Giving Back to Your Community through Fee Arbitration

On By sdcountybar

Giving Back to Your Community through Fee Arbitration 

By Michelle Chavez, SDCBA Director of Public Service Programs

The SDCBA’s fee arbitration program offers parties an opportunity to resolve fee disputes as an alternative to taking disputes to superior court. The fee arbitration is an informal, confidential, impartial, and lower-cost avenue for resolving fee disputes between attorneys and clients. Clients are able to have a neutral arbitrator hear fee disputes with their attorneys. The arbitrator determines whether fees and costs charged by the attorney are reasonable for the services provided. California Business Code section 6200 et seq. establishes a system and procedure for the arbitration of disputes concerning costs and fees charged for attorney professional services. 

The SDCBA has administered a fee arbitration program for over 40 years, and arbitrators have written thousands of Findings and Awards. The program is currently seeking attorneys who would like to give back to the community and serve as arbitrators. The program will provide arbitrator training and mentor new arbitrators on how to administer an arbitration hearing and write a Findings and Award. The program has a current need for attorneys with the following experience and commitment. 

Qualifications 

Arbitrators are professionals with reasonable experience in dealing with contractual matters, a willingness to listen to both parties, and experience as a volunteer in a community. The program is looking for people who are willing to evaluate fee disputes between clients and their attorneys. 

Arbitrators are fact finders. They review written material provided by the parties, listen to the presentations of the parties, and then determine how much, if anything, remains due or must be refunded. 

Commitment 

If you are interested in being an SDCBA arbitrator below are a list of qualifications:   

  1. Must be a current SDCBA member  
  1. Licensed attorney in practice for over 5 years  
  1. Attend or view a mandatory State Bar of California Fee Arbitration Training video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tHlNbuvCJE 
  1. Take 1-2 cases per year ( you may take more cases if you wish).  
  1. Complete the SDCBA Arbitrator application. https://www.sdcba.org/docDownload/1088926  
  1. Time commitment average per case- 1–2-hour preparation and reviewing case and attend a 1–3-hour hearing in person or via Zoom.  

How to Volunteer 

Please complete the application and send it by email to mchavez@sdcba.org or send via US mail to:  

San Diego County Bar Association 
Attn: Michelle Chavez 
401 West A Street, Suite 1100 
San Diego, CA 92101