News Releases

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released information for the public and attorneys, about California attorneys’ ethical obligations after a natural disaster, like the Los Angeles fires this year. Attorneys with questions or concerns about these obligations should review California’s Rules of Professional Conduct (7.1-7.3) on communications concerning a lawyer’s services, advertising, and solicitation. 

After hearing approximately two hours of public comment at its March 5 meeting, primarily from test takers reporting serious problems they encountered during the February 2025 California Bar Exam, the State Bar Board of Trustees directed the general counsel to retain an independent investigator to conduct a privileged investigation into the issues relating to the exam. 

At its February 20-21 meeting, the Board of Trustees heard a presentation on a new State Bar study showing that racial disparities in attorney discipline outcomes are narrowing, particularly for Black attorneys, following reforms implemented by the State Bar in response to the groundbreaking 2019 Farkas study.

The Board of Trustees, at its February 21 meeting, approved a plan to offer a free July 2025 Bar Exam to test takers who withdraw from the February 2025 exam or fail next week’s test.

The State Bar of California is warning the public to beware of and report potential fraud in response to the fires in Southern California. For vulnerable fire victims who may need a wide range of legal advice, legal services fraud can be committed by nonattorneys, such as “notarios,” or by licensed lawyers.  

The State Bar of California seized the offices of Salve Esperanza of Los Angeles for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). Esperanza, doing business as Prestige Network Resource Consulting, Inc. (PNRC, Inc.), falsely represented herself as an attorney and charged individuals—many of them Filipino immigrants—significant sums.

At its November 14 meeting, the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees approved a proposed rule change that would automatically expunge nondisbarment attorney discipline records after eight years, assuming no further discipline has since occurred. The rule change now goes to the California Supreme Court for review and approval.

The State Bar of California reported today that 53.8 percent of applicants passed the July 2024 General Bar Examination (GBX).

On Tuesday, the State Bar of California seized the unlawful practice of Maria Leanos, an El Cajon woman operating a law office without a valid license and misrepresenting herself as an attorney to clients on immigration and family law matters, the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) announced today.

At its September 19, 2024, meeting, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees approved establishing a 2025 offer and compromise program, which conservatively could generate $9 million–$11 million by providing current and former attorneys the option to settle their State Bar debt at a discounted rate.