Report 2017-030 Recommendation 15 Responses
Report 2017-030: The State Bar of California: It Needs Additional Revisions to Its Expense Policies to Ensure That It Uses Funds Prudently (Release Date: June 2017)
Recommendation #15 To: Bar of California, State
To reduce its reliance on outside legal counsel, the State Bar should continue its efforts to hire staff to fill its remaining vacant attorney positions.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019
The Office of General Counsel executed a written protocol in its procedures manual to undertake robust recruitment efforts to fill vacant staff attorney positions in order to reduce the State Bar's use of outside legal counsel. A copy of this protocol has been provided to the State Auditor.
- Completion Date: October 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) has fully implemented protocols for recruiting for all attorney positions as soon as a vacancy arises. OGC notifies Human Resources (HR) as soon as it becomes aware of a vacancy, and works with HR to recruit for and fill the vacancy in a timely manner. While this protocol has not been reduced to a written policy, it has been in effect since the beginning of this year.
- Completion Date: January 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
As part of its response, State Bar provided evidence of recent attorney hires and its posting for attorney vacancies. However, State Bar confirmed that it does not have a documented protocol to fill all attorney vacancies.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
1-Year Agency Response
As of January 2018, OGC has implemented a protocol to fill all attorney vacancies as they occur. OGC is currently recruiting to fill two attorney vacancies.
- Completion Date: January 2018
- Response Date: June 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
As part of its response, State Bar provided evidence of recent attorney hires and its posting for attorney vacancies. However, State Bar confirmed that it does not have a documented protocol to fill all attorney vacancies.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
6-Month Agency Response
The State Bar continues to actively recruit for all vacant positions, including vacant attorney positions.
- Estimated Completion Date: October 2018
- Response Date: December 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
We look forward to the State Bar providing a more complete description of its actions to implement our recommendations, as well as evidence of those actions, at its one-year response in June 2018.
60-Day Agency Response
The State Bar continues to actively recruit for all vacant positions, including vacant attorney positions.
- Estimated Completion Date: October 2018
- Response Date: August 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2017-030
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.