Atlanta November 8, 2003
The Honorable Supreme Court met pursuant to adjournment.
The following order was passed:
It is ordered that Rules 1-506, 1-507, and 2-101 of the Rules for the Organization and Government of the State Bar of Georgia be hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 1-506. Clients’ Security Fund Assessment.
(a) The State Bar is authorized to assess each member of the State Bar a fee of $100.00. This $100.00 fee may be paid in minimum annual installments of $20.00 for a period of five (5) years. Each new member of the State Bar will also be assessed a similar amount upon admission to the State Bar. This fee shall be used only to fund the Clients’ Security Fund and shall be in addition to the annual license fee as provided in Rule 1-501 through Rule 1-502.
(b)For a member who joins the State Bar after taking the Georgia Bar Examination, the Clients’ Security Fund assessment shall be due and payable in $20.00 installments o n July 1 of each year until the balance of $100.00 is paid. The failure of a member to pay the minimum annual installments shall subject the member to the same penalty provisions, including late fees and suspension of membership, as pertain to the failure to pay the annual license fee as set forth in Bar Rules 1-501 and 1-501.1.
(c) For a member who is admitted as a Foreign Law Consultant or who joins without taking the Georgia Bar Examination, and who has not previously paid the Clients’ Security Fund Assessment, the full assessment shall be due and payable prior to or upon registration with the State Bar.
Rule 1-507. Bar Facility Assessment.
(a) The State Bar is authorized to assess each member of the State Bar a fee of $200.00. This $200.00 fee may be paid in minimum annual installments of $50.00 for a period of four (4) years. This fee shall be used to purchase, maintain, and operate a facility for the State Bar offices and shall be in addition to the annual license fee as provided in Rule 1-501 through Rule 1-502 and the Clients’ Security Fund Assessment as provided in Rule 1-506.
(b) For a member who joins the State Bar after taking the Georgia Bar Examination, the Bar Facility assessment shall be due and payable in $50.00 installments on July 1 of each year until the balance of $200.00 is paid. For members admitted to the Bar prior to July 1, 1997, such installments shall begin on July 1, 1997. For newly admitted members of the State Bar, such installments shall begin when a new member is admitted to the State Bar. The failure of a member to pay the minimum annual installments shall subject the member to the same penalty provisions, including late fees and suspension of membership, as pertain to the failure to pay the annual license fee as set forth in Bar Rules 1-501 and 1-501.1.
(c) For a member who is admitted as a Foreign Law Consultant or who joins the State Bar without taking the Georgia Bar Examination, and who has not previously paid the Bar Facility Assessment, the full assessment shall be due and payable prior to or upon registration with the State Bar.
Rule 2-101. Admission to the Bar.
No person may be admitted to the State Bar as an active, emeritus or inactive member, or licensed as an attorney to practice law in this State without complying with the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law as adopted by the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The State Bar’s request to create a new section 1-508 is hereby denied.