State Bar Act: expedited licensure: federal attorneys.

The California Assembly's Judiciary Committee, led by Chair Ash Kalra, proposes creating an expedited pathway for federal government attorneys to obtain California law licenses without taking the state bar examination. The measure directs the State Bar of California to develop procedures by January 2026 for licensing attorneys who were employed by federal agencies as of January 20, 2025.

To qualify for expedited licensure under the proposal, attorneys must have maintained an active law license in another state for at least five years with no disciplinary record. Candidates would also need to obtain an attestation of professional competence from a current member of the California State Bar. This creates an alternative to existing requirements, which mandate that out-of-state attorneys pass California's general bar examination to receive a state license.

The bill includes an urgency clause for immediate implementation upon passage, citing the need to rapidly fill crucial legal positions across California, particularly in public defender offices. This provision allows the measure to take effect without the standard post-enactment waiting period that applies to most legislation.