To find out if a lawyer is disbarred, search the attorney regulation or bar association website for the state where the lawyer is licensed. Every state maintains a free, public directory that shows each attorney’s current license status, including disbarment, suspension, and any public disciplinary history. The search takes a few minutes and requires only the lawyer’s name and the state.
Start With the State Bar Directory
Lawyers are licensed state by state, so the licensing authority in that state is the definitive source for the attorney’s status. Search the internet for the state name plus “bar association” or “attorney regulation” to find the right site. If you aren’t sure which agency handles attorney regulation in a particular state, the American Bar Association maintains a directory of every state’s licensing agency.1American Bar Association. Lawyer Licensing
On the state’s website, look for a feature labeled “attorney search,” “member directory,” or “lawyer lookup.” It’s usually on the homepage or in the main navigation. Enter the lawyer’s name, run the search, and open the resulting profile. The profile page will show the attorney’s current status and any public disciplinary history.
Use the ABA Data Bank for Multi-State Checks
If you think the lawyer may have been disciplined in a state other than the one where you know them to practice, the ABA’s National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank is the only national repository of public disciplinary actions against lawyers in the United States. It collects information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and many federal courts.2American Bar Association. National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank
The Data Bank runs name searches for the public, but you have to confirm your request in writing. It isn’t an instant lookup like a state bar directory. Start with the state where you know the lawyer is licensed, and use the Data Bank as a backup to catch discipline imposed elsewhere.2American Bar Association. National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank
What Information You Need to Search
At a minimum, you need the lawyer’s full name, ideally with a middle name or initial. Common names can return dozens of results, so more detail helps. The state where the attorney is licensed is essential, because each state runs its own system.
An attorney’s bar number is the most useful single identifier. This unique number, assigned by the state licensing authority, pulls up the exact right record without sorting through similar names. You can often find it on court filings, engagement letters, or the lawyer’s official correspondence. On a court filing, the bar number is usually listed on the caption page next to the attorney’s name.
When a common name returns multiple hits, use city, law firm, or admission date on each profile to narrow down.
How to Read the Status Labels
State bar websites use specific terms to describe a lawyer’s standing. The exact wording varies slightly by state, but the core categories are consistent.
- Active or in good standing. The attorney holds a valid license and can practice without restrictions.
- Suspended. The license has been temporarily pulled. Suspensions can have a fixed end date or stay open-ended until the lawyer meets certain conditions. A suspended attorney cannot legally represent clients.
- Disbarred. The most severe sanction. The license has been revoked, and the attorney is prohibited from practicing law in that state.
- Resigned. The attorney voluntarily gave up the license. This sometimes happens while disciplinary charges are pending, and the resignation may come with conditions blocking reinstatement.
- Probation. The attorney can still practice but has to comply with specific conditions, which may include additional ethics training or supervision.
- Public reprimand or censure. A formal, public statement that the attorney’s conduct was improper. The lawyer can still practice, but the reprimand becomes part of the permanent record.
What a Clean Result Doesn’t Tell You
Not all discipline is public. Most states have a category of private discipline, often called a private reprimand or private admonition, that declares an attorney’s conduct improper but doesn’t appear in public search results. These sanctions stay in the lawyer’s internal file and can be considered if the attorney faces future complaints, but they aren’t disclosed to the public.
So a clean public record doesn’t mean zero complaints were ever filed. It means no public sanctions were imposed. Serious misconduct like disbarment, suspension, or public reprimand will show up. Diversion programs and confidential investigations stay sealed. If you’re vetting a prospective attorney, a clean public profile is a good sign, but combine it with reviews, referrals, and a direct conversation about the lawyer’s background.
Check Every State and Federal Court Where the Lawyer Practices
Many attorneys hold licenses in two or more states. Disbarment in one state does not automatically revoke the license elsewhere, though it almost always triggers reciprocal discipline in the other states where the lawyer is admitted. The second state opens its own proceedings and decides what sanction to impose based on its own rules.
If you’re hiring a lawyer who practices across state lines, check the status in every state where they claim to be licensed. A lawyer disbarred in one state may still show as active in another if the reciprocal proceedings haven’t concluded. The ABA’s National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank is useful here because it aggregates records from all jurisdictions.2American Bar Association. National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank
Federal courts maintain their own attorney admission rolls, separate from state bar membership. A lawyer admitted to practice in a U.S. District Court or a Circuit Court of Appeals may face discipline in that court independently of state proceedings. Some federal courts offer online attorney search tools where you can verify bar status and admission date. If your case is in federal court, check that specific court’s website along with the state bar directory.
If Your Search Confirms Disbarment
Finding out your attorney has been disbarred while your case is active is alarming, but the steps to protect yourself are straightforward if you move quickly.
Retain a new lawyer immediately. If you have pending court deadlines or an active case, time matters. Your new attorney will file a substitution of counsel with the court so the judge and opposing parties know who is handling the case going forward.
Retrieve your complete case file from the disbarred attorney. You are entitled to your documents. In some states, when a lawyer is disbarred, the disciplinary authority appoints a trustee to manage the lawyer’s open cases and return files to clients. If you can’t get your files back, contact the state bar’s disciplinary office.
If the disbarred lawyer took money that wasn’t earned or misappropriated funds, most states operate a client protection fund that reimburses clients for losses caused by an attorney’s intentional dishonesty. These funds generally do not cover ordinary malpractice or negligence. Filing deadlines vary by state but typically run from about one to three years after you discover the loss or after the attorney is disciplined, whichever is later. Contact the state bar as soon as possible, because missing the deadline forfeits the claim.
A disbarred attorney who continues representing clients, giving legal advice for pay, or holding themselves out as a licensed lawyer is committing the unauthorized practice of law. In most states this is a criminal offense and can also expose the person to civil liability. If you discover a disbarred lawyer still practicing, file a complaint with the state bar’s disciplinary office or the agency responsible for investigating unauthorized practice. You can typically file by phone, mail, or online, and you should include any documents showing the person held themselves out as authorized to practice.