Committees & Commissions

General Information

2013-2014 Appointments Application

Each year the State Bar of California offers attorneys in California an opportunity to contribute to the legal profession and the public by volunteering to serve on one of the State Bar's committees. This year the State Bar is recruiting applicants for 10 standing committees, 16 section executive committees, and 18 special committees, boards and commissions. The State Bar's Board of Trustees appoints approximately 150-200 new members every year, and strives to make appointments that will achieve diversity and broad representation of the California Legal profession.

The Board also makes annual appointments to five other entities -- the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates, the Judicial Council, the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE Commission), the Review Committee of the JNE Commission (RJNE), and the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) Oversight Committee. 

The application deadline for most committees is February 1, 2013.  A few committees have a May 1 or June 3 deadline. For details regarding appointment review, board policies and deadlines for specific committees, please see Procedures.

Call the San Francisco staff liaison for the committee in which you are interested - see Where to Go, Whom to Call - or select the link to the committee page or call the Appointments Office at 415-538-2370.

To apply, use the online application:

• Appointments Application (WORD version)
• Appointments Application (Adobe version)

or write to:

Committee Descriptions

Select the committee link for the description of the committee's work, special requirements, the number of vacancies, and the staff liaison's contact information.  A compilation of all committee descriptions is also available from the Appointments Office. 

Current Vacancies

From time to time, new vacancies on committees and commissions arise due to resignations. An appointee serves the remaining portion of the resignee's term, which is called an "interim appointment."

Interim appointments are generally available from October through March.

To apply, submit the current application form to the State Bar's Appointments Office . For a description of the committee and the name of the staff contact, select the link to the committee.  The terms for these postions typically are one to three years and are effective upon appointment.

Interim appointment positions are currently available for nonlawyer public member positions on the following legal specialization entities: 

• California Board of Legal Specialization     

Travel Policy Information for State Bar Volunteers

• 2013 Expense Report
• Travel and Business-Related Expense Policy