What constitutes a serious violation that requires self-reporting in California?

A serious violation that requires self-reporting in California is indeed the conviction of a felony. Under California's Rules of Professional Conduct, attorneys are required to report certain actions to the State Bar, and a felony conviction falls into this category due to its serious implications for an attorney's fitness to practice law. Such a conviction could reflect a lack of moral character, which is fundamental to the practice of law.

In contrast, being disciplined for a minor infraction does not typically rise to the level of serious violations that necessitate self-reporting. Minor infractions may warrant internal disciplinary actions but do not require the same level of reporting. Being merely accused of something does not equate to a finding of guilt or a disciplinary action and therefore would not trigger a self-reporting obligation. Similarly, failing to pay bar dues, while it may have consequences for one’s standing with the bar, is also not categorized as a serious violation that requires self-reporting. Thus, the conviction of a felony is the only option that meets the threshold for serious violations necessitating a report to the State Bar.