Attorneys licensed by the State Bar of California take an oath to abide by laws aimed at protecting consumers from unethical lawyers. But sometimes attorneys don’t act in the best interests of their clients.
Call the State Bar's multilingual Contact Center (800-843-9053) for help.
If you have a problem with your lawyer’s actions or fees, you have options. If you need help re-establishing communication with your attorney or retrieving files from your former attorney, you can request it through the pilot Attorney Client Bridge Program. Learn more here.
Find out how to resolve a problem without going to court, file a complaint against a lawyer, and how to get money back from an unethical attorney below.
The State Bar doesn’t oversee how much an attorney can charge consumers. But if you feel that your bill is too high, you can ask for Mandatory Fee Arbitration to resolve the dispute.
Consumers sometimes lose money or property because of an unethical attorney’s actions. Find out about the State Bar’s Client Security Fund and what you can do to recover lost money or property.
If your complaint against an attorney is closed without the State Bar seeking discipline, you have the right to request that the State Bar’s Complaint Review Unit review that decision. This process is commonly referred to as a “second look.” Learn more about the complaint review process.
To inform the State Bar about applicant misconduct, please submit an Applicant Conduct Complaint Form. Please note that applicant records are confidential, so you will not receive further information regarding the submitted complaint.
If you wish to complain about improper governmental activity by the State Bar of California or its employees, agents, or officers (including but not limited to current or former employees of the State Bar or the State Bar Court, volunteers, appointees, and contractors), you can do so directly to the California Department of Justice. They will review and investigate as appropriate without prior review by the State Bar. Learn more.