How do I calculate and log credit for the articles I wrote?
When logging credit for published articles, it is not necessary to put in a provider number on the summary log. The provider will be the name of the publication and the course will be the article title. This is self-study credit. When you submit your proof of compliance, articles should be noted on your self-study log along with the date of publication (or submission if publication is pending). Again please note the name of the publication and the title of the article.
In order to be eligible for MCLE the article must meet the following conditions:
have contributed to the attorney’s legal education
have been published or accepted for publication
have not been prepared in the ordinary course of employment or in connection with an oral presentation at an approved educational activity
How do I change my testing accommodation location?
If you are requesting to change your testing accommodation test center to a different testing accommodation location, you may submit the request through the Applicant Portal or by emailing testing.accommodations@calbar.ca.gov by the test center change request deadline. Space is subject to availability, and it is not guaranteed that your request will be available.
How do I edit the MCLE online summary Log?
Go to your MCLE summary log. Look for the course you’d like to edit and click the red “Edit” button on the right side of the log. Make your changes and save each one. Remember to hit “Submit” when you are done. Whenever you update your online log, please complete the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form.
I purchased a CLE package. Do I need to list every course on the summary log?
Yes. You must enter each course included in the package into the online summary log and provide a copy of any proof of completion it may have included (for example, a log and witness statement, if the MCLE bundle include them.)
How do I know if I am eligible for the PLP as a first-time taker of the February 2025 California Bar Exam (CBX)?
Applicants who are eligible for the PLP as first-time takers were notified by the Office of Admissions in June 2025 via email.
You may also verify your eligibility via the status screen in the Applicant Portal. There are multiple PLP programs listed in your applicant portal. Make sure you are checking your eligibility for the PLP for first-time takers of the February bar exam, and not the expansion program also listed on the portal.
I’m planning to apply for the PLP once the application opens. What should I do in preparation?
In preparation for the PLP application opening on September 1, 2025, you are encouraged to:
Submit an Application for Determination of Moral Character as soon as possible in the Applicant Portal if you do not have a valid positive moral character determination or a pending moral character application.
Sign up for the MPRE or ensure you have a passing score on file with the State Bar Office of Admissions. Verify your MPRE status via the status screen in the Applicant Portal.
Secure a California attorney who is willing to be your Supervising Lawyer and meets the requirements of rule 9.49.
By December 31, 2025, you must have a passing MPRE score on file and either a valid positive moral character determination, or an adverse moral character determination that is pending on administrative review by the Committee of Bar Examiners or on appeal in the State Bar Court. We recommend that you fulfill these requirements as soon as possible.
What is the fee to apply for the PLP?
At the joint meeting on August 14, 2025, the Board of Trustees and the Committee of Bar Examiners set the new fees for the PLP. Please find them below.
Applicant Status
Application Fee
Volunteering
$0
Employed by an IOLTA-funded organization that is paying the application fee
$600
All other applicants for the PLP
$1,200
How do I know if I will be working for an IOLTA-funded organization?
“IOLTA” stands for Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts. IOLTA is a method of raising money, primarily for providing legal services to those unable to afford them.
The State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund Program collects the interest generated by IOLTA accounts and distributes the funds to more than 100 nonprofit legal aid organizations that provide civil legal aid to indigent Californians.
What is meant by effective date of applicant's employment on the Supervising Lawyer Declaration and PLP application?
This is the date you expect to begin employment as a Provisionally Licensed Lawyer (PLL), if your application is approved. A start date on or prior to the date you submit your PLP application will not be accepted. Please ensure the effective date on the Supervising Lawyer Declaration matches the date provided on your PLP application submitted through your Applicant Portal. Note: You are not authorized to work as a PLL until your PLP application is approved.
How long do I have to complete the New Attorney Training Program? Is there a fee for it?
First-time takers of the February 2025 CBX in the PLP must complete the New Attorney Training Program five months from the approval of their PLP application or by May 31, 2026, whichever is sooner.
