State Bar Policy on Law School Name Changes

The names of law schools can change for various reasons, including purchases and consolidations. The State Bar seeks public comment on a policy on law school name changes. Length of public comment period: 60 days

Deadline: January 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

Direct comments to

Comments should be submitted using the online Public Comment Form. The online form allows you to input your comments directly and can also be used to upload your comment letter and/or other attachments.

Background

Currently, the State Bar of California has two different practices regarding law school name changes. The policy that applies depends on the circumstances of the name change:

• For name changes when one school purchases or consolidates with another school: graduates from both schools prior to the purchase or consolidation, are listed by the State Bar under the name of the school from which they graduated and anyone graduating from the law school after it was purchased or consolidated is listed as having graduated from the purchasing/consolidated school’s name. In essence, the law school on the licensee’s profile matches the law school on the diploma they were given at graduation.
• For name changes unrelated to school consolidations or purchases, including changes prompted by social justice concerns: the law school name for all graduates is changed to the law school’s new name, irrespective of the student’s graduation date.

Discussion/proposal

Recent name changes at several law schools have highlighted the need for a clear, formal law school name change policy.

The State Bar is seeking public comment on a law school name change policy that, unless retroactive application is required explicitly by statute or by order of the Supreme Court or if the law school issues new diplomas to all previous graduates, law school name changes will only apply prospectively (i.e., to licensees who graduate after the effective date of the name change).

The proposal was made with the following considerations in mind:

• If the law school name on a licensee’s profile is changed retroactively, the attorney record on the licensee’s profile page is both factually inaccurate and conflicts with licensee diplomas and law firm website background information.
• Updating law school references to explain the discrepancy may be inconvenient for the licensee and confusing for the public.

The State Bar is also seeking alternative proposals via public comment.

Any fiscal/personnel impact

None

Background material

None

Source

Division of Regulation

Deadline

January 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

Direct comments to

Comments should be submitted using the online Public Comment Form. The online form allows you to input your comments directly and can also be used to upload your comment letter and/or other attachments.