California Supreme Court Rejects State Bar’s Proposed Portfolio Bar Examination (PBE)

By Jamie Russo On October 10, 2024, the California Supreme Court declined to adopt the State Bar’s proposed alternative pathway to licensure, the Portfolio Bar Examination (PBE). The PBE’s supervised practice model would have enabled graduates of accredited law schools Continue reading

State Bar of California Bar Exam Contract with Kaplan in Flux after Supreme Court Order

By Selena Sanchez On September 18, 2024, the California Supreme Court temporarily blocked the State Bar of California from rolling out the proposed bar exam written by Kaplan Exam Services, LLC (Kaplan).  The denial stated that the Bar must comply Continue reading

Regulations Governing State Bar Significantly Altered in SB 40 in Light of Girardi Scandal

By Erol Kilic SB 40 (Umberg), as amended September 7, 2023, amends various sections of the Business and Professions Code. According to the Senate Floor Analysis, the State Bar’s highest priority is public protection, including swift disciplinary actions against incompetent Continue reading

California State Bar Changes Its Interpretation of Statute to Foster Transparency and Accountability

By Lauren Holappa On October 7, 2022, to enhance transparency and accountability, the State Bar filed a supplemental brief to inform the California Supreme Court of its new interpretation of Business and Professions Code section 6086.1, subdivision (b)(2). Pursuant to Continue reading

State Bar Releases Its New Five-Year Strategic Plan

By Lauren Holappa In May 2022, the California State Bar Board of Trustees approved its five-year strategic plan focusing on four goals to support its public protection mission. Between 2022 and 2027, the State Bar plans to protect the public Continue reading

State Bar’s Chief Administrative Officer Provides Board with Summary and Update on Case Management System Data Breach

By Andrea Lavelle At the March 24th Board of Trustees meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Steve Mazer provided an update on the recent Odyssey case management system breach that exposed over 300,000 State Bar case records. Mazer gave an overview of Continue reading

In Response to Legislative Concerns, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees Approves Recommendations to Clarify the Scope and Composition of the Closing the Justice Gap Working Group

By Ian Ross At its February 25, 2022 meeting, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees voted to adopt staff’s recommendations to adjust the composition of the Closing the Justice Gap Working Group (CTJG), streamline its meeting processes, and Continue reading

State Bar of California Proceeds with Recommendations from the Committee on Special Discipline Case Audit for the Development of a California Trust Account Program

By Ian Ross On November 19, 2021, the State Bar of California’s Committee on Special Discipline Case Audit (Committee) submitted its Report to the Board of Trustees, recommending that the Board establish a Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) to Continue reading

State Bar’s Paraprofessional Proposal Returns from Public Comment; Revisions Likely Amid Opposition

By Andrea Lavelle On January 12, 2022, the 110 day public comment period ended for the State Bar’s California Paraprofessional Program Working Group’s (CPPWG) report and recommendations. After receiving more than 2,000 comments from 1,279 individuals and organizations, the Bar Continue reading