State Bar of California Publishes 2021 Digital Annual Report

May 16, 2022

The State Bar has published its digital annual report for 2021 spotlighting the agency’s accomplishments in a year that brought new leadership and progress on numerous initiatives furthering the agency’s public protection mission.

This year’s report brings that mission to life by featuring short video spotlights of Californians who have been helped by the work of the State Bar. These diverse “State Bar Stories” include people who have avoided eviction and resolved other legal problems with the help of legal aid organizations funded by the State Bar, those who have received reimbursement from the Client Security Fund, a new attorney who achieved licensure through the Provisional Licensure Program, and a long-time advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in California’s legal profession.

“2021 was a year marked by the continuing uncertainties of the pandemic realized by all Californians, as well as an increased societal recognition of how structural inequities created a pandemic-within-a-pandemic for many communities in our state,” said Leah Wilson, Executive Director. “Our mission of public protection, access to legal services, and diversity and inclusion, is not an abstraction. It is more critical than ever and has real impact on people’s lives. This report highlights our dedication to our mission, our multifaceted progress, and our commitment to accountability and transparency.”

Among the fast facts in the report highlighting the size and scope of the nation’s largest State Bar are these:

• Total number of attorneys licensed: 282,412
• New attorneys admitted: 10,578 (a record number)
• Legal aid funds distributed: $60.3 million
• Victims reimbursed through the Client Security Fund: 291
• Complaints about attorney misconduct and nonattorneys practice of law handled: 15,715
• Bar exam applicants tested: 11,596
• Attorneys disciplined: 323
• Nonattorney practice cases referred to law enforcement: 364
• Customer service calls handled: 97,600

Sections of the digital report relating to attorney regulation and discipline, access, diversity and inclusion, and admissions highlight numerous accomplishments, metrics, and initiatives undertaken or completed in 2021.