Governor reinstates State Bar membership dues

SB 55 (Ch. 10-2), signed by the Governor on January 26, 2010, reinstates the State Bar’s authority to collect dues from its members. The Governor vetoed SB 641 in October 2009 — which would have allowed the State Bar to continue collecting membership dues — over concerns about the management of the State Bar.

The State Bar delayed sending 2010 dues bills to its members and postponed the deadline for payment. However, members of MCLE compliance group 1, whose last names begin with A–G, must meet their continuing education requirement by February 1. Otherwise, they face a $75 penalty.

The State Bar sent a courtesy e-mail in December 2009 to about 177,000 attorneys, informing them of the status of member dues. The bar also e-mailed notifications to almost 50,000 lawyers whose MCLE compliance is due.

Now that SB 55 is enacted, the State Bar will bill members and payments are due March 1, 2010. Lawyers may pay dues online by logging onto www.calbar.ca.gov, and signing into the My State Bar Profile feature in the left menu.

Information about State Bar dues and MCLE compliance is available by calling the State Bar Member Services Center at (888) 800-3400.

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