Report 2020-030 Recommendation 5 Responses
Report 2020-030: The State Bar of California: It Is Not Effectively Managing Its System for Investigating and Disciplining Attorneys Who Abuse the Public Trust (Release Date: April 2021)
Recommendation #5 To: Bar of California, State
To ensure that it is operating efficiently, the State Bar should assess the impact of its discipline system reorganization, including determining how the changes have affected its ability to efficiently resolve cases and fulfill its mandate to protect the public. Based on the assessment's results, the State Bar should determine whether additional changes to its organizational structure are warranted.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022
The Office of Research & Institutional Accountability completed the development of new case processing standards as of October 31, 2022. A retired annuitant was retained in summer 2022 and has begun work on the workforce planning redesign analysis.
- Estimated Completion Date: 01/31/2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
The State Bar is still in the process of implementing this recommendation. Because the State Bar did not provide a scope of work for its workforce planning redesign analysis, it is not clear whether that process will address this recommendation.
1-Year Agency Response
This effort is delayed due to insufficient staffing resources. The Office of Research & Institutional Accountability has been focused on developing new case processing standards and estimates of staffing resources required to meet these standards as directed by Senate Bill 211. A retired annuitant will be engaged in summer 2022 to complete the workforce planning redesign analysis.
- Estimated Completion Date: Fall 2022
- Response Date: April 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
The State Bar is still in the process of developing a plan to implement this recommendation.
6-Month Agency Response
Initial meetings have been held with the Executive Director of the Bar and the Office of Research & Institutional Accountability to define the scope of work and assign resources to this project. A preliminary list of the reforms proposed and their status in 2017 has been developed and will be used to identify data that bear on specific recommendations. Development of a project plan will continue through the fall of 2021.
- Estimated Completion Date: Summer 2022
- Response Date: October 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
The State Bar is still in the process of developing a plan to implement this recommendation.
60-Day Agency Response
Staff in the Office of Research and Institutional Accountability will begin developing an evaluation plan in the fall of 2021 and begin executing that plan in early 2022. We expect preliminary results to be available in the spring of 2022.
- Estimated Completion Date: Spring 2022
- Response Date: June 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken
The State Bar has not yet taken any action toward implementing this recommendation.
All Recommendations in 2020-030
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.