Committees & Commissions

General Information

2012-2013 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 four other entities -- the ABA House of Delegates, the Judicial Council, the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE Commission), and the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) Oversight Committee.

For details regarding appointment review and board policies, 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 415-538-2318.

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, the number of vacancies, and the staff liaison's contact information.  A compilation of the committee descriptions is also available from the Appointments Office or as a PDF.

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 by February 1, 2012. 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 available: 

• Board of Legal Specialization (public member positions)
• Committee of Bar Examiners (young lawyer position: applicants must be in active practice and admitted to practice in California three years or less as of March 2, 2012)

Travel Policy Information for State Bar Volunteers

• 2012 Expense Report 
• 2011 Expense Report 
• Travel and Business-Related Expense Policy