6,000-plus lawyers may lose their bar cards

More than 6,000 California lawyers face the possible loss of their license to practice as a result of not complying with continuing education requirements or not paying their bar dues. As of last month, 3,850 lawyers had not paid their dues and another 2,379 had not completed MCLE requirements.

The last day to avoid being placed on not entitled status is Sept. 15; the suspensions will take effect Sept. 16.

The MCLE scofflaws belong to Group 3 (last names begin with N-Z), whose compliance deadline was Feb. 1. 

The State Bar Board of Governors was expected to approve a suspension list at its meeting July 22; the names will be forwarded to the Supreme Court for action.

People who have not complied received a final notice last month.

Those who have not paid their dues, most of whom are active lawyers, and those who have not complied have received three notices from the bar.

Typically, the bar suspends between 800-1,000 lawyers every year for non-payment of dues and several hundred for MCLE non-compliance.

Those who have not complied with MCLE requirements now owe a $75 late fee. Both the fee and the compliance card must be submitted to avoid suspension. Compliance cards are available online and compliance may be reported online.

Suspension becomes a permanent part of a member’s record that is available on the Web site.