Will California lawyers have to pay bar dues in 2017? Bill is rejected amid debate on state bar
A bill authorizing 2017 bar dues for California lawyers includes modest changes in the state bar’s governance structure, but it doesn’t go far enough for lawmakers who refused to approve the legislation on Tuesday.
Opponents said they would like to see additional negotiations on reform before approving the bill, the Recorder (sub. req.) reports.
The procedural deadline for approval of such bills is Friday, and the no vote on the bill “puts into doubt the immediate future of bar dues-authorizing legislation,” the story says.
The defeated bill would have prevented the bar from creating nonprofit foundations and would have required a study of the fund that reimburses clients who lose money to thieving lawyers. It’s unclear what additional changes are being sought.
The State Bar of California has been in the headlines since its fired executive director, Joe Dunn, filed suit alleging “egregious improprieties” by some bar officials, including an alleged attempt to hide the true backlog of discipline complaints.
A leaked internal report countered that Dunn had misled the bar’s Board of Trustees about the state chief justice’s support for a move of the bar’s headquarters, The report also said Dunn was incorrect when he claimed that bar funds would not be used to pay for overseas trips. Dunn’s lawyer has denied the allegations.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Fired California bar leader sues ‘with heavy heart,’ alleges ‘egregious improprieties’ ”
ABAJournal.com: “Fired bar leader’s suit is baseless and his whistleblower claims are ‘bewildering,’ Calif. bar says”
ABAJournal.com: “Fired California bar leader allegedly misled trustees, leaked report says”
