Mandatory Fee Arbitration

The committee's primary function is to oversee the mandatory attorney-client fee arbitration program established by Business & Professions Code Sections 6200-6206. Fee arbitration is currently provided by 40 local bar associations and State Bar programs.

The committee:

• reviews and comments upon any proposed legislation and tracks other legal developments that may affect either the mandatory fee arbitration program or attorney fee agreements in general;
• makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding amendments to the fee arbitration statutes, the State Bar's and local bar association's Rules of Procedure for Fee Arbitration, the Guidelines and Minimum Standards for the Operation of Mandatory Fee Arbitration Programs, and the State Bar's Model Rules of Procedure; 
• monitors developments in both substantive and procedural law relating to mandatory fee arbitration;
• oversees the State Bar's Mandatory Fee Arbitration Department;
• drafts the State Bar's approved sample fee agreements, local program advisories, and arbitration advisories.
• conducts continuing education seminars, including fee arbitrator training sessions for fee arbitrators with the local and State Bar programs and on attorney's fees law for lawyers.

The basic time commitment for committee members is attending six meetings per year, involving approximately 12 hours per month in months when meetings occur. Members who speak at educational seminars and arbitrator training programs will incur additional hours. In addition, members are assigned projects often on a team subcommittee basis, which may require time for research, writing and editing.

Lawyers and public members experienced in a local bar mandatory fee arbitration, including experienced fee arbitrators, chairs, vice chairs and staff administrators from local bar fee arbitration programs, are especially encouraged to apply.

• Expected 2013-14 vacancies: 8 (lawyer and public member positions)
• Approximate number of meetings per year: 6-8, plus special projects
• Chair: Rae Lamothe, Los Angeles 
• Staff contact: Doug Hull 415-538-2015

Deadline for 2013 applications has been extended to: April 2, 2013

2013 terms begin: Conclusion of 2013 State Bar Annual Meeting (Oct. 13, 2013)