California real estate practitioners should understand that their real estate license actually allows them to operate under an exception to the general rule that people are not allowed to practice law without being an active member of the State Bar of California. In other words California real estate licensees are in effect permitted to "practice law" within a narrow defined field covered by the California real estate licensing laws. This manual will address the scope of permitted activities and how not to cross over the line into areas where an attorney should be involved.