Mandatory Fee Arbitration
Fee Arbitration Program Volunteers
The SCCBA Fee Arbitration Program is always looking for both attorney arbitrators. This is an excellent and interesting volunteer opportunity. It also the only quasi-judicial role available to attorneys in practice less than 10 years. Arbitrators generally are assigned two to three cases a year.
Minimum Qualifications for Attorney Fee Arbitrators at-a-glance
- Be an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California and Santa Clara County Bar Association or
- Be a retired judge who is an active member of the State Bar of California; and
- Attend at least one comprehensive training program for arbitrators on attorney fee arbitration matters in the last three years offered by a local bar association or the State Bar of California or currently serve as a fee arbitrator on a local bar fee arbitration program in California; and
- Have no pending professional disciplinary matter filed with the State Bar Court or the imposition of any public professional discipline by the State Bar of California or by any federal court authorized to impose comparable professional discipline against attorneys at any time.
Minimum Qualifications for Lay Fee Arbitrators at-a-glance
- Be a resident of Santa Clara County
- Have had NO prior legal training e.g. paralegal studies, full or partial law school training, law enforcement experience, etc.
- Attend at least one comprehensive training program for arbitrators on attorney fee arbitration matters in the last three years offered by a local bar association or the State Bar of California or currently serve as a fee arbitrator on a local bar fee arbitration program in California; and
- Have no prior or pending criminal record.