SB 1257, as amended, Block. State Bar: admission: license: pro bono service requirement.
Existing law, the State Bar Act, requires an applicant for admission and a license to practice law, to meet certain requirements, including, but not limited to, having completed certain legal education in a law school, law office, or judge’s chambers, passed an examination in professional responsibility, and passed the general bar examination. Existing law prohibits a person from practicing law in this state unless he or she is an active member of the State Bar.
This bill would additionally require an applicant, prior to filing an application for admission and a license to practice, to complete at least 50 hours of supervised pro bono service, as specified, in order to supplement the applicant’s legal education with practical legal work experience. Upon completion of the pro bono service requirement, the bill would require an applicant to
complete, sign, and submit a form to the State Bar confirming completion of the pro bonobegin delete service.end deletebegin insert service, and would authorize the State Bar to create the form upon which an applicant can report completion of pro bono service. The bill would require the State Bar to randomly audit applicants to ensure completion of 50 hours of pro bono service. The bill would provide that these provisions become operative on January 1, 2018.end insert
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 6060.1.5 is added to the Business and
2Professions Code, to read:
(a) In addition to satisfying the requirements in
4Section 6060, irrespective of the manner or law school in which
5an applicant acquires his or her legal education, an applicant for
6admission and a license to practice shall complete at least 50 hours
7of pro bono service prior to filing an application. The purpose of
8this pro bono legal service is to supplement the applicant’s legal
9education with practical legal work experience.
10(b) The pro bono service shall be supervised by an active
11licensed attorney in good standing.begin delete Unless the service is completed
12in California, the supervisor is not required to be licensed to
13practice law in this state. end delete
14(c) For the purposes of this section, “pro bono service” means
15work that does either of the following:
16(1) Assists in the provision of legal services without charge for
17persons of limited means, not-for-profit organizations, or
18individuals, groups, or organizations seeking to secure or promote
19access to justice, including, but not limited to, the protection of
20civil rights, civil liberties, or public rights.
21(2) Assists in the provision of legal assistance in public service
22for a judicial, legislative, executive, or other governmental entity.
23(d) Subject to subdivision (b), the 50 hours of pro bono service,
24or any portion thereof, may be completed in any state or
territory
25of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any foreign
26country.
27(e) The 50 hours of pro bono service shall be provided after the
28commencement of the applicant’s legal studies, and prior to filing
29an application for admission and a license to practice.
30(f) Upon completion of the pro bono service requirement, an
31applicant shall complete a form describing the nature and dates of
32pro bono service and the number of hours completed. Both the
33applicant and the supervising attorney shall sign the form. The
34applicant shall submit the signed form to the State Bar.
P3 1(g) No applicant may satisfy any part of the 50-hour requirement
2by participating in any partisan political activities.
3
(h) The State Bar may create the form upon which the applicant
4can report completion of pro bono service.
5
(i) The State Bar shall randomly audit applicants to ensure
6completion of 50 hours of pro bono service.
7
(j) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.
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