Roster | Upcoming Meetings
This committee addresses matters involving professional ethics to facilitate compliance by licensees with their ethical duties. The committee also addresses certain matters concerning mandatory fee arbitration under Article 13 of the State Bar Act (Business and Professions Code section 6200 - 6206.) The committee’s work includes, but is not limited to: drafting advisory opinions on issues of professional ethics based on questions submitted to the committee or developed by the committee on its own initiative; drafting fee arbitration advisories providing guidance to fee arbitrators administering attorney-client fee disputes; conducting studies and providing advice to the Board on professional responsibility; and studying and recommending changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct. The committee sponsors educational and outreach programs, including an annual ethics symposium.
In evaluating potential members, the committee uses the following criteria, though no single factor is dispositive: (1) prior experience in the legal ethics field and/or fee arbitration experience; (2) time and energy to undertake the significant responsibilities of committee membership; (3) writing and verbal skills; (4) factors lending diversity to the committee, including diversity based on race, sex, color, national origin and sexual orientation, as well as location and field of practice, years in practice, and size of firm (if applicable); and (5) prior volunteer experience, particularly involvement in legal and other professional groups. For public members, the committee values the ability to contribute a client perspective to the committee’s deliberations. In addition to completing an application, successful applicants may be required to participate in a personal interview, typically held in April or May.
Erika Doherty, 415-538-2172, Erika.Doherty@calbar.ca.gov Chair: Cassidy Chivers
You may subscribe to the Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct email list to receive meeting notifications. You may also subscribe to receive email notifications for circulation of ethics opinions and rules for public comment, publications, education events, and more.