Admissions Fee Increase Proposal

The Office of Admissions is seeking public comment on two options for proposed fee increases.

Fees assessed to support various State Bar admissions functions are supposed to fully cover the cost of providing those services; currently, fees charged do not generate enough revenue to cover expenses. As a result, the admissions budget is experiencing a structural deficit. In 2023, $7 million in deficit spending was budgeted. At the end of 2023, Admissions Fund reserves are projected to total $4 million, an amount insufficient to fully cover the future costs of admission operations. Absent a combination of both fee increases and cost reductions, severe cutbacks in admissions services will be required.

Some admissions fees have not increased in decades. Fees for the two largest areas of operational activity and expense—the bar exam and the moral character determination process—have not increased since 2016. While fees have not increased, costs have; routine staff salary increases, inflation, and the COVID-19 pandemic collectively have resulted in significant increases in the cost of doing business over time.

Learn more about these proposals here.

Your comments are being sought on two different options for fee increases. Both options include higher increases for applicants who are already licensed attorneys in order to reduce the fee increase impact on students and nonattorney applicants. The options and your preliminary feedback will be shared with the State Bar Board of Trustees in May, with final action on admissions fees targeted for July 2023.

• Option 1 reflects a “break even” approach—the true cost of providing each service.

• Option 2 reflects more modest increases in some areas. While Option 2 is likely more palatable in the short term, your feedback should consider the reality that adopting this option will likely require significant cuts in operational expenses.