Notice of Fee Dispute Obligations

The Business and Professions Code requires attorneys to arbitrate fee disputes and to provide written notice of the client’s right to arbitrate prior to or at the commencement of any proceeding against the client.

As a service to our members, we have attached the required State Bar-approved form in case you should need it.  While you may designate any State Bar approved fee-dispute program in the form, we have listed our program for your convenience.  For the form in Word, click here, for the form in PDF click here.

For more information regarding the California Business and Professions Code as it relates to fee dispute requirements, please click here.

For more information on our fee-dispute mediation and arbitration program, click here.

Fee arbitration allows clients and attorneys to resolve disputes concerning fees and costs charged by the attorney through an informal, low cost alternative to the court system.  Most cases take approximately four to six months to complete.  In addition, we provide fee arbitration services for disputes between attorneys and disputes filed by an attorney against a client.

We administer the process using the Rules for Conduct of Arbitration of Fee Disputes and Other Related Matters.  Parties can also choose to mediate the dispute before having their dispute arbitrated if they wish.  Mediation is even speedier and less formal than arbitration.  For more information, please call (213) 896-6426.

• Forms and Rules