If there is a fee dispute, what is California's requirement for a lawyer to submit to?

In California, when there is a fee dispute between a lawyer and a client, the requirement for the lawyer to submit the dispute to arbitration is grounded in the California Business and Professions Code. Specifically, attorneys must inform clients of their right to arbitrate fee disputes through an arbitration program provided by the local bar association.

This procedure is designed to provide a more efficient, cost-effective, and less adversarial means of resolving disputes regarding fees. Arbitration is a binding process, which means that the decision made by the arbitrators regarding the fee is typically final and enforceable.

In contrast, negotiation, trial, and mediation are other forms of dispute resolution but are not mandated by statute in the same way that arbitration is. Negotiation can occur but is voluntary and not required by law. A trial is a formal judicial process that involves significant time and resources, making it less desirable for fee disputes. Mediation, while a collaborative approach that may be used to resolve various types of disagreements, does not carry the same binding force and requirement as arbitration does under California law. Thus, arbitration is the correct answer because it captures the specific obligation lawyers have when addressing fee disputes with clients in California.