How to Check if a Lawyer Is Licensed (and Has No Discipline)

To verify a lawyer, search your state bar association’s free public directory by name or bar number. It shows whether the attorney is actively licensed, where and when they were admitted, and whether they have any public disciplinary history. It takes about two minutes and is the single most useful check you can run before hiring anyone.

How to check, step by step

1. Find the right state. Attorneys are licensed by state, not nationally. Check the state where your case is, which may differ from where the firm advertises.
2. Search the state bar directory by name. Most states let you search by bar number too, which avoids confusion between attorneys with similar names.
3. Confirm the status reads "active" — not inactive, suspended, disbarred, or resigned.
4. Check the admission date to confirm how long they have actually practiced.
5. Look for public discipline. States publish formal disciplinary actions; some also list pending proceedings.
6. Confirm they are admitted where your case is heard. An attorney licensed in one state generally cannot represent you in another without special permission.

What the statuses mean

Status	What it means
Active	Licensed and permitted to practice. This is what you want.
Inactive	Still a member but not currently practicing — cannot represent you.
Suspended	Barred from practicing for a period, often after discipline.
Disbarred	License revoked. Cannot practice law.
Resigned	Gave up the license — sometimes while facing charges.

Does a disciplinary record disqualify someone?

Not automatically. A single administrative lapse from years ago — a missed fee deadline or a continuing-education requirement — is very different from repeated findings involving client funds, neglected cases, or dishonesty. Read what the action actually says. Patterns matter far more than isolated old entries.

Other things worth verifying

• Malpractice insurance. Not required in every state, but reasonable to ask about.
• Who signs your fee agreement versus who actually handles the file.
• Beware of "notarios." In the US a notary public is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice — a distinction that causes serious harm in immigration matters.

Once you have verified someone, see how to choose the right lawyer and the questions to ask in your first consultation. Or browse verified attorneys near you.