California lawyers are bracing for change after Governor Gavin Newsom sanctioned the annual State Bar fee bill. The new provisions will demand that attorneys report the misconduct of their peers, targeting offences like seditious conspiracy, insurrection, or treason. This reporting obligation, evocatively referred to as the ‘snitch rule’, has now been officially codified thanks to this legislation.
SB 40, the accompanying bill, will expand the newly instituted Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3. This rule, endorsed by the California Supreme Court back in June, marks the second consecutive year of refining the professional conduct law for California lawyers. As of August 1, 2024, all lawyers must report any misconduct by their counterparts as soon as they reasonably believe such action won’t cause material prejudice or harm to a client’s interests. This new rule-crystal poised to streamline reporting processes and enforce accountability amongst legal professionals.
The financial implications of the bill are significant too. Starting in 2024, active attorneys will be required to pay a $390 base annual license fee. Enhancements like these are expected to bolster both the integrity and the financial sustainability of the legal practice in California.
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