Girardi Fallout, Access to Justice Drive California Bar Fee Bill

The California Bar could charge lawyers $390 for their annual license under legislation that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, with the bill specifically requiring the bar to comply with data breach notification requirements and mandating yet another state audit.

The legislature-mandated State Auditor’s report, prompted by revelations that famed trial attorney Tom Girardi stole millions of dollars from clients for years, found faulty policies are limiting the State Bar’s ability to protect the public from attorney misconduct.

The bill (AB 2958) is meant to address controversy over the bar’s disciplinary and other actions, because “even when ...