Guide
Overview
Each state's highest court licenses its lawyers, and the state bar or a court office keeps a public record of who is licensed and of public discipline. The lookups are free, and most do not ask who you are. If you are hiring a lawyer for anything that matters (a divorce, a custody fight, a real estate deal, a business contract, a criminal defense), a few minutes on that lookup will show whether the lawyer is licensed and in good standing.
Few people check. A lawyer can be suspended, disbarred in another state or never licensed at all, and the license lookup is where that shows up.
Guide
No National Lawyer License
There is no national lawyer license. Each state's highest court licenses lawyers, through the state bar or a court agency, so the license check is always state by state, in every state where the lawyer says they are admitted. Commercial lawyer directories cannot confirm a license.
Guide
State Lawyer License Lookups
Pick the state where the lawyer is licensed (not necessarily where they live or have an office, since those can differ). Search by last name. The result page will tell you the four things that matter: are they admitted, are they active right now, when were they admitted, and have they ever been publicly disciplined. If any of those answers feels off, ask the lawyer directly before signing anything.
Alabama to Florida (10)
- Alabama State Bar, Member SearchDiscipline history shown from January 2018
- Alaska Bar Association, Member Search
- State Bar of Arizona, Member Directory
- Arkansas Judiciary, Attorney Search
- State Bar of California, Attorney Search
- Colorado Supreme Court, Attorney SearchAttorney status, registration number and discipline history
- Connecticut Judicial Branch, Attorney Look-up
- Delaware Courts, Attorney SearchActive, inactive and emeritus Delaware attorneys
- D.C. Bar, Member Directory
- The Florida Bar, Member SearchFlorida bar admission, status and discipline history
Georgia to Kentucky (8)
Louisiana to Mississippi (7)
- Louisiana State Bar Association, Member Directory
- Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, Attorney Search
- Maryland Courts, Attorney SearchEvery attorney admitted in Maryland, including inactive ones
- Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, Attorney Lookup
- State Bar of Michigan, Member Directory
- Minnesota Attorney Registration, Attorney Search
- The Mississippi Bar, Lawyer Directory
Missouri to North Dakota (10)
- The Missouri Bar, Lawyer Directory
- State Bar of Montana, Attorney Search
- Nebraska Supreme Court, Attorney Search
- State Bar of Nevada, Find a Lawyer
- New Hampshire Bar Association, Attorney VerificationRequest confirmation of a lawyer's good standing
- New Jersey Courts, Attorney Search
- State Bar of New Mexico, Online Bar Directory
- New York Courts, Attorney Search
- North Carolina State Bar, Membership Directory
- North Dakota Courts, Lawyer Search
Ohio to South Dakota (7)
- Supreme Court of Ohio, Attorney Search
- Oklahoma Bar Association, Find a Lawyer
- Oregon State Bar, Member Search
- Disciplinary Board of Pennsylvania, Attorney Lookup
- Rhode Island Supreme Court, Attorney Search
- South Carolina Bar, Member Directory
- State Bar of South DakotaMandatory state bar; ask it to confirm a license
Tennessee to Wyoming (9)
- Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, Attorney Search
- State Bar of Texas, Find a Lawyer
- Utah State Bar, Licensee Directory
- Vermont Judiciary, Attorney LicensingCourt office that licenses Vermont lawyers
- Virginia State Bar, Lawyer Directory
- Washington State Bar Association, Legal Directory
- West Virginia State Bar, Member Search
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Lawyer Search
- Wyoming State Bar, Lawyer SearchLawyer search and referral from the state bar
Guide
Understanding Disciplinary Records
Lawyers get disciplined for a wide spectrum of things, and not all of it is what you would expect. Mishandling client money is the most common reason for serious discipline. Showing up late to court, missing deadlines, lying to clients, conflicts of interest, and substance-abuse-related conduct also show up regularly. A single old reprimand from twenty years ago for something minor is not necessarily a deal-breaker. A pattern of recent suspensions is. Read the actual disciplinary order if it is available, since the bar usually publishes it as a PDF. Some states allow disbarred lawyers to apply for reinstatement after a waiting period (often 5+ years), but reinstatement is rare and the bar publishes those decisions too. Other states make disbarment permanent.
Guide
Search by State
Select your state to find state-specific public records resources.
Straight answers
Questions about checking a lawyer
How do I verify that an attorney is licensed in my state?
Use the lawyer search run by the body that licenses lawyers in that state. In some states that is the state bar; in others it is the state's highest court or an agency of that court, such as the New York courts' attorney directory or the Illinois ARDC. Most of these searches are free and show the lawyer's status, admission date and public discipline. Do not rely on the attorney's own website or business card as verification.
What does it mean if an attorney is listed as 'inactive'?
An inactive attorney has voluntarily placed their license in inactive status, they are still a member of the bar but are not currently authorized to practice law. They cannot represent clients in court, give legal advice for compensation, or hold themselves out as a practicing attorney. If you need legal representation, you need an attorney with active status.
Can I find out if an attorney was disbarred in another state?
Search the lawyer lookup in every state where the attorney says they have been admitted. Discipline such as suspension or disbarment is a public record and shows in that state's results, and many state courts and discipline agencies also publish their orders and opinions.
What is the difference between a reprimand and a suspension?
A reprimand is a formal censure: the attorney broke a conduct rule, the violation is on record, but they may keep practicing. A suspension means the attorney cannot practice law for a set period or until the court reinstates them. Disbarment ends the license; whether and when a disbarred lawyer can apply for readmission depends on that state's court rules.
Are paralegal credentials publicly verifiable?
Paralegals are not licensed like attorneys, there is no single national licensing body. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offer voluntary certification programs. Each group lists its own certified paralegals, but be aware that uncertified paralegals may still legally perform paralegal work under attorney supervision.