Established: 1927
Total Number of Members: 149,994
Inactive Members: 43,240
Judges: 1,911
Membership is: Compulsory

Bar Profile:
With over 200,000 members, the State Bar of California is the largest State Bar association in the country. The terms "Bar Member" and "Bar Association" originated in the 18th century as a means of identifying attorneys as opposed to other participants in the administration of justice. The "Bar" reference is to the railing or "Bar" in a court room that traditionally separates the spectators or observation gallery from the lawyers and the judge. The judge occupies the "bench" in the courtroom and is frequently referred to as a "bench officer."

To practice law in California, attorneys must pass the California Bar Examination, meet moral character requirements, and pay their annual licensing membership fees to the State Bar. These fees are what fund the many activities of the State Bar including its regulatory activities.

California is what is referred to as a "unified" State Bar. It is statuatory public corporation in the judicial branch of state government. As a unified State Bar, it "unifies" both the regulatory licensing activities applicable to the practice of law as well as the association activities of a professional association. In a unified bar, "membership" is mandatory for all attorneys who must pay "membership" or licensing fees to maintain their license to practice law. These fees are used by the unifed State Bar not only to regulate attorneys but also to enhance the professional standing of attorneys and the administration of justice. California is one of over 30 states in the nation with unified State Bars.

Since its statutory creation in 1927, the State Bar of California has shaped the development of the law, regulated the professional conduct of the State's attorneys, enhanced the administration of justice, and striven to expand access to the justice system for all. The State Bar serves as an arm of the California Supreme Court in all of its regulatory duties.

Annual Meetings:

September 27-30, 2007
Anaheim, CA

View Current Officers & Leadership >>

President
Jeffrey Laurence Bleich
Munger Tolles & Olson LLP
560 Mission St. 27Fl
San Francisco, CA 94105-2907
Phone: (415) 512-4007
Fax: (415) 644-6907
Email: jeff.bleich@mto.com

Past President
James Otto Heiting
Heiting & Irwin
5885 Brockton Ave.
Riverside, CA 92506
Phone: (951) 682-6400
Fax: (951) 682-4072
Email: heiting@juno.com

Vice President
Raymond G. Aragon
P.O. Box 1713
Bonita, CA 91908-1713
Phone: (619) 267-4743
Fax: (619) 267-4743
Email: r-aragon@cox.net

Vice President/Treasurer
Richard L. Crabtree
Law Office of Richard L. Crabtree
1395 Ridgewood Dr., Suite 300
Chico, CA 95973
Phone: (530) 566-1111
Fax: (530) 566-9203
Email: rick@crabtreelawoffice.com

Vice President
Paul S. Hokokian
P.O. Box 12946
Fresno, CA 93779

Vice President
Demetrius D. Shelton
Office of the City Attorney
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 6th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 238-3493
Fax: (510) 238-6500
Email: DDShelton@oaklandcityattorney.org

Vice President/President-Elect
Sheldon H. Sloan
11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 230
Los Angeles, CA 90025-3336
Phone: (310) 268-0622
Fax: (310) 268-2450
Email: ssloanlaw@aol.com

Executive Director and Secretary to the State Bar
Judy Johnson

General Counsel
Marie Moffat

BAR CONTACTS

Senior Executive, Admissions and Certifications
Gayle Murphy

Administrative Officer for State Bar Court; Chief Court Counsel
George Scott (Acting)

Chief Trial Counsel
Scott Drexel

Senior Executive, Finance
Peggy Van Horn

Deputy Executive Director/Senior Executive, Human Resources
Robert Hawley

Continuing Legal Education
Starr Babcock
Phone: (415) 538-2170

Director, Section Education & Meeting Services
Pam Wilson
Phone: (415) 538-2210

Membership Services
Starr Babcock
Phone: (415) 538-2070

Communication/Media Inquiries
Kathleen Beitiks
Phone: (415) 538-2283

Office of Certification
Phyllis Culp
Phone: (415) 538-2118
Email: phyllis.culp@calbar.ca.gov

<< View Overview   View Sections >>

Office Of Section Education And Meetings Services
Pam Wilson
Director Section Education & Meeting Servies
Phone: (415) 538-2210

Antitrust & Unfair Competition
Business Law
Criminal Law
Environmental Law
Family Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Law
Labor & Employment Law
Law Practice Management & Technology
Litigation
Public Law
Real Property Law
Solo & Small Firm
Trust & Estates
Taxation
Workers Compensation Law

Certification Areas (Legal Specialization)
Appellate Law
Bankruptcy Law
Criminal Law
Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
Family Law
Immigration and Nationality Law
Taxation Law
Workers' Compensation Law

<< View Current Officers & Leadership