AZ Bar key terms

The standard path to a California law license: pass the California Bar Exam, the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, and the one-day Attorneys' Exam on California law, then satisfy moral character review.

A State Bar review of an applicant's honesty, candor, and fitness to practice, weighing criminal history, financial irresponsibility, and prior misconduct before a license may issue.

The applicant's affirmative duty to report arrests, charges, discipline, debts, and other adverse events on bar applications and amendments, with omissions themselves treated as serious misconduct.

The obligation of an applicant or lawyer to give complete and truthful answers to the State Bar during admissions, investigations, and disciplinary proceedings, without shading or strategic silence.

A path allowing lawyers licensed in another jurisdiction to be admitted without sitting for the full California Bar Exam, based on the other state's standards and the applicant's practice history.

A national ethics test that California applicants must pass, separate from the California Bar Exam, covering the ABA Model Rules and California professional responsibility rules.

A status in which a licensed California attorney may not practice law but keeps a license and remains subject to State Bar jurisdiction, often used during career breaks or pending discipline.

The status required to practice law in California, carrying obligations such as paying annual fees, reporting changes of address, and completing mandatory continuing legal education.

The yearly dues California attorneys must pay to remain on the rolls, with failure to pay leading to involuntary inactive status and possible suspension after notice.

A disciplinary resignation that ends the license while disciplinary charges are outstanding, typically requiring the attorney to admit misconduct and accept lasting consequences for future reinstatement.

The most severe California discipline, revoking the license to practice; a disbarred attorney may not practice and must wait a minimum period before seeking reinstatement.

A period during which an attorney's license is genuinely inactive due to discipline, as opposed to a stayed suspension that is imposed but not enforced unless the attorney violates probation.

A disciplinary suspension imposed but held in abeyance, allowing the attorney to keep practicing while on probation; violating probation typically activates the stayed term.

Requirements attached to a stayed or partially stayed discipline order, such as ethics school, practice monitoring, or client notification, whose breach can trigger the suspended term.

The process by which a suspended or disbarred attorney petitions to return to practice, requiring proof of rehabilitation, fitness, and compliance with prior discipline orders.

The adjudicative body within the State Bar that hears disciplinary and admissions matters, issues findings and recommendations, and submits them to the California Supreme Court for final action.

The final step in attorney discipline, where the Supreme Court independently reviews State Bar Court recommendations and imposes the actual discipline, usually adopting them absent error.

The formal charging document in a State Bar disciplinary proceeding, alleging specific rule violations and giving the attorney notice of the conduct at issue and a chance to respond.

A California attorney's obligation to respond to State Bar inquiries and subpoenas; refusing to cooperate is itself ground for discipline, even if the underlying allegation proves unfounded.

The annual education requirement California attorneys must satisfy to remain active, covering required credit hours in specified subjects and reporting compliance to the State Bar.

The multi-year cycle over which California attorneys must accumulate required continuing education hours, with a defined reporting deadline and a late-compliance grace period.

Continuing education credit earned through approved individual study, such as reading or online courses, subject to caps on how many hours may count per compliance period.

MCLE credit earned by attending a live or interactive approved activity, such as a lecture, webinar, or workshop, where attendance and participation can be verified.

The State Bar's certification that a course sponsor meets standards for content, faculty, and recordkeeping, so that its offerings qualify for continuing education credit.

Failure to complete or report required continuing education hours by the deadline, which can result in a late fee, involuntary inactive status, or suspension until cured.

MCLE hours that must cover designated topics such as legal ethics, competence issues, elimination of bias, or substance abuse, counted separately from general credit hours.

The duty to provide legal services with the knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary for the matter, including research into unfamiliar areas or association with experienced counsel.

The duty to pursue a client's matter with reasonable promptness and commitment, avoiding neglect, missed deadlines, and abandonment of representation.

The duty to keep a client reasonably informed about significant developments, respond to reasonable requests for information, and explain matters enough for informed decisions.

A client's agreement to a course of action after the lawyer discloses the material facts, risks, and alternatives, including conflicts, so the client can decide knowingly.

A situation where a lawyer's duties to a current client, former client, third party, or personal interest materially limit representation, requiring disclosure, consent, or withdrawal.

The obligation to put a client's interests ahead of the lawyer's own and to avoid simultaneous adverse representation, self-dealing, and misuse of client information.

The broad duty not to reveal information relating to a representation without consent, extending beyond privileged communications to nearly all information learned in the relationship.

An evidentiary rule protecting confidential communications between lawyer and client made for legal advice, which the client holds and may waive or refuse to waive.

A qualified shield for materials prepared in anticipation of litigation, broader than privilege but subject to waiver and exceptions for substantial need and undue hardship.

A dedicated account for client and third-party funds, kept separate from the lawyer's own money, with strict recordkeeping, no commingling, and prompt disbursement requirements.

Mixing client funds with the lawyer's personal or operating money in a trust account, prohibited except for limited amounts needed for bank fees or earned fees pending withdrawal.

The duty to hold client files, valuables, and funds with care, keep records, deliver property on request, and account for all funds received or disbursed.

The written or oral understanding setting the basis and rate of compensation, which must be communicated before or within a reasonable time after representation begins.

A fee payable only from the recovery, usually a percentage, which must be in writing, signed by the client, and disclose how costs and expenses are handled.

A fee so excessive or unfairly obtained that it violates professional rules, judged by factors such as time, difficulty, results, and the client's sophistication and circumstances.

Ending representation, which is mandatory when continuing would violate rules and permissive in other cases, but requires client protection, notice, and court permission where litigation is pending.

Rules governing lawyer marketing, permitting truthful, non-misleading communications while restricting in-person or live solicitation of prospective clients for pecuniary gain.