption status in My State Bar Profile. The reporting requirement applies to active licensees, including participants in the State Bar’s Pro Bono Practice Program. The reporting requirement does not apply to:

• Licensees employed by an organization primarily engaged in the provision of pro bono legal services, including qualified legal services projects and qualified support centers, legal aid organizations, and nonprofit public benefit corporations.
• Full-time employees, officers, or elected officials of the State of California, political subdivisions, or the federal government. This includes city and county employees (such as public defenders), trial court attorneys employed by the judicial branch, and employees of tribal governments and the University of California. Attorneys working for state governments outside California are not included in this exemption.
• Licensees whose current employer prohibits them from performing pro bono legal services (if declared on their My State Bar Profile by selecting the corresponding checkbox under this option).

For more information, see Business and Professions Code section 6073.2.

These issues are likely the result of the learner’s device referring to an earlier memory cache (version) of the course and the device not refreshing correctly. The following steps usually resolve this issue:

1. Clear your browser’s memory cache/history.
2. Try using a different Internet browser. See below for optimal settings.
3. Try launching the course on a different device.

Optimal Settings:

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Depending on the type of screen you are on when you exit, the course will resume at that point or at the beginning of the same section. However, if this is not the case, your device may be referring to an earlier memory cache (version) of the course and may not be refreshing correctly. Try carrying out each of these options until you resolve the issue: 

1. Clear your browser’s memory cache/history
2. Try using a different Internet browser. The following are optimal: Windows 7/10: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 11 or above; iOS Safari
3. Try launching the course on a different device.

Attorneys who are eligible for fee scaling and agree to comply with all required obligations by the April 1, 2025, including: 

• Attorney profile verification
• Client Trust Account Protection Program
• MCLE compliance (if applicable) I

f an attorney is assessed a noncompliance penalty for any required annual reporting obligation, they will no longer be eligible for the installment plan and must pay all outstanding fees and costs in full by June 30, 2025.

Yes, attorneys may pay their installments in advance if they wish to complete their payments before the final deadline of October 1, 2025.

No. Pursuant to rule 9.40 of the California Rules of Court, the application must include the out-of-state attorney's residence and office address.  

No. Arrests are not reportable actions under current law, and the fact that an attorney has been arrested is not an independent basis for disbarment or suspension.

We offer a variety of online courses, the majority of which qualify for Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit, with a focus on required credits such as legal ethics and attorney competency. All courses are self-paced, allowing you to start, pause, and continue learning whenever it works best for you. 

Yes, payments are processed through a secure gateway, and we do not store your card details.