To find a lawyer licensed in two states, search each state bar association’s free online attorney directory by name or bar number and confirm the attorney shows an “active” status in both jurisdictions. Every state runs one of these directories, and cross-checking the two entries is the fastest way to verify dual licensure. The rest is knowing what the results mean and whether full licensure in both states is actually what your matter requires.
Search Both State Bar Directories
Each state’s bar association maintains a searchable database of every attorney it has admitted. You can typically search by name, bar number, city, or practice area. Results show the admission date, current status (active, inactive, suspended), and often a public disciplinary history. Access is free through the state bar’s website.
Run the same search in both states you care about. If the attorney comes up as active in each, you have your confirmation. If the name appears in one directory but not the other, that doesn’t automatically rule the attorney out; they may still be able to handle your matter through temporary practice rules or pro hac vice admission, both covered below.
One practical note: an attorney’s name can appear slightly differently across databases if they’ve changed it, so searching by bar number is more reliable when you have it. Ask the attorney directly for their bar number in each state before you start looking.
Call the Bar Association When the Directory Doesn’t Answer You
Online listings don’t always tell the whole story. Some states publish only disciplinary actions that resulted in a public sanction; others share the full complaint history. If the directory is thin or you need more detail, contact the bar association by phone, email, or online form. Staff can confirm license status, tell you whether any disciplinary proceedings are pending, and clarify whether the attorney is authorized through a special admission category such as in-house counsel registration.
Have the full name and bar number ready before you reach out. For a high-stakes matter that crosses state lines, this extra call is worth the ten minutes.
Ask for a Certificate of Good Standing From Each State
Once you’ve narrowed your search, ask the attorney for a certificate of good standing from each state where they claim to be licensed. This is an official document issued by the state bar confirming that the attorney holds an active license and is not subject to pending disciplinary proceedings. The attorney requests it from each bar, and most states turn it around within a few business days for a small fee.
Check each certificate for the name, bar number, admission date, and status. If anything doesn’t match what the attorney told you, or if a certificate shows a status other than active, ask for an explanation before you sign a retainer. You can also cross-check the certificate against the state bar’s online directory as an extra layer of verification.
Do You Actually Need a Lawyer Licensed in Both States
Before you spend time filtering for full dual licensure, consider whether your matter really requires it. Several mechanisms let attorneys handle work across state lines without permanent admission in the second jurisdiction, and any of them may widen your options.
Pro Hac Vice Admission
Pro hac vice lets an out-of-state attorney appear in a specific court case without being licensed in that state. Almost every U.S. jurisdiction allows it, but the attorney typically must partner with a local lawyer who serves as co-counsel and takes responsibility for compliance with local rules. The out-of-state attorney files an application with the court, pays a fee, and receives permission for that one case. If your legal matter is a single lawsuit or proceeding rather than an ongoing relationship, pro hac vice often makes more sense than insisting on full dual licensure.
Temporary Practice Under ABA Model Rule 5.5
Most states have adopted some version of ABA Model Rule 5.5, which allows out-of-state attorneys to provide legal services on a temporary basis under certain conditions.1American Bar Association. Rule 5.5 – Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law The main scenarios include working alongside a locally licensed attorney, handling a matter reasonably related to a proceeding where they’re authorized to appear, and participating in arbitration or mediation connected to their home-state practice. These provisions don’t give the attorney a permanent right to practice in the second state, and they can’t set up an office or hold themselves out as licensed there.
In-House Counsel Registration
Corporate attorneys who work exclusively for one employer often practice under multijurisdictional rules that let them provide legal services in a state where they aren’t fully licensed. Most states have adopted some form of these rules, and many require the attorney to register with the local bar and pay an annual fee.2Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). U.S. Multi-jurisdictional Practice Tracker If you’re evaluating an attorney who moved states while working for a corporation, their bar status in the second state may reflect a registration rather than a full admission.
How Attorneys End Up Licensed in Two States
Knowing the pathways to dual licensure helps you make sense of what you’re seeing in the directories. Lawyers don’t automatically gain the right to practice in a second state after passing one bar exam; they go through a formal admission process in each jurisdiction.
The Uniform Bar Examination
Forty-one U.S. jurisdictions currently administer the Uniform Bar Examination, which produces a portable score that can be transferred to other participating jurisdictions.3National Conference of Bar Examiners. UBE Jurisdictions An attorney with a qualifying score can apply for admission in a second UBE state without sitting for another exam, provided they meet that state’s other requirements such as character and fitness review or state-specific legal education.4National Conference of Bar Examiners. UBE Score Portability Minimum passing scores vary, generally ranging from 260 to 270, so a score that passed in one state might fall short in another. Scores also have a shelf life; each jurisdiction sets a maximum age for transferred scores.
Admission on Motion
Many states allow experienced attorneys to apply for admission without taking the bar exam at all, a process called admission on motion. The typical requirement is at least five years of active practice within the seven years before the application, along with a clean disciplinary record and proof of good character. Some jurisdictions add conditions such as graduation from an ABA-accredited law school.
Not every state participates. Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Nevada are among the jurisdictions that generally require all applicants to sit for their bar exam regardless of experience. If you’re looking for a lawyer licensed in one of those states plus another, the attorney almost certainly took two separate exams to get there.
What Active Dual Licensure Tells You
Maintaining active licenses in two states isn’t free. Annual bar dues typically range from around $200 to $600 per state, depending on the jurisdiction and how long the attorney has been practicing. Each state also requires continuing legal education credits, and while some states offer CLE reciprocity, others force separate courses for each jurisdiction.
An attorney who keeps both licenses active is investing real money and time in both states, which usually signals genuine cross-border practice. If a lawyer has let one license go inactive, they can typically reactivate it, though there may be back dues and additional CLE involved. When you verify credentials, confirm not just that the attorney was admitted in both states, but that both licenses are active right now.