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Message from the Executive Director
I am going to use this month’s message to respond to several different Incogneato messages I have received lately. Keep ‘em coming!
Question/Statement: It makes no sense how much of the budget is being allocated to CRU when that type of work could be done by analysts with an attorney supervisor. OCTC needs the majority of funding/resources and the budget should be allocated to provide that department with the most amount of resources.
Response: The Complaint Review Unit (CRU) is responsible for independently reviewing OCTC’s decision to close complaints. As such, the work of CRU is similar to OCTC’s Intake function. Intake is staffed primarily by attorneys. The analysis undertaken to review OCTC’s decisions is considered the practice of law; only attorneys are authorized to practice law in California.
I encourage you to read more about CRU in the related excerpt from the April 1, 2024, Request for a Licensing Fee increase.
Question: The diversity studies are interesting and useful, but we do not need a whole department dedicated to this. A volunteer committee can do the majority of this work with one or two staff members.
Response: We do not have a department dedicated to diversity studies. You may be referring to the State Bar’s Office of Access & Inclusion (OA&I). The primary responsibility of this office is the distribution of legal services grant funding—upwards of $150 million in the last year alone! For a wonderful example of the impact of that important work, here’s a sneak preview of a State Bar Stories video that will appear in our upcoming annual report. You can find out more about OA&I here. Our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan identifies DEI as foundational—meaning this work is built in to all of our efforts—that being said, there are less than 2 FTE in total (and one committee, the Council on Access and Fairness) that work explicitly on the type of diversity studies referenced in the Incogneato.
Question: Hello, In light of the growing influence and implications of AI across various sectors, including but not limited to legal practice, I propose the establishment of a dedicated Committee within the State Bar. This committee would be tasked with overseeing the legal, educational, and regulatory aspects of AI within our jurisdiction.
Response: Great suggestion! And prescient. Shortly after receiving this email, Trustee Mark Toney asked me to establish such a committee comprised in part of members of the Board of Trustees. I am still considering the best structure for this type of effort, optimal composition, and, most importantly, staffing, but agree wholeheartedly with the message. Stay tuned.
Question: Sharing this interesting article. Does the Bar have a plan for training and upskilling employees in AI? https://qz.com/ai-workforce-executive-deloitte-survey-1851308804
Response: I would not say we have a plan, but we are talking about it. A key organizational need is a home for this type of effort (as well as the committee mentioned in the Incogneato above). I hope to resolve this issue soon and then you should see more programming and movement on the AI front.
With thanks for all you do,
ICYMI: New Office Templates Shortcut Launched!
The Office of Information Technology recently launched—directly to your desktop—a new shortcut to the State Bar's Microsoft Word Office templates for memos and letterhead. If you produce memos or letters in your job, you must use these standard templates.
Before you launch the templates application, please ensure you are connected to VPN. We encourage a glance at the OfficeTemplates Quick Start Guide prior to the application launch, helping you sidestep any potential hiccups.
If you run into an issue that cannot be resolved by using the guide, please contact the IT Help Desk at 415-495-4357 or submit a ticket.
Guidance Grove
Recusing Yourself from Decisions Where You Have a Conflict of Interest
State Bar employees must avoid making or participating in decisions where they have a conflict of interest, whether financial or personal.
Financial and Personal Conflicts
An employee has a financial conflict of interest if it is reasonably foreseeable that a State Bar decision will have a material financial impact on the employee's (or their immediate family's) financial interests, regardless of whether the interest was listed on their Form 700. If you are participating in a State Bar decision that could affect you or your immediate family monetarily, or that could monetarily affect a source of income, investment, real estate, or source of gifts to you or your family, you likely have a financial conflict of interest in that decision.
An employee has a personal conflict of interest if they have a personal interest that may prevent them from applying disinterested skill and undivided loyalty to the State Bar in making or participating in a decision. In general, an employee has a personal conflict if a reasonable person looking at the facts would think that the employee could not be impartial. An example of a likely personal conflict of interest would be an employee participating in a decision that would directly impact a close friend.
A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself whether a State Bar decision you are participating in will in any way impact you, your family, or people you are close to in a way that it would not affect your colleagues. If the answer is yes, then you may have a financial or personal conflict of interest. Note also that some State Bar offices (such as OCTC and OGC) have their own directives on conflicts of interest. Please review and follow your office’s directives on this topic and reach out to your supervisor with any questions.
Recusing Yourself
If you believe you have or may have a conflict of interest with respect to a State Bar decision, you should recuse yourself by:
- Immediately telling your supervisor that you have or may have a disqualifying financial or personal interest.
- Refraining from participating in any decision-making on the matter, such as by discussing the decision or otherwise attempting to influence it.
More Information
The Fair Political Practices Commission maintains a webpage with useful guidance and resources on financial conflicts of interest. If you have any questions, ask your supervisor or contact OGC at ogc@calbar.ca.gov.
Employee Benefits Updates
New Financial Wellness Benefit
We are thrilled to announce a new Financial Wellness Benefit in partnership with Benefit Financial Services Group (BFSG), our retirement plan consultant. This service is provided at no additional cost to you.
What you will receive:
- A Comprehensive Financial Plan tailored to your specific goals and needs
- Access to a team of experienced Certified Financial Planner™ Professionals who act in your best interest
How it works:
- Schedule an introductory meeting to discuss your financial situation, goals, and objectives
- BFSG will present your personalized financial plan and discuss implementation
- Monitor and update your plan annually or as life circumstances change
To take advantage of this benefit, schedule an appointment online, email financialplanning@bfsg.com, or call (949) 955-3203.
For more information, watch this three-minute video highlighting the financial planning process.
Register now for our first webinar, "The 7 Pillars of Financial Planning" on May 30 at 11:00 am.
FSA TASC Cards
Employees who are enrolled in FSA will be receiving a new TASC card soon! If your address has not been updated recently in Oracle, please follow these instructions on changing your address. We are asking employees to update their addresses to ensure the timely and accurate delivery of their TASC cards.
State Bar of California, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-538-2000