The 2024 Budget Supports Key Strategic Initiatives
The 2022-2027 Strategic Plan contains four broad goals reflecting the State Bar's vision for realizing its public protection mission. As shown below, key initiatives receiving funding in 2024 are designed to advance these goals.
Protect the Public by Strengthening the Attorney Discipline System
Updated Study on Racial Disparities in the State Bar Discipline System
- In 2019, the State Bar of California initiated a study to assess the impact of race/ethnicity on attorney discipline.
- The study found that, without controlling for any other factors, disproportionate discipline occurred particularly with respect to African American male attorneys, who were three times as likely to be placed on probation and almost four times as likely to be disbarred, as their white male counterparts.
- The study also found that racial disparities in discipline were explained by variables, such as a higher number of complaints filed against African American men, more investigations opened against them, and a lower likelihood of being represented by defense counsel in State Bar discipline proceedings.
- The State Bar implemented a number of measures to address these variables following the study’s publication.
- The State Bar will update the 2019 study in 2024 to formally assess whether the mitigation measures implemented have achieved the goal of reducing racial disparities in the State Bar discipline system.
Increasing Diversionary Options
As part of its goal to strengthen the attorney discipline system and effectively manage investigative resources, the State Bar will be expanding diversionary programming in 2024. A three-pronged approach will be implemented including a pre-filing complaint alternative program, an expansion of post-complaint filing diversion options, and enhancement of the State Bar’s Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program to increase its reach and effectiveness.
Protect the Public by Enhancing Access to and Inclusion in the Legal System
Updated California Justice Gap Study
- In 2019, the State Bar completed the first-ever California Justice Gap Study, measuring the gulf between the need for civil legal services and access to legal representation. Overall, the study found that the justice gap is widespread, pervasive, and multifaceted, with Californians receiving no or inadequate legal help for 85 percent of the civil legal problems they experienced.
- In 2024, the State Bar will update the study to determine the amount of progress made in closing the justice gap over the last five years.
California Bar Exam Studies
In 2024, the State Bar will test the impact of various exam components (remote versus online, open book versus closed book, and length of time for exam questions) on exam performance by race/ethnicity, gender, and law school type. These studies will inform future decisions about the exam’s delivery and format.
Protect the Public by Regulating the Legal Profession
The Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP)
To strengthen public protection and better support attorneys in fulfilling their client trust accounting duties, the State Bar implemented CTAPP. With few exceptions, all California lawyers must comply with new requirements to register their Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and non-IOLTA accounts annually with the State Bar, complete an annual self-assessment of client trust account management practices, and certify with the State Bar that they understand and comply with requirements and prohibitions outlined in rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
In 2024, there will be a continued expansion of CTAPP, which will involve further enhancements, including:
- Expanded public outreach and education on the rights of clients and attorney responsibilities;
- Enhanced education for attorneys on best practices in client trust account management; and
- Voluntary compliance reviews of selected lawyers by a certified public accountant to ensure adherence to client trust account management requirements.
Protect the Public by Engaging Partners
Revamping the State Bar’s Website to Increase Access, Usability, and Security
The 2024 budget includes funding to support a complete overhaul of the State Bar’s website, which will create more robust and accessible ways for the public to engage with the State Bar. The new website will support the specific goals of increasing access to State Bar data and performance outcomes; ensuring that licensees are aware of the State Bar’s work and how it supports competent and ethical practice; and enhancing the visibility and accessibility of State Bar meetings. In addition, the 2024 effort will include overdue security enhancements.
Responsible Fiscal Stewardship
- The 2024 budget reflects actions taken in 2023 by the Board of Trustees to increase Admissions and General Fund service fees. Admissions fee increases are estimated to generate an additional $6.2 million in revenue in 2024, and General Fund service fee revenues are estimated to increase by $3.4 million.
- The 2024 budget also reflects a continuation of cost-saving measures implemented post-pandemic, including strict restrictions on travel for staff and volunteers and catering costs for in-person committee meetings.
- In 2023, the Board also adopted a policy requiring annual adjustment of most service fees based on the CPI. This policy will go into effect in 2024.
