|
A confusing fee statement
I did not think it was possible for the bar fee
statements to become more confusing than last year, but somehow the
bar managed to do so.
Several lawyers in my office independently
reached the same conclusion - the statement appears designed
intentionally to confuse lawyers into paying more than the minimum
amount due by requiring a "negative check off" of non-mandatory
fees.
The form should be revised to reflect the minimum
payment required and then offer options to add other amounts for
sections membership, charities, etc.
The current form is an example of muddlement all
lawyers should strive to avoid.
Gary Gross
Monterey Park
Or is it deceptive?
To my eye the 2001 membership fee statement is
deceptive and is a disgrace to the State Bar and the legal profession.
I'm confident that most lawyers are busy and we rely on the State
Bar to be clear and honest with its membership. To state that the
"mandatory fees" are $390 only to find out (if one takes the time
to read the litany of fee possibilities) that the membership is
entitled to "deduct" $10 from the "mandatory" amount is a
farce.
If a private business sent out this type of
mailing as a way to extract an extra $10, the private business might
very well be sued under our consumer protection laws.
Raymond McKown
Los Angeles
Study says otherwise
In response to several complaints about the 2002
fee statement, the State Bar is looking into this issue. The annual
fee statement was developed as a way to consolidate information
regarding both mandatory and voluntary payments to the bar. The cost
of mailing is a consideration and we strive to be efficient in using
print and postage. This one invoice includes a multitude of payments,
programs and regulations.
The annual fee statement has included both
mandatory and voluntary donations and deductions for many years. In
2001, we redesigned the statement using the services of a firm
specializing in organizing similar mailings.
In 1999/2000, the board of governors set the
current policy regarding the layout of the fee statement. The goal was
to efficiently and fairly provide for payment of both mandatory and
optional items.
An independent research organization surveyed
5,000 paid members and found that approximately 80 percent of the
members thought the statements were clear, 75 percent thought
adjustments were easy to make, and 78 percent thought that the total
amount due was easy to calculate.
The
State Bar is striving to meet the needs of its many constituents. If a
member believes he or she made a mistake by not taking a deduction or
by inadvertently making a contribution, our billing department will
make the appropriate adjustments and/or refunds.
Elyse Cotant
Director, Membership Services |
