§ 12503 Attorney General Eligibility Requirements

Government Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•To become the Attorney General, you must be a lawyer in the state for at least 5 years.
•The 5 years must be right before you get elected or picked for the job.
•This rule started on January 1, 2022.

Example

A lawyer who just passed the bar exam last year wants to run for Attorney General.

They can't run because they haven't been a lawyer in the state for 5 years yet.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 12503 Attorney General Eligibility Requirements

No person shall be eligible to the office of Attorney General unless that person has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the state for a period of at least five years immediately preceding that person’s election or appointment to this office. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 50, Sec. 89. (AB 378) Effective January 1, 2022.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

Attorney General admitted to practice Supreme Court five years

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Government Code. Section 12503.

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

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