Lawyer Services
The State Bar's primary interface with its attorney members is the Member Services Center, which keeps member personal information up-to-date, sends out annual fee statements, collects fees, and sends out annual membership cards. The State Bar also offers CalBar Connect, a Web site which lists third-party vendors who currently offer discounts to State Bar members (as well as any relevant discount codes).
The Office of Section Education & Meeting Services coordinates the operations of optional topic-specific subassociations known as "Sections," which each separately charge an additional annual fee of $75. There are currently 16 Sections; each is headed by its own separate executive committee. Each Section publishes its own specific newsletters and other publications, presents educational seminars, recommends proposed legislation to be incorporated into the State Bar's legislative program, and comments on proposed administrative regulations and rules of court.
The Department of Legal Specialization, under the supervision of the Board of Legal Specialization, officially certifies legal specialists in 11 different practice areas. It was first announced in February 1971 as the first such program anywhere in the United States. It began actual operations in 1973 with three practice areas initially available: workers' compensation, criminal law, and tax law.
The Minimum Continuing Legal Education Program, launched in 1990, certifies continuing legal education providers and enforces the MCLE requirement (currently 25 hours every three years) through random audits.
In 1994, the State Bar launched its own official monthly newspaper, the State Bar Journal, which was mailed to all members each month. In March 2010, due to sagging advertising revenue, the Journal became a purely electronic publication.
The Lawyer Assistance Program, created in 2002, assists lawyers with mental health and substance abuse problems.
The Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program, created in 1978, resolves attorney-client disputes over attorney fees. It is voluntary for clients but mandatory for attorneys if the client demands it.
The Annual Meeting Office organizes the State Bar's Annual Meeting, which traditionally alternates between Northern and Southern California.
The State Bar also operates Continuing Education of the Bar as a joint venture with the University of California.
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