News Releases

State Bar of California Announces First-Ever Public Trust Liaison

The State Bar of California announced today that Enrique Zuniga has been appointed as the agency’s first-ever Public Trust Liaison. The Public Trust Liaison will ensure that members of the public, applicants for admission, legal consumers, attorneys, and other constituents, can meaningfully voice their complaints about State Bar action or inaction and receive assistance in having those concerns addressed. The Public Trust Liaison acts independently, with a dotted-line relationship to the State Bar Board of Trustees Audit Committee. The Public Trust Liaison will produce annual reports containing recommendations for system improvements to present for consideration to the committee and Board.

Public Trust Liaison Enrique Zuniga has more than 10 years of experience at the State Bar in interacting with the public, as well as attorneys facing discipline. The Los Angeles native started off answering phone calls from the public on the complaint hotline for the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC), served as an investigator, including unauthorized practice of law investigations, and once he passed the California Bar Exam, became a Deputy Trial Counsel in OCTC.  
 
“What I’ve learned during my time at the State Bar is that people come to us at vulnerable and difficult times in their lives,” said Zuniga. “A big part of my job as Public Trust Liaison is to help them when they hit a wall. We want to alleviate any apprehension the public might be experiencing and, within the limits of the law, get them the answers they need to resolve their issues. I feel like I’ve been preparing for this position my entire career at the State Bar. I’m honored to serve as the first in this critically important role.” 

The Public Trust Liaison will operate under the same statutory confidentiality provisions as other areas of the State Bar. The office will not disclose any information, statements, or documents it receives that are confidential under the law to any other entity or person. For example, complaints about attorneys and information received by the State Bar about applicants for admission are confidential by law. Additionally, the substance of a Public Trust Liaison inquiry and name of the person submitting the complaint are also generally confidential. Confidential information may be shared internally within the State Bar as needed to resolve the issue at hand.   

Eventually, the office will develop tools to assist consumers in filing complaints with the State Bar, as well as public education efforts to empower both legal consumers and the general public with knowledge about their rights. It will also make recommendations for policy and operational reforms to address any systemic issues the Public Trust Liaison discovers along the way.  

State Bar reform recommendations dating back to the 1990s identified a need for an ombuds-type function. A recent State Audit identified the same need. Repeated complaints about discipline and admissions functions reflected a need for a new systemic approach. The State Bar’s new Five Year Strategic Plan calls for an even greater emphasis on public protection in all aspects of the State Bar’s work and a renewed emphasis on consumer focus, in particular, assisting the public in navigating the complaint process and seeking fair, appropriate, and timely resolution. Creation of the Public Trust Liaison office occurs just days after a major milestone: January 1, 2023, marks Five Years of Reform at the State Bar, following the landmark changes and restructuring made via legislative action that went into effect on January 1, 2018, to refocus the State Bar solely on its regulatory, public protection functions. With a sharper focus on protecting the public, attorney discipline, admissions, and oversight, the State Bar has enacted reforms over the last five years to better achieve its goals.

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The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.