State Bar Opens Public Comment Period on Alternative Path to Licensure

By Erol Kilic On September 25, 2023, the State Bar of California (State Bar) opened a 30-day public comment period for an alternative path to licensure for aspiring attorneys.  The Proposal for a Portfolio Bar Examination (PBE) would allow for 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 of California Announces George Cardona as Chief Trial Counsel  

By Ian Ross On August 27, 2021, the State Bar announced in a press release that it appointed George S. Cardona as the new Chief Trial Counsel for the attorney discipline system. The Chief Trial Counsel leads the Office of Continue reading

State Bar of California Approves Proposed Plan for Preventative Education for Attorneys

By Andrea Lavelle On July 22, 2021, the State Bar approved a five-year preventative education plan to develop and deploy self-assessment modules and e-learning courses for attorneys. According to the plan, the State Bar first discussed a self-assessment program in Continue reading

State Bar Concludes Investigation on July 2021 Bar Exam Technological Issues

By James Lanham On September 27, 2021, the State Bar published a news release announcing the conclusion of its investigation into technological issues experienced by remote Bar Exam takers in July of 2021. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Bar Continue reading

State Bar’s Annual Fee Bill Would Pave the Way for Improving Attorney Misconduct Standards

By Andrea Lavelle   SB 211 (Umberg), as amended September 2, 2021, is the State Bar’s annual “fee bill.” This bill would amend sections 6140 and 6141 of the Business and Professions Code to authorize the Bar to assess 2022 Continue reading

California Supreme Court Approves State Bar Provisional Licensure Program for 2020 Law Graduates, Adopts Rule 9.49 of the California Rules of Court

By Juan M. Villalvazo On July 16, 2020, the California Supreme Court sent a letter to the State Bar of California, directing it to “implement, as soon as possible, a temporary supervised provisional licensure program—a limited license to practice specified Continue reading

State Bar Amends Rules Addressing Public Licensee Information and Required Reporting

By Alaina Dye On January 24, 2020, the State Bar Board of Trustees voted to approve proposed amendments to State Bar Rule 2.2 and to repeal Rules 2.3, and 2.4 regarding the information attorneys must report to the Bar as Continue reading