Arbitration is a way of resolving fee disputes at an early stage and at low cost. The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association (SLO County Bar) provides a Fee Dispute Arbitration Service to assist clients and their attorneys in resolving disputes concerning fees, costs, or both, charged for professional services by California licensed attorneys. The SLO County Bar only has jurisdiction if at least one of the attorneys involved in the dispute has an office in San Luis Obispo or maintained an office in San Luis Obispo at the time the services were rendered or performed substantial legal services on behalf of the client within the County of San Luis Obispo . The filing of any lawsuit, arbitration, or similar such action within the County of San Luis Obispo is considered performance of substantial legal services within the County. All other disputes are under the jurisdiction of the State Bar Fee Arbitration Program.

The following disputes/claims are not subject to fee dispute arbitration:

• disputes where the attorney is also admitted to practice in another jurisdiction, or where the attorney is only admitted to practice in another jurisdiction, and he or she maintains no office in the State of California, and no material portion of the services was rendered in the State of California;
• claims for affirmative relief against the attorney for damages or otherwise based upon alleged malpractice or professional misconduct;
• disputes where the fees or costs to be paid by the client or on the client's behalf have been determined or are determinable pursuant to statute or court order;
• disputes where the request for arbitration is made by a person who is not liable for or entitled to a refund of attorney's fees or costs;
• disputes where the claim has been assigned by the client.

Fee Dispute Arbitration is mandatory for attorneys if requested by a client.

1. Less than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) in dispute: fifty dollars ($50.00);
2. Five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or more, but less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), in dispute: one hundred dollars ($100.00);
3. Ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or more in dispute: one percent (1%) of the disputed fee but in no event will the filing fee exceed $5,000.

Attorney Response Fee

Respondent attorneys shall pay a response fee equal to the filing fee set forth in the schedule above.

Refunds are handled as follows:

If the matter is settled after the request for arbitration has been served on the respondent party by the program but before assignment of an arbitrator, the program shall retain 25 percent of the filing fee paid up to a maximum of $500. After assignment of an arbitrator, if written notice of the settlement is received by the program at least 10 days prior to the date of the scheduled hearing, the program shall retain 50 percent of the filing fee up to a maximum of $750. The remaining fee shall be refunded to the party who paid it. There shall be no refund of filing fees if notice of written settlement is not received within ten days of the scheduled hearing.