News

The State Bar of California announced today that it sold its San Francisco headquarters at 180 Howard Street in the Financial District to Ridge Capital Investors for $54 million.

The State Bar of California reported today that 51.5 percent of applicants passed the July 2023 General Bar Examination (GBX). As a result, the 3,888 people who passed the July exam will be eligible for admission to the State Bar as soon as all admissions requirements are satisfied.

The State Bar of California’s Annual Discipline Report for fiscal year (FY) 2023 (ADR) published today, includes for the first time a snapshot of the race/ethnicity and gender of disciplined attorneys.

The State Bar of California Board of Trustees marked a leadership transition at its September 21–22 meeting, as Board Chair Brandon Stallings, Vice Chair José Cisneros, and new Trustee Mary Huser were sworn into office.

The State Bar of California seized the Gardena practice of George Y. Takahashi, doing business as American Legal Counseling, Advanced Legal Services, and American Horitsusodan, announced George Cardona, the State Bar Chief Trial Counsel today. The Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) received an interim ruling from a Los Angeles Superior Court after Takahashi engaged in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) by providing legal services and holding himself out as an attorney. 

The State Bar of California today released reports from an independent investigation into whether former Chair of the Board of Trustees Sean SeLegue had a disqualifying conflict of interest arising out of his involvement with a 2010 discipline case against since disbarred attorney Thomas V. Girardi. The investigation found that Mr. SeLegue did not have a disqualifying conflict of interest and that neither he nor other State Bar leaders engaged in misconduct. The reports, which have been redacted on a limited basis as required by law, are being shared in keeping with the State Bar’s commitment to transparency. 

At its meeting on July 20, 2023, the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees approved proposed measures to improve the civility of attorneys who are authorized to practice law in California.

The State Bar of California Board of Trustees approved Thursday a 2024 grant distribution of more than $95.2 million from Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA), pooled trust account interest funds that support legal aid organizations serving indigent Californians. The 2024 IOLTA allocation, recommended to the Board by the State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund Commission (LSTFC), marks an 88 percent increase from the 2023 IOLTA grant distribution.  

California attorneys safeguard nearly $14 billion in client funds through their pooled Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTAs) and non-IOLTA client trust accounts (CTAs), and proactive efforts through the new Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) are already helping attorneys ensure they are properly handling those funds, the State Bar reports.

The State Bar of California filed Notices of Disciplinary Charges (NDCs) Wednesday against former Girardi Keese law firm attorneys David Richard Lira (SB#134370) and Keith David Griffin (SB#204388), the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) announced today.

The State Bar of California announced today that 34 legal employers are receiving the first DEI Leadership Seals in the Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers. The DEI Leadership Seal Program recognizes legal employers who implement research-driven actions that further workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. The State Bar launched the program in January 2023 in support of its strategic plan goal of enhancing access to and inclusion in the legal system. 

The State Bar of California and the Los Angeles Times have entered into a settlement agreement in the matter of Los Angeles Times Communications v. State Bar of California (Girardi) that is pending before the California Supreme Court. Under the agreement’s terms, the parties will jointly request that the Court dismiss the petition, which the Los Angeles Times filed in June 2021, seeking access to information pertaining to closed disciplinary cases against now-disbarred attorney Thomas V. Girardi.   

The State Bar of California announced today a new paid summer Legal Aid Leaders Fellowship Program for 76 law school fellows. The State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund Commission awarded nearly $760,000 to 35 host legal aid providers. 

At its meeting on May 18 and 19, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees approved two alternatives for California Supreme Court consideration of a new Rule of Professional Conduct that would require attorneys to report misconduct by other attorneys.   

Today the State Bar announced that 1,224 (32.5 percent of applicants) passed the February 2023 California General Bar Exam, and 205 (56.9 percent of applicants) passed the Attorneys’ Exam. 

The State Bar of California issued the following statement in response to the California State Auditor’s report today:

The State Bar of California is currently accepting applications from attorneys interested in serving on the Board of Directors for California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA), a legal aid organization that serves rural and small city residents in communities throughout California. CRLA is funded through the State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund, as well as the federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a nonprofit established by the U.S. Congress in 1974 to promote equal access to justice and provide grants to assist low-income Americans.

At its meeting on March 16, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees approved for a 45-day public comment period options for a new rule that would create a duty for California attorneys to report misconduct by other attorneys.

The State Bar of California Board of Trustees released today two redacted reports on its past handling of complaints against disgraced and disbarred attorney Thomas V. Girardi. The Board decided to release the reports in furtherance of the agency’s public protection mission and its commitment to transparency and accountability.

As this week marks National Consumer Protection Week, the State Bar of California’s Public Trust Liaison (El Intermediario de Confianza Públicas) Enrique Zuniga seeks to create awareness about how the public can avoid legal fraud and scams, saving time, money, and―in some cases―preventing irreparable harm.