State Bar of California: service members: legal services.

The State Bar Act provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California, a public corporation, and requires that the State Bar administer a program to coordinate pro bono civil legal assistance to veterans and their families who otherwise cannot afford legal services, as specified. Existing law also requires the State Bar to engage with local bar associations, legal aid organizations, veterans service providers, and volunteer attorneys in providing these services. This bill would instead require the State Bar to engage with military service providers, along with the other legal aid organizations, veteran service providers, and volunteer attorneys described above, to provide legal services to veterans and service members and their families who otherwise cannot afford legal services, and collaborate to improve access to and delivery of these services throughout the state. The bill would revise these provisions to include legislative findings on, among other things, the difficulty of veterans, service members, and their families in securing civil legal assistance.