Report 2015-047 Recommendation 3 Responses

Report 2015-047: The State Bar of California: Its Lack of Transparency Has Undermined Its Communications With Decision Makers and Stakeholders (Release Date: May 2016)

Recommendation #3 To: Bar of California, State

To ensure that it maximizes its cost-recovery efforts related to the Client Security Fund, the State Bar should adopt a policy to evaluate annually the effectiveness of the various collection methods it uses to recover funds from disciplined attorneys.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From August 2018

At its May 2018 meeting the Board of Trustees adopted by consent a policy to evaluate annually the effectiveness of the various collection methods it uses to recover funds from disciplined attorneys.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented


Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2017

The State bar is delayed in adopting such a policy but will do so by the end of 2017.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending


1-Year Agency Response

The State Bar is delayed in implementing this recommendation but will do so by the end of 2017.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending


6-Month Agency Response

Staff has begun development. As part of this process, a significant amount of work has been done to enhance collections. Initially, this effort focused on addressing a years-long backlog in judgment filing. Most recently, staff has moved to secure a collections vendor through a Judicial Council master agreement vendor. As part of both sets of activities, policies are being developed; we are unlikely to meet the previously stated goal of policy adoption by the end of the year however.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending


60-Day Agency Response

The State Bar will adopt such a policy by the end of 2016; the policy may call for a biennial, instead of annual, review.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

As of August 2016 the State Bar has not yet adopted a policy as recommended.


All Recommendations in 2015-047

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.