California Advances Bill for $515 Bar Fee for Active Attorneys

California attorneys would pay up to $515 for their one-year license to practice law, under legislation heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.

The annual bill (A.B. 3362) approves a base $395 license fee for active attorneys. When all fees are added together, including those charged to help pay clients for lawyer misconduct, the total tab for 2021 is $515 for active licensees and $182.40 for inactive licensees, a Senate Judiciary Committee analysis said. California Bar membership this year totaled 275,635, including 191,360 active licensees plus judges, inactive, and ineligible members.

• The bill sets aside $5 of the $45 ...