Report 2018-030 Recommendation 12 Responses

Report 2018-030: State Bar of California: It Should Balance Fee Increases With Other Actions to Raise Revenue and Decrease Costs (Release Date: April 2019)

Recommendation #12 To: Bar of California, State

To further its ability to operate more efficiently and reduce the backlog of discipline cases, State Bar should develop benchmarks by December 2019 delineating the duration of each step in its investigations process.

1-Year Agency Response

OCTC has completed benchmarks for investigation processes over which it has control, by case priority, and has issued guidelines accordingly. A copy of the guidelines has been provided to the Auditor in support of this response.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

OCTC is in the process of drafting and refining benchmarks for investigation process over which staff have control. Those benchmarks will include the management of cases, by priority.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

In progress. OCTC already has some benchmarks related to the duration of each step in the investigation process. Examples of existing benchmarks include the following: the investigator should meet with the legal advisor within five days of assignment of a case to discuss an investigation plan; the investigator should meet with the legal advisor within the first 30 days of assignment, to calendar backlog and 30/60 day backlog roll-in dates. OCTC will work to identify time goals for all steps of the process reflecting current staffing levels and other constraints.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

State Bar's response reflects that OCTC is beginning to evaluate and identify time goals for all steps in its investigations process.

All Recommendations in 2018-030

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.