Mandatory Fee Arbitration – Apply

Apply to serve as a fee arbitrator or mediator

BHBA fee arbitration panels are staffed by volunteers. Apply below to serve as an attorney arbitrator, a lay arbitrator, or a mediator on attorney fee disputes in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Eligibility

Who can apply

The application below covers all three roles. Tell us which one you are applying for, or pick the combined option if you want to serve as both a mediator and an attorney arbitrator. Questions about eligibility or training can go to .
Attorney arbitrator
Active member of the State Bar of California, in good standing, admitted at least five years ago.
Lay arbitrator
A non-lawyer who has never been admitted to practice law in any jurisdiction, has never attended law school, and has never worked regularly for a court or a law practice in any capacity, including as a paralegal or law clerk.
Mediator
Experience serving on a court-appointed mediator panel and completion of formal mediation training, training provided if needed, through an approved program. Mediators handle fee disputes where both parties agree to try a resolution before arbitration.
Training, all roles
Every new volunteer completes a two-hour training on fee arbitration before a first assignment. It includes MCLE credit. You can apply before you have taken it.
Complimentary mediation training
Volunteers who serve with the fee arbitration program receive complimentary access to BHBA’s 25 and 40 hour mediation training. Learn about the training.
What you are agreeing to
You serve without compensation for up to four hours per case and can decline any assignment. Longer proceedings are compensated under the BHBA Rules of Procedure.