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Ethics/Professional Responsibility

Jul. 31, 2026

How to respond to State Bar letters of inquiry

Attorneys who receive a State Bar letter of inquiry should respond promptly and strategically, understanding the procedural requirements, privilege issues and investigative purpose of the inquiry to avoid compounding potential disciplinary problems.

Christine C. Rosskopf

Senior Counsel
Rosing Pott & Strohbehn

501 W Broadway A380
San Diego , CA 92101

Email: crosskopf@rosinglaw.com

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How to respond to State Bar letters of inquiry
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You sit down at your computer on a Monday morning, coffee in hand, and open your email. Then you see it: a message from an investigator in the State Bar of California's Office of Chief Trial Counsel. Your first thought is that it must be a joke, until you notice that the subject line has a case number and you recognize a client's name. The message may include an attachment titled "Your California Bar License Is at Risk." The investigator asks some very direct questions and gi...

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