California

Business and Professions Code - BPC

10,525 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 6060.25 — (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any identifying information submitted by an applicant to the State Bar for admission and a license to practice law and all State Bar admission records, including, bu
• § 6060.3 — (a) An application to take the California bar examination administered in February must be filed with the State Bar not later than the first business day of the preceding November, and an application
• § 6060.5 — Neither the board, nor any committee authorized by it, shall require that applicants for admission to practice law in California pass different final bar examinations depending upon the manner or scho
• § 6060.6 — Notwithstanding Section 30 of this code and Section 17520 of the Family Code, the Committee of Bar Examiners may accept for registration, and the State Bar may process for an original or renewed licen
• § 6060.7 — The examining committee shall be responsible for the approval, regulation, and oversight of degree-granting law schools that meet both of the following: (a) Award the juris doctor (J.
• § 6060.9 — Approval of any agency or agencies not existing under and by virtue of the laws of this State shall not be made a condition for accreditation of any California law school.
• § 6061 — Any law school that is not accredited by the examining committee of the State Bar shall provide every student with a disclosure statement, subsequent to the payment of any application fee but prior to
• § 6061.5 — A law school that is not accredited by the examining committee of the State Bar may refer to itself as a university or part of a university and, if it so refers to itself, shall state whether or not t
• § 6061.7 — (a) Any law school that is not approved by the American Bar Association shall publicly disclose on its Internet Web site, with a link from the Internet home page under “Admissions,” all of the followi
• § 6062 — (a) To be certified to the Supreme Court for admission, and a license to practice law, a person who has been admitted to practice law in a sister state, United States jurisdiction, possession, territo
• § 6063 — Applicants for admission to practice shall pay such reasonable fees, fixed by the board, as may be necessary to defray the expense of administering the provisions of this chapter, relating to admissio
• § 6064 — (a) Upon certification by the examining committee that the applicant has fulfilled the requirements for admission to practice law, the Supreme Court may admit the applicant as an attorney at law in al
• § 6064.1 — No person who advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of this State by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means, shall be certified to the Supreme Court for admission
• § 6065 — Any applicant for admission to practice who did not pass the California bar examination, for 30 days following the release of examination results, shall have electronic access to their answers to the
• § 6066 — Any person refused certification to the Supreme Court for admission to practice may have the action of the board, or of any committee authorized by the board to make a determination on its behalf, pur
• § 6067 — Every person on his admission shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and faithfully to discharge the duties of any attorne
• § 6068 — It is the duty of an attorney to do all of the following: (a) To support the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state.
• § 6069 — (a) Every licensee of the State Bar shall be deemed by operation of this law to have irrevocably authorized the disclosure to the State Bar and the Supreme Court pursuant to Section 7473 of the Govern
• § 6070 — (a) The State Bar shall request the California Supreme Court to adopt a rule of court authorizing the State Bar to establish and administer a mandatory continuing legal education program.
• § 6070.1 — (a) For the purpose of subdivision (c) of Section 6070, “full-time employees of the State of California” shall include all licensees of the State Bar employed by the California State Legislature, rega
• § 6070.5 — (a) The State Bar shall adopt regulations to require, as of January 1, 2022, that the mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) curriculum for all licensees under this chapter includes training on i
• § 6071 — (a) The State Bar shall request the California Supreme Court to amend Rule 9.
• § 6072 — (a) A contract with the state for legal services that exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) shall include a certification by the contracting law firm that the firm agrees to make a good faith effor
• § 6073 — It has been the tradition of those learned in the law and licensed to practice law in this state to provide voluntary pro bono legal services to those who cannot afford the help of a lawyer.
• § 6073.1 — For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a) “Legal aid organization” has the meaning provided in Section 6159.
• § 6073.2 — (a) Pursuant to Section 6073, every lawyer should aspire to fulfill their individual commitment to provide pro bono legal services each year and contribute financially to California legal aid organiza
• § 6074 — (a) The Legislature finds that securing civil legal assistance is difficult for veterans, service members, and their families who cannot afford legal services, for reasons unique to their military or
• § 6075 — In their relation to the provisions of Article 6, concerning the disciplinary authority of the courts, the provisions of this article provide a complete alternative and cumulative method of hearing an
• § 6076 — With the approval of the Supreme Court, the Board of Trustees may formulate and enforce rules of professional conduct for all licensees of the State Bar.
• § 6077 — The rules of professional conduct adopted by the board, when approved by the Supreme Court, are binding upon all licensees of the State Bar.
• § 6077.5 — An attorney and his or her employees who are employed primarily to assist in the collection of a consumer debt owed to another, as defined by Section 1788.
• § 6078 — After a hearing for any of the causes set forth in the laws of the State of California warranting disbarment, suspension, or other discipline, the State Bar Court has the power to recommend to the Sup
• § 6079.1 — (a) The Supreme Court shall appoint a presiding judge of the State Bar Court.
• § 6079.4 — The exercise by an attorney of his or her privilege under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United Sates, or of any other constitutional or statutory privileges shall not be deemed a fail
• § 6079.5 — (a) The board shall appoint a lawyer admitted to practice in California to serve as chief trial counsel.
• § 6080 — The State Bar Court shall keep a record of all State Bar Court disciplinary proceedings.
• § 6081 — Upon the making of any decision recommending the disbarment or suspension from practice of any licensee of the State Bar, the State Bar Court shall immediately file a certified copy of the decision, t
• § 6081.1 — Nothing in Sections 6080 and 6081 shall require the State Bar Court to transcribe oral testimony unless ordered by the Supreme Court or requested by a party at the party’s expense.
• § 6082 — Any person complained against and any person whose reinstatement the State Bar Court may refuse to recommend may have the action of the State Bar Court reviewed by the California Supreme Court in acco
• § 6083 — (a) A petition to review or to reverse or modify any decision recommending the disbarment or suspension from practice of a licensee of the State Bar may be filed with the Supreme Court by the licensee
• § 6084 — (a) When no petition to review or to reverse or modify has been filed by either party within the time allowed therefor, or the petition has been denied, the decision or order of the State Bar Court sh
• § 6085 — Any person complained against shall be given fair, adequate, and reasonable notice and have a fair, adequate, and reasonable opportunity and right: (a) To defend against the charge by the introduction
• § 6085.5 — There are three kinds of pleas to the allegations of a notice of disciplinary charges or other pleading which initiates a disciplinary proceeding against a licensee: (a) Admission of culpability.
• § 6086 — The board of trustees, subject to the provisions of this chapter, may by rule provide the mode of procedure in all cases of complaints against licensees.
• § 6086.1 — (a) (1) Subject to subdivision (b), and except as otherwise provided by law, hearings and records of original disciplinary proceedings in the State Bar Court shall be public, following the filing of a
• § 6086.10 — (a) Any order imposing a public reproval on a licensee of the State Bar shall include a direction that the licensee shall pay costs.
• § 6086.13 — (a) Any order of the Supreme Court imposing suspension or disbarment of a licensee of the State Bar, or accepting a resignation with a disciplinary matter pending may include an order that the license
• § 6086.14 — (a) The Board of Trustees of the State Bar is authorized to formulate and adopt rules and regulations necessary to establish an alternative dispute resolution discipline mediation program to resolve c
• § 6086.15 — (a) The State Bar shall issue an Annual Discipline Report by November 30 of each year describing the performance and condition of the State Bar discipline system, including all matters that affect pub
• § 6086.16 — The State Bar shall report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary by January 1, 2005, on the status of its regulatory and disciplinary efforts concerning alleged abuses by private actions
• § 6086.2 — All State Bar records pertaining to admissions, licensing, and the administration of the program authorized by Article 14 of this chapter shall be available to the Office of Trial Counsel and the Offi
• § 6086.20 — (a) Commencing January 1, 2025, the Chief Trial Counsel shall not issue private reprovals to any attorney accused of misconduct.
• § 6086.5 — (a) The board of trustees shall establish a State Bar Court, to act in its place and stead in the determination of disciplinary and reinstatement proceedings and proceedings pursuant to subdivisions (
• § 6086.65 — (a) There is a Review Department of the State Bar Court, that consists of the Presiding Judge of the State Bar Court and two Review Department judges appointed by the Supreme Court.
• § 6086.7 — (a) A court shall notify the State Bar of any of the following: (1) A final order of contempt imposed against an attorney that may involve grounds warranting discipline under this chapter.
• § 6086.8 — (a) Within 20 days after a judgment by a court of this state that a licensee of the State Bar of California is liable for any damages resulting in a judgment against the attorney in any civil action f
• § 6087 — Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting or altering the powers of the Supreme Court of this State to disbar or discipline licensees of the bar as this power existed prior to the enactme
• § 6088 — The board may provide by rule that alleged facts in a proceeding are admitted upon failure to answer, failure to appear at formal hearing, or failure to deny matters specified in a request for admissi
• § 6090.5 — (a) It is cause for suspension, disbarment, or other discipline for any licensee, whether acting on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else, whether or not in the context of litigation to solici
• § 6090.6 — In a disciplinary proceeding, the State Bar shall have access, on an ex parte basis, to all nonpublic court records relevant to the competence or performance of its licensees, provided that these reco
• § 6090.8 — (a) (1) A licensee of the State Bar who knows that another licensee has conspired to engage in or has engaged in any of the following shall inform the State Bar: (A) Seditious conspiracy as prohibited
• § 6091 — If a client files a complaint with the State Bar alleging that his or her trust fund is being mishandled, the State Bar shall investigate and may require an audit if it determines that circumstances w
• § 6091.1 — (a) The Legislature finds that overdrafts and misappropriations from attorney trust accounts are serious problems, and determines that it is in the public interest to ensure prompt detection and inves
• § 6091.2 — As used in Section 6091.
• § 6091.3 — (a) Commencing January 1, 2026, upon the establishment of a new client trust account associated with an attorney licensed to practice in California, the financial institution shall collect and retain
• § 6091.4 — (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 6068, Article 3 (commencing with Section 950) of Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code, the Attorney Work Product doctrine as restated in Chapter
• § 6092 — The State Bar may engage the services of consultants and an unpaid volunteer peer review committee and undertake any other steps that may be appropriate for devising methods for determining and improv
• § 6092.5 — In addition to any other duties specified by law, the State Bar shall do all of the following: (a) Promptly notify the complainant of the disposition of each matter.
• § 6093 — (a) Whenever probation is imposed by the State Bar Court or the Office of Trial Counsel with the agreement of the respondent, any conditions may be imposed which will reasonably serve the purposes of
• § 6093.5 — Upon request, the State Bar shall notify a complainant of the status of his or her complaint and shall provide him or her with a written summary of any response by the attorney to his or her complaint
• § 6094 — (a) Communications to the State Bar relating to lawyer misconduct or disability or competence, or any communication related to an investigation or proceeding and testimony given in the proceeding are
• § 6094.5 — (a) It is the goal and policy of the State Bar to ensure that matters are handled competently, accurately, and timely.
• § 6095 — (a) The State Bar shall annually hold at least two public hearings, one in southern California and one in northern California, to hear proposals on bar disciplinary procedures, attorney competency, an
• § 6095.1 — (a) Beginning on April 1, 2000, and through March 31, 2001, the State Bar shall compile statistics indicating the number of complaints against attorneys, broken down to reflect the percentage of compl
• § 6100 — For any of the causes provided in this article, arising after an attorney’s admission to practice, he or she may be disbarred or suspended by the Supreme Court.
• § 6101 — (a) Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, involving moral turpitude, constitutes a cause for disbarment or suspension.
• § 6102 — (a) Upon the receipt of the certified copy of the record of conviction, if it appears therefrom that the crime of which the attorney was convicted involved, or that there is probable cause to believe
• § 6103 — A wilful disobedience or violation of an order of the court requiring him to do or forbear an act connected with or in the course of his profession, which he ought in good faith to do or forbear, and
• § 6103.5 — (a) A licensee of the State Bar shall promptly communicate to the licensee’s client all amounts, terms, and conditions of any written offer of settlement made by or on behalf of an opposing party.
• § 6103.6 — Violation of Section 15687 of the Probate Code, or of Part 3.
• § 6103.7 — It is cause for suspension, disbarment, or other discipline for any licensee of the State Bar to report suspected immigration status or threaten to report suspected immigration status of a witness or
• § 6104 — Corruptly or wilfully and without authority appearing as attorney for a party to an action or proceeding constitutes a cause for disbarment or suspension.
• § 6105 — Lending his name to be used as attorney by another person who is not an attorney constitutes a cause for disbarment or suspension.
• § 6106 — The commission of any act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty or corruption, whether the act is committed in the course of his relations as an attorney or otherwise, and whether the act is a felony
• § 6106.1 — Advocating the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of this State by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means, constitutes a cause for disbarment or suspension.
• § 6106.2 — (a) It shall constitute cause for the imposition of discipline of an attorney within the meaning of this chapter for an attorney to engage in any conduct in violation of Section 55.
• § 6106.3 — (a) It shall constitute cause for the imposition of discipline of an attorney within the meaning of this chapter for an attorney to engage in any conduct in violation of Section 2944.
• § 6106.4 — (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) “Applicant” means an applicant for admission to practice law in this state.
• § 6106.5 — It shall constitute cause for disbarment or suspension for an attorney to engage in any conduct prohibited under Section 1871.
• § 6106.6 — The State Bar shall investigate any licensee against whom an information or indictment has been filed that alleges a violation of Section 550 of the Penal Code or Section 1871.
• § 6106.7 — It shall constitute cause for the imposition of discipline of an attorney within the meaning of this chapter for an attorney to violate any provision of the Miller-Ayala Athlete Agents Act (Chapter 2.
• § 6106.8 — (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there is no rule that governs propriety of sexual relationships between lawyers and clients.
• § 6106.9 — (a) It shall constitute cause for the imposition of discipline of an attorney within the meaning of this chapter for an attorney to do any of the following: (1) Expressly or impliedly condition the pe
• § 6107 — The proceedings to disbar or suspend an attorney, on grounds other than the conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, involving moral turpitude, may be taken by the court for the matters within its knowl
• § 6108 — If the proceedings are upon the information of another, the accusation shall be in writing and shall state the matters charged, and be verified by the oath of some person, to the effect that the charg
• § 6109 — Upon receiving the accusation, the court shall make an order requiring the accused to appear and answer it at a specified time, and shall cause a copy of the order and of the accusation to be served u
• § 6110 — The court or judge may direct the service of a citation to the accused, requiring him to appear and answer the accusation, to be made by publication for thirty days in a newspaper of general circulati
• § 6111 — The accused shall appear at the time appointed in the order, and answer the accusation, unless, for sufficient cause, the court assigns another day for that purpose.
• § 6112 — The accused may answer to the accusation either by objecting to its sufficiency or by denying it.
• § 6113 — If an objection to the sufficiency of the accusation is not sustained, the accused shall answer within the time designated by the court.
• § 6114 — If the accused pleads guilty, or refuses to answer the accusation, the court shall proceed to judgment of disbarment or suspension.
• § 6115 — The court may, in its discretion, order a reference to a committee to take depositions in the matter.
• § 6116 — When an attorney has been found guilty of the charges made in proceedings not based upon a record of conviction, judgment shall be rendered disbarring the attorney or suspending him from practice for
• § 6117 — During such disbarment or suspension, the attorney shall be precluded from practicing law.
• § 6125 — No person shall practice law in California unless the person is an active licensee of the State Bar.
• § 6126 — (a) Any person advertising or holding himself or herself out as practicing or entitled to practice law or otherwise practicing law who is not an active licensee of the State Bar, or otherwise authoriz
• § 6126.3 — (a) In addition to any criminal penalties pursuant to Section 6126 or to any contempt proceedings pursuant to Section 6127, the courts of the state shall have the jurisdiction provided in this section
• § 6126.4 — Section 6126.
• § 6126.5 — (a) In addition to any remedies and penalties available in any enforcement action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the Attorney General, a district attorney, or a city a
• § 6126.7 — (a) It is a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 6126 for any person who is not an attorney to literally translate from English into another language, in any document, including an advertisement, s
• § 6127 — The following acts or omissions in respect to the practice of law are contempts of the authority of the courts: (a) Assuming to be an officer or attorney of a court and acting as such, without authori
• § 6127.5 — Nothing in Sections 6125, 6126 and 6127 shall be deemed to apply to the acts and practices of a law corporation duly certificated pursuant to the Professional Corporation Act, as contained in Part 4 (
• § 6128 — Every attorney is guilty of a misdemeanor who either: (a) Is guilty of any deceit or collusion, or consents to any deceit or collusion, with intent to deceive the court or any party.
• § 6129 — Every attorney who, either directly or indirectly, buys or is interested in buying any evidence of debt or thing in action, with intent to bring suit thereon, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
• § 6130 — No person, who has been an attorney, shall while a judgment of disbarment or suspension is in force appear on his own behalf as plaintiff in the prosecution of any action where the subject of the acti
• § 6131 — Every attorney is guilty of a misdemeanor and, in addition to the punishment prescribed therefor, shall be disbarred: (a) Who directly or indirectly advises in relation to, or aids, or promotes the de
• § 6132 — Any law firm, partnership, corporation, or association which contains the name of an attorney who is disbarred, or who resigned with charges pending, in its business name shall remove the name of that
• § 6133 — Any attorney or any law firm, partnership, corporation, or association employing an attorney who has resigned, or who is under actual suspension from the practice of law, or is disbarred, shall not pe
• § 6140 — (a) The board shall fix the annual license fee for active licensees for 2026 at a sum not exceeding four hundred dollars ($400).
• § 6140.02 — (a) The California Lawyers Association shall adopt a dues schedule for membership and shall provide that schedule to the State Bar by October 1 of each year.
• § 6140.03 — (a) The board shall increase each of the annual license fees fixed by Sections 6140 and 6141 by an additional forty-five dollars ($45), to be allocated only for the purposes established pursuant to Se
• § 6140.05 — (a) At the election of the board, the invoice provided to licensees for payment of the annual license fee may provide each licensee the option of adding up to five dollars ($5) to the annual fee if th
• § 6140.1 — (a) The State Bar annually shall submit its adopted final budget by February 28, so that the budget can be reviewed and approved in conjunction with any bill that would authorize the imposition of lic
• § 6140.10 — (a) In addition to the fee collected pursuant to Sections 6140 and 6141, the State Bar may collect revenue to pay for lease costs associated with leasing space in the building located at 180 Howard St
• § 6140.11 — (a) In addition to the fee collected pursuant to Sections 6140 and 6141, the State Bar may collect revenue to fund the salaries and benefits of employees of the State Bar, including benefits identifie
• § 6140.12 — The board shall complete and implement a five-year strategic plan to be updated every two years.
• § 6140.13 — (a) In addition to the fee collected pursuant to Sections 6140 and 6141, the State Bar may collect revenue not to exceed the actual cost of administering compliance reviews and audits of client trust
• § 6140.14 — (a) In addition to the fee collected pursuant to Sections 6140 and 6141, the State Bar may collect revenue not to exceed the actual cost of the pilot programs to fund the disciplinary diversion progra
• § 6140.16 — (a) To align its staffing with its mission to protect the public as provided in Section 6001.
• § 6140.2 — The State Bar shall set as a goal the improvement of its disciplinary system so that no more than six months will elapse from the receipt of complaints to the time of dismissal, admonishment of the at
• § 6140.37 — The State Bar shall have a preference for using in-house employees for information technology projects, whenever possible.
• § 6140.5 — (a) The board shall establish and administer a Client Security Fund to relieve or mitigate pecuniary losses caused by the dishonest conduct of licensees of the State Bar, foreign legal consultants reg
• § 6140.55 — (a) The board may increase the annual license fees fixed by it pursuant to Section 6140 by an additional amount per active licensee not to exceed forty dollars ($40), and the annual license fees fixed
• § 6140.56 — (a) To ensure that the Client Security Fund can adequately protect the public and relieve or mitigate financial losses caused by the dishonest conduct of licensees of the State Bar by paying claims in
• § 6140.6 — The board may increase the annual license fees fixed by Sections 6140 and 6141 by an additional amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) to be applied to the costs of the disciplinary system.
• § 6140.7 — Costs assessed against a licensee publicly reproved or suspended, where suspension is stayed and the licensee is not actually suspended, shall be added to and become a part of the license fee of the l
• § 6140.8 — (a) Any order imposing upon a licensee public reproval, discipline, or accepting a resignation with a disciplinary matter pending, in which the licensee is ordered to pay restitution is enforceable as
• § 6140.9 — (a) Moneys for the support of the program established pursuant to Article 15 (commencing with Section 6230), treatment services for those who cannot afford to pay, and related programs approved by the
• § 6141 — (a) The board shall fix the annual license fee for inactive licensees at a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).
• § 6141.1 — (a) The payment by any licensee of the annual license fee, any portion thereof, or any penalty thereon, may be waived by the board as it may provide by rule.
• § 6141.3 — (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the State Bar shall provide offers of discounts and other benefits to active and inactive licensees of the State Bar, including, but not limited to, insuranc
• § 6142 — Upon the payment of the annual license fees, including any costs imposed pursuant to Section 6140.
• § 6143 — Any licensee, active or inactive, failing to pay any fees, penalties, or costs after they become due, and after two months written notice of his or her delinquency, shall have his or her license suspe
• § 6143.5 — Any licensee, active or inactive, failing to pay any child support after it becomes due shall be subject to Section 17520 of the Family Code.
• § 6144 — (a) All fees shall be paid into the treasury of the State Bar, and, when so paid, shall become part of its funds.
• § 6144.1 — (a) The net proceeds from the sale of real property, after payment of obligations and encumbrances and reasonable costs of acquiring and relocating its facilities, if any, shall be held by the State B
• § 6144.5 — It is the intent of the Legislature to confirm, validate, and declare effective the annual license fees, and all augmentations, including, but not limited to, those made under Sections 6140.
• § 6145 — (a) The board shall engage the services of an independent national or regional public accounting firm with at least five years of experience in governmental auditing for an audit of its financial stat
• § 6145.1 — (a) (1) The California State Bar shall prepare a report providing written justification for how it would use revenue generated by an increase in the mandatory annual license fee authorized by Section
• § 6146 — (a) An attorney shall not contract for or collect a contingency fee for representing any person seeking damages in connection with an action for injury or damage against a health care provider based u
• § 6147 — (a) An attorney who contracts to represent a client on a contingency fee basis shall, at the time the contract is entered into, provide a duplicate copy of the contract, signed by both the attorney an
• § 6147.5 — (a) Sections 6147 and 6148 shall not apply to contingency fee contracts for the recovery of claims between merchants as defined in Section 2104 of the Commercial Code, arising from the sale or lease o
• § 6148 — (a) In any case not coming within Section 6147 in which it is reasonably foreseeable that total expense to a client, including attorney fees, will exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), the contract fo
• § 6149 — A written fee contract shall be deemed to be a confidential communication within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section 6068 and of Section 952 of the Evidence Code.
• § 6149.5 — (a) Upon the payment of one hundred dollars ($100) or more in settlement of any third-party liability claim the insurer shall provide written notice to the claimant if both of the following apply: (1)
• § 6150 — This article is a part of Chapter 4 of this division of the Business and Professions Code, but the phrase “this chapter” as used in Chapter 4 does not apply to the provisions of this article unless ex
• § 6151 — As used in this article: (a) A runner or capper is any person, firm, association or corporation acting for consideration in any manner or in any capacity as an agent for an attorney at law or law firm
• § 6152 — (a) It is unlawful for: (1) Any person, in an individual capacity or in a capacity as a public or private employee, or for any firm, corporation, partnership or association to act as a runner or cappe
• § 6153 — (a) A person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation violating subdivision (a) of Section 6152 is punishable, upon a first conviction, by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one ye
• § 6154 — (a) Any contract for professional services secured by any attorney at law or law firm in this state through the services of a runner or capper is void.
• § 6155 — (a) An individual, partnership, corporation, association, or any other nongovernmental entity shall not operate for the direct or indirect purpose, in whole or in part, of referring potential clients
• § 6155.1 — (a) Any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity, including, but not limited to, any person or entity having an ownership interest in a lawyer referral service, that engages,
• § 6156 — (a) No attorney licensed or otherwise authorized to practice in this state shall share legal fees directly or indirectly with an out-of-state alternative business structure unless all of the following
• § 6156.5 — (a) Any person may bring a civil action for a violation of Section 6155 for the following remedies: (1) Statutory damages of a minimum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) up to a maximum of one hundred
• § 6157 — As used in this article, the following definitions apply: (a) “Advertise” means to engage in any communication constituting an advertisement.
• § 6157.1 — No advertisement shall contain any false, misleading, or deceptive statement or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of circumstances under which they are made, not f
• § 6157.2 — (a) An advertisement shall not contain or refer to any of the following: (1) A guarantee or warranty of success regarding the outcome of a legal matter as a result of representation by the licensee.
• § 6157.3 — Any advertisement made on behalf of a licensee, which is not paid for by the licensee, shall disclose any business relationship, past or present, between the licensee and the person paying for the adv
• § 6157.4 — Any advertisement that is created or disseminated by a lawyer referral service shall disclose whether the attorneys on the organization’s referral list, panel, or system, paid any consideration, other
• § 6157.5 — (a) All advertisements published, distributed, or broadcasted by or on behalf of a licensee seeking professional employment for the licensee in providing services relating to immigration or naturaliza
• § 6158 — In advertising by electronic media, to comply with Sections 61571.
• § 6158.1 — There shall be a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence that the following messages are false, misleading, or deceptive within the meaning of Section 6158: (a) A message as
• § 6158.2 — The following information shall be presumed to be in compliance with this article for purposes of advertising by electronic media, provided the message as a whole is not false, misleading, or deceptiv
• § 6158.3 — In addition to any disclosure required by Section 6157.
• § 6158.4 — (a) Any person claiming a violation of Section 6157.
• § 6158.5 — (a) This article applies to all lawyers, licensees, law partnerships, law corporations, entities subject to regulation under Section 6155, advertising collectives, cooperatives, or other individuals,
• § 6158.7 — A violation of Section 6157.
• § 6159 — The court shall report the name, address, and professional license number of any person found in violation of this article to the appropriate professional licensing agency for review and possible disc
• § 6159.1 — A true and correct copy of any advertisement made by a person or licensee shall be retained for one year by the person or licensee who pays for an advertisement soliciting employment of legal services
• § 6159.2 — (a) Nothing in this article shall be deemed to limit or preclude enforcement of any other provision of law, or of any court rule, or of the State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct.
• § 6159.5 — The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) Legal aid programs provide a valuable service to the public by providing free legal services to the poor.
• § 6159.51 — For purposes of this article, “legal aid organization” means a nonprofit organization that provides civil legal services for the poor without charge.
• § 6159.52 — It is unlawful for any person or organization to use the term “legal aid,” “legal aide,” or any confusingly similar name in any firm name, trade name, fictitious business name, or any other designatio
• § 6159.53 — (a) Any consumer injured by a violation of Section 6159.
• § 6160 — A law corporation is a corporation which is registered with the State Bar of California and has a currently effective certificate of registration from the State Bar pursuant to the Professional Corpor
• § 6161 — An applicant for registration as a law corporation shall supply to the State Bar all necessary and pertinent documents and information requested by the State Bar concerning the applicant’s plan of ope
• § 6161.1 — Each law corporation shall renew its certificate of registration annually at a time to be fixed by the State Bar and shall pay a fee therefor which shall be fixed by the State Bar in accordance with s
• § 6161.2 — All fees for registration and renewal paid pursuant to Sections 6161 and 6161.
• § 6162 — Within such time as the State Bar may by rule provide, the law corporation shall report in writing to the State Bar any change in directors, officers, employees performing professional services and sh
• § 6163 — (a) Each law corporation shall file with the State Bar annually and at such other times as the State Bar may require a report containing such information pertaining to qualification and compliance wit
• § 6165 — Except as provided in Sections 13403 and 13406 of the Corporations Code, each director, shareholder, and each officer of a law corporation shall be a licensed person as defined in the Professional Cor
• § 6166 — The income of a law corporation attributable to professional services rendered while a shareholder is a disqualified person (as defined in the Professional Corporation Act) shall not in any manner acc
• § 6167 — A law corporation shall not do or fail to do any act the doing of which or the failure to do which would constitute a cause for discipline of a licensee of the State Bar, under any statute, rule, or r
• § 6168 — (a) The State Bar may conduct an investigation of the conduct of the business of a law corporation.
• § 6169 — (a) When there is reason to believe that a law corporation has violated or is about to violate any of the provisions of this article or the Professional Corporation Act or of any other pertinent statu
• § 6170 — Any action of the State Bar or the Board of Trustees or a committee of the State Bar, or the chief executive officer of the State Bar or the designee of the chief executive officer, provided for in th
• § 6171 — With the approval of the Supreme Court, the State Bar may formulate and enforce rules and regulations to carry out the purposes and objectives of this article, including rules and regulations requirin
• § 6171.1 — Six months and one day following the death of a sole shareholder of a law corporation, the certificate of registration of the law corporation shall be deemed canceled by operation of this section.
• § 6172 — Nothing in this article shall be construed as affecting or impairing the disciplinary powers and authority of the Supreme Court or of the State Bar in respect of conduct of licensees of the State Bar
• § 6173 — (a) (1) The State Bar shall create a program to certify alternative dispute resolution firms, providers, or practitioners.