If I have been disciplined by an attorney regulatory or other regulatory agency, does my disciplinary history affect my eligibility?
No. Notwithstanding a prior disciplinary history, if you are currently licensed and entitled to practice law, you may register as a legal services attorney. However, a record of discipline could lead to an adverse moral character determination depending on the nature of the circumstances leading to the imposition of discipline, the nature and amount of rehabilitation that has taken place, and the length of time since the events that led to discipline. For more information, go to www.calbar.ca.gov>Bar Exam>Moral Character.
If I failed the California Bar Exam after my registration as a registered legal services attorney, would my status be affected?
No. If you have successfully registered as a legal services attorney, your status will not change if you thereafter fail the California Bar Exam.
If I took and failed the California bar exam, does that affect my eligibility?
Yes. If you took and failed it within five years immediately preceding your application to register as a legal services attorney, you are not eligible for registration.
Do I have to take the California bar exam?
No. You must meet all of the requirements for admission to the California bar except that you do not need to take the bar exam or the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam.
How do I register as a legal services attorney?
Submit a registration application, which includes an Application for Determination of Moral Character, to the State Bar with the appropriate fees. MJP registration applications are available online. The moral character application is available, but must be submitted with the MJP application, not separately.
What is a Registered Legal Services Attorney? (Rule 9.45)
An attorney who is licensed to practice law in one or more U.S. jurisdictions other than California, relocates to California to work at a qualifying legal services provider and only on behalf of its clients, works under the supervision of an attorney employed by that provider, and is registered by the State Bar of California. See General Information FAQs for additional information.
What address should MJP attorneys use as their address of record for State Bar purposes?
The office address of the attorney's employer (qualifying institution for in-house counsel and legal services attorney) will be considered your address of record. If your current employer changes its address, you must submit a written notice to:
Office of Admissions (MJP) The State Bar of California 845 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90017-2515
If your address change is due to new employment, you must submit a Change of Employment Form to the State Bar's Office of Admissions.
MJP attorneys are not allowed to practice law with other institutions without registration by the State Bar.
Are attorneys licensed only in foreign countries eligible to practice under the MJP rules?
No. The only eligible attorneys are those who are licensed attorneys in good standing of the bar of at least one U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction, possession or dependency.
Will registered legal services attorneys or in-house counsel receive a certificate of registration?
Yes. They will receive a standard certificate once the registration process is complete.
Under 9.46, may a non-California attorney register to work with more than one qualifying institution?
In-House Counsel may only register to work with a single qualifying institution.
