The Client Security Fund reimburses clients who have lost money or property due to theft or other dishonest acts by a California lawyer acting in a professional capacity. Supported entirely by lawyers’ annual fees, the fund reimburses eligible applicants up to $100,000. See the State Bar pamphlet The Client Security Fund Can Help You for more information.

You will be notified by email when you can access your annual fees through My State Bar Profile. It’s very important to update your contact information for official State Bar use so you’ll receive these and other important notifications. Group payments must be made through Agency Billing.

Both arbitration and mediation involve a neutral third party. In arbitration, the arbitrator hears evidence and arguments, and then issues a decision that may be binding or nonbinding. In mediation, the mediator helps the parties reach their own voluntary agreement.

No. You can try to resolve the case through mediation first, provided that both parties agree to mediate the dispute. If no settlement is reached, your case may proceed to arbitration. It must proceed to arbitration if requested by a client.

The State Bar’s Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program is an informal, confidential, and low-cost forum for resolving fee disputes between attorneys and their clients. Clients have the right to have a neutral party—an arbitrator—hear fee disputes with their attorneys. The arbitrator determines whether the fees and costs charged by the attorney are reasonable for the services provided.

This kind of arbitration is mandatory for an attorney if requested by a client.

Starting February 1, 2025, the 2025 annual fees will be available to calculate online through My State Bar Profile. If you forgot your password or need assistance accessing your online profile, please use the Help Guide or view our video tutorial for step-by-step instructions to reset your password and access your account.

The State Bar encourages individual licensees to pay their annual fees online through My State Bar Profile. When it is necessary to mail a payment, you must include either a copy of your invoice which can be generated online in your profile, or a copy of your fee statement, which is available to download in My State Bar Profile. The only exception to this is if your payment clearly indicates your bar number and VAK (your VAK is an additional bank validation code provided on your invoice and fee statement).

Failure to include a copy of your invoice or fee statement with your mailed payment may result in your payment being rejected and subject you to nonconforming payment penalties.

The State Bar no longer accepts cash payments, and we do not accept payments in person or over the phone.

There are two types of approved providers in California: Single Activity Providers and Multiple Activity Providers. A Single Activity Provider (SAP) is an organization approved to hold and grant Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) or Legal Specialty Minimum Continuing Legal Education (LSMCLE) credit for a single MCLE or LSMCLE activity for a period of two years from the date of the activity, provided that no substantive changes are made to the program. A SAP must apply for and receive approval of the activity in accordance with the State Bar’s procedures and pay applicable fee(s). More on becoming a Single Activity Provider

A Multiple Activity Provider (MAP) is an organization approved to hold and grant credit for any MCLE or LSMCLE activity for two years after applying for and receiving approval of MAP status in accordance with State Bar procedures and paying the applicable fee(s). Providers approved for MAP status do not have to submit separate applications to request approval for each program offered. More on becoming a Multiple Activity Provider

If an attorney claims you owe an outstanding balance of fees or costs, they must provide to you a “Notice of Client’s Right to Fee Arbitration” form approved by the State Bar before or at the time of filing a lawsuit or other proceeding to collect the amount. After receiving the notice, you have 30 days to request mandatory fee arbitration through the appropriate local bar association program. If the local bar association does not provide mandatory fee arbitration, you may request it from the State Bar. If you fail to request mandatory fee arbitration within 30 days of receipt of the notice, you will have waived your right to arbitration, and the attorney may take legal action to collect the fees or costs.

After you submit a request for arbitration form and filing fee to the appropriate program, the attorney may then respond to your request. A neutral arbitrator, or a panel of three arbitrators, depending on the amount in dispute, will be assigned to listen to both you and the attorney, and decide the appropriate fees. The arbitrator may decide that you paid the attorney more than is appropriate, and you may be awarded a refund of attorney’s fees or costs already paid.

Alternatively, the arbitrator may decide that you must pay the attorney any unpaid fees, or that neither of you owe anything further. In no event will an arbitrator order you to pay more than what you agreed to in your fee agreement.

Payments submitted by mail are required to include either a copy of your invoice or fee statement. Send the invoice/fee statement and check to:

The State Bar of California
P.O. Box 842142
Los Angeles, CA 90084-2142