I work part-time at a government agency. Do I need to report?
Yes. Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d)(2) only applies to full-time employees or officers or elected officials of the State of California, or political subdivision thereof, or the federal government. Part-time employees are required to report either the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, that they did not track their pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, that they did not complete any pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or that they decline to answer.
How do I make changes to the response I submitted?
Prior to the March 30, 2026, deadline, you can make changes to your pro bono hours reporting by going to My State Bar Profile, navigating to the Summary tab (located on the top navigation bar), and selecting “Edit your Pro Bono Hours” from the Pro Bono Hours tile (located about three-quarters of the way down the page).
Does the State Bar have a program for attorneys who only want to do pro bono work?
The State Bar’s Pro Bono Practice Program (PBPP) allows attorneys who would otherwise be inactive to maintain an active license, free of fees, to exclusively provide pro bono legal services in partnership with a pro bono legal services provider. To qualify for the PBPP, an attorney must maintain an active license, submit an application annually for the program, be certified as a pro bono practice attorney, and exclusively provide pro bono legal services through an approved or qualified pro bono services provider. For more information, see the Pro Bono Practice Program webpage.
How do I track and report my pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours?
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.
Does volunteering with an LRS oversight panel count as pro bono legal services?
Possibly. Uncompensated work with an LRS oversight panel may count toward the pro bono hours requirement if it enables the delivery of legal services at a charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or education organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes as defined under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(C). Licensees should use their best judgment when determining whether the work performed, particularly non-legal tasks, enables the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofit organizations.
Does uncompensated work by volunteer attorneys at a legal aid organization or law school, or as a court mediator, count as pro bono legal services?
Yes. Uncompensated work by volunteer attorneys that enables the delivery of legal services at a charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or education organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes would qualify as bono hours as defined under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(C). This includes volunteer teaching at a law school as well as volunteer mediation or arbitration services provided through a court, even when the parties are not indigent.
Does serving on the board of a local or affinity bar association count as pro bono legal services?
It depends. Service to a local or affinity bar association counts toward the pro bono hours requirement if it is legal in nature (i.e., providing legal services to the nonprofit directly pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(B) or 6073.1(c)(1)(C)). General board service qualifies only to the extent that the work enables legal services to the indigent, to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means,” or to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes.” Licensees should use their best good-faith judgment in determining whether their non-legal board activities enable the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofits.
Does serving on the board of a legal aid organization count as pro bono legal services?
For purposes of this reporting requirement, board service for a legal aid nonprofit would qualify because all board work with such an organization is enabling the delivery of legal services to the indigent (since these organizations primarily serve indigent California residents). Please note that some legal aid providers and other nonprofits for which attorneys provide pro bono legal services may also ask attorneys to report pro bono hours, but the definition for pro bono legal services may vary for their purposes. Attorneys should confirm definitions with the entity before reporting pro bono hours to the entity.
What are some examples of pro bono legal services?
Pro bono opportunities vary depending on the needs of the client community. Examples of pro bono legal services to indigent clients may include, but are not limited to:
Representation (full or limited scope)
Negotiation and settlement
Screening and intake
Brief service by phone or in person
Legal information or “Know Your Rights” workshops
Document preparation and review
Legal research and writing
Litigation support
Legislative research and legal analysis
What is the guidance on pro bono and reduced fee hours reporting for pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools?
Any active licensee who does not meet one of the exemptions in Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d) is required to report the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, including pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools. Attorneys are asked to provide their best, good faith effort at reporting the amount of pro bono and/or reduced fee legal services hours provided to low-income individuals, nonprofit organizations, or public law libraries during the past year to meet the requirement of Business and Professions Code section 6073.2. Even licensees who are exempt from reporting their pro bono hours must declare their exemption status in My State Bar Profile.
I had a bad experience with a Live Scan vendor. Can I report them to the State Bar?
Live Scan vendors are contracted through the DOJ and are not under the authority of the State Bar. Live Scan vendor complaints may be submitted to the State Bar, which will be sent to the DOJ. If you recently submitted your fingerprints through a DOJ-contracted Live Scan vendor and have had a negative experience, we encourage you to complete the Live Scan Vendor Complaint Form and email the completed form to the State Bar.
Will I be assessed fees from the State Bar?
Yes. The 2025 annual fees will be available to calculate and pay online through My State Bar Profile effective February 1, 2025.
What if I didn’t take enough courses during the compliance period?
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.
Do I send in the original certificates or the copies?
Photocopies are sufficient for the purposes of the audit. Hold on to your originals through the end of the year you report MCLE compliance.
If I take a CLE course outside California, can I count it toward my MCLE requirement?
If an attorney takes a CLE course while physically outside California, it can be counted toward California MCLE requirements. However, the education activity must be approved by an Approved Jurisdiction.
What does the JNE Commission do to gather information about a proposed candidate?
The commission investigates all statements made in the candidate's Application for Appointment that the candidate submits to the Governor's office. In addition, confidential comment forms are sent to the following:
a. 50 to 75 names of persons provided by the candidate, who are reasonably likely to have knowledge of the candidate's qualifications (personal list);
b. a broad cross-section of the names of attorneys in the counties and the areas of law in which the candidate practices;
c. all judicial officers in each county where a candidate practices and seeks appointment, except for the County of Los Angeles;
d. at least 50 percent of all judicial officers if the candidate practices in the County of Los Angeles, and all judicial officers in any other county where the candidate seeks appointment;
e. all names listed in the candidate's Application for Appointment;
f. all justices of any appellate district where a candidate practices and all justices of the California Supreme Court;
g. all or at least 50 randomly selected prosecutors and criminal defenders, whichever number is less, in any county where a candidate practices criminal law and any other county where the candidate seeks appointment.
h. 75 names selected at random from the commission's mailing list.
The objective is to obtain a return of at least 50 Confidential Comment Forms that provide information that is sufficient and credible for a fair evaluation.
Is the guarantee the same as malpractice insurance?
Not necessarily. The standard law corporation guarantee ensures payment by the corporation of all claims established against it by its clients for errors or omissions arising out of the practice of law by the corporation of a certain dollar amount which is proportionate to the number of persons practicing law on behalf of the corporation. It is not required that the law corporation send us proof of malpractice insurance.
Why am I being audited?
Members were chosen at random so you did not do anything to influence your being selected for the audit. All recipients selected for the audit are required to respond as directed in the Audit Notice in order to be found in compliance.
May I submit a certificate with someone else’s name on it if we took the course together?
You may only submit unaltered certificates from the official approved provider bearing your name and bar number.
Does the State Bar have a standard certificate form for OSAAC?
Yes, see Forms.
What kinds of approved activities always count for participatory credit?
The following activities always count for participatory credit:
"Live" education verified by a provider
A law school class (whether taught or attended)
Speaking or teaching at an approved MCLE education activity
How long is the evaluation process?
The commission has to report to the Governor within 90 days from the date of submission of the names of the candidates.
Why are Special Masters required?
Section 1524 of the Penal Code requires that Special Masters be used in conducting searches under search warrants for documentary evidence in the possession of or under the control of certain professionals. Special Masters have been required since 1979. The use of Special Masters is designed to balance the interests of professionals and their clients in protecting confidentiality and of prosecutors in securing evidence of suspected criminal activity.
May attorneys who provide a borrower loan modification or other forbearance services agree with the borrower that the services requested will be broken down into component parts and that a fee for each component part will be earned and collected as each part is completed?
If an attorney has been employed by a borrower to assist the borrower in obtaining a loan modification or forbearance, then the answer is “no.” It is a violation of SB 94 to attempt to obtain a payment for any portion of the services contracted for in pursuit of the modification or forbearance prior to the completion of all the services required by the employment contract.
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