The California State Bar’s leadership has announced that their primary goal for the upcoming year is a significant rise in licensing fees to address a structural deficit that they assert “can no longer be avoided.” This announcement was made in the preface to the organization’s 2023 annual report. The urgency of this fee hike was underscored by the precarious state of the admissions fund, which is facing insolvency by 2026.
This move comes after the Bar abandoned plans to launch a new licensing exam in May. The proposed exam was intended to offer remote and small, vendor-owned test options that could have potentially reduced the deficit in the admissions fund. Without this plan, the Bar is looking for alternative ways to ensure financial stability. The Board of Trustees proposed a $125 increase in the licensing fee in an attempt to bridge this gap.
Additionally, the Bar has been grappling with the aftermath of the Girardi scandal, which saw a surge in disciplinary actions against attorneys last year—76 were disbarred, and 122 were either suspended or placed on probation. The leadership emphasizes that the fee increase is essential for the Bar to fulfill its regulatory duties and maintain its operational integrity. For more details, you can review the full report here.