You must submit a semi-annual report to the State Bar within 30 days after completion of each six-month period of study through the LOS Program. A semi-annual report submitted 31–60 days after completion of the six-month study period is subject to a late fee as set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. Semi-annual reports submitted after 60 days will not be accepted nor receive credit. 

Your participation in the LOS Program will be terminated if you fail to submit a semi-annual report within a year of your last provided semi-annual report.

You must submit your semi-annual reports through the Applicant Portal. To submit a semi-annual report (i.e., Law Office Study Session):

• Log in to your Applicant Portal.
• Scroll down to “My Applications.”
• Click on the case number associated with your approved Application for the Law Office Study Program.
• Under Law Office Study Sessions, click “New.”
• Provide the requested information and click “Save.” A LOS Session ID will be created.
• Click on the new LOS Session ID number. Upload a completed LOS Session Semi-Annual Report Cover Sheet; your six graded exams, each with an appended LOS Session Exam Cover Sheet under the files section; and any other supporting documentation. Ensure the LOS Session Semi-Annual Report Cover Sheet has the correct dates and the total hours studied for the period.
• Click “Pay Now” and follow the steps to submit the study session.

Attorneys are expected to track their own hours for the purposes of this reporting requirement. Some law firms require their attorneys to track this time already. A nonprofit with whom the attorney provides pro bono legal services may assist in tracking hours.

Attorneys are asked to report pro bono and reduced fee hours as a range (e.g., 1–5 hours, 6–10 hours, 11–19 hours, etc.). Attorneys will also be able to select 0 hours or less than 1 hour of pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or select the checkbox if you did not track your hours or you prefer not to answer.

This resource walks you through reporting pro bono hours on My State Bar Profile.

Attorneys in the Pro Bono Practice Program may volunteer with a qualified legal services provider, a certified lawyer referral service, a court-based self-help center, or a nonprofit that provides free legal services to or on behalf of indigent Californians and has been approved by the State Bar as a pro bono legal services provide from the purposes of the Pro Bono Practice Program. See more information here.

A “qualified legal services provider” is one that receives funding from the State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund (IOLTA) Program. For a current list of grantees see theLegal Services Trust Fund Recipientson the State Bar’s website.

Failure to complete the requirements during the compliance period will result in your having to make up the deficiency. You will have to submit all required hours to the online log and then submit the proof of compliance. You will also need to provide the audit submission cover sheet, a brief cover letter explaining why you were unable to complete the requirements during the compliance period along with the $205 deficiency fee for non-compliance by the deadline.

Missed payments should be made up immediately. Failure to do so may result in your removal from the payment plan, and your outstanding balance becoming immediately due.

On the end date of your study session, the State Bar will send your supervisor an email asking about your progress over the last six-month study period. Your supervisor is required to attest whether you have demonstrated sufficient academic progress to continue to the next study session for each six-month period. If your supervisor does not provide a positive attestation or fails to provide one, your participation in the program will be terminated, unless the requirements of State Bar rule 4.29(N)(1)–(2) are met.

You will not receive credit for hours of study devoted to repetition of studies previously completed and you will lose credit for the entire six-month study session.

No, you cannot pause your studies during your six-month study period. A pause between sessions can take place; however, your participation in the LOS Program will be terminated if you fail to submit a semi-annual report within a year of your last semi-annual report. You will retain law study credit already received and recognized by the State Bar.

To resume study after you have been terminated from the LOS Program, you must submit a new Application for the Law Office Study Program, the required documentation, and the fee in the Applicant Portal 30 days prior to the date you plan on resuming your legal studies.

No. A broad range of pro bono activities do not require direct, full representation, and/or court appearances. Many legal services and pro bono programs have volunteer opportunities at clinics and hotlines. Your only commitment is for the time spent at the clinic or covering the hotline. California courts allow unbundled (or limited scope) services, so that you can draft pleadings only or take on just a portion of the representation without committing to full representation.