2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 9.9. Online reporting by attorneys
(a) Required information
To maintain the roll of attorneys required by rule 9.8 and to facilitate communications by the State Bar with its licensees, each licensee must use an online account on a secure system provided by the State Bar to report:
(1) A current office address and telephone number, or if none, an alternative address;
(2) A current e-mail address not to be disclosed on the State Bar's website or otherwise to the public without the licensee's consent;
(3) The URL of the licensee's professional website, if one is maintained;
(4) The licensee's practice sector, if applicable;
(5) The number of attorneys employed by the licensee's law firm, agency, or other legal employer, if any;
(6) Information about the licensee's trust account or accounts, if any, as set out in the Rules of the State Bar of California, rule 2.5;
(7) Legal specialties in which the licensee is certified, if any;
(8) Any other jurisdictions in which the licensee is admitted and the date(s) of admission;
(9) The jurisdiction, and the nature and date of any discipline imposed by another jurisdiction, if any, including the terms and conditions of any probation imposed, and, if suspended or disbarred in another jurisdiction, the date of any reinstatement in that jurisdiction;
(10) Any other information as directed by the California Supreme Court;
(11) Any other information as may be required by agreement with, or by conditions of probation imposed by, any other government agency; and
(12) Any other information as required by law.
(Subd (a) amended effective Januay1, 2024: previously amended effective January 1, 2019.)
(b) Optional information
A licensee may also use an online attorney records account to provide:
(1) an e-mail address for disclosure to the public on the State Bar website; and
(2) additional information as authorized by statute, rule, or Supreme Court directive, or as requested by the State Bar.
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2024; previously amended effective January 1, 2019.)
(c) Exclusions
Unless otherwise permitted by law or the Supreme Court, the State Bar may not use e-mail as substitute means of providing a notice required to initiate a State Bar disciplinary or regulatory proceeding or to otherwise change a licensee's status involuntarily.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2019.)
(d) Exemption
A licensee who does not have online access or an e-mail address may claim an exemption from the reporting requirements of this rule. The exemption must be requested in the manner prescribed by the State Bar.
(Subd (d) amended effective January 1, 2019.)
(e) Failure to Comply
A licensee who fails to satisfy the requirements of this rule will be enrolled as an inactive licensee of the State Bar under the rules to be adopted by the Board of Trustees of the State Bar. Inactive enrollment imposed for noncompliance with the requirements of this rule is cumulative and does not preclude a disciplinary proceeding or other action for violation of the State Bar Act, the Rules of Professional Conduct, or other applicable laws.
(Subd (e) adopted effective January 1, 2024.)
(f) Fees and penalties
The State Bar has the authority to set and collect appropriate fees and penalties.
(Subd (f) adopted effective January 1, 2024.)
Rule 9.9 amended effective January 1, 2024; adopted as rule 9.7 effective February 1, 2010; previously renumbered effective January 1, 2018; previously amended effective January 1, 2019.