How to check a lawyer’s disciplinary history

Start with the same official lookup you use to verify the license. In some states the lawyer’s profile shows public discipline directly. The State Bar of California, for example, shows license status and disciplinary and administrative history on each attorney’s profile.

In other states, discipline decisions are published separately, for example by the state’s disciplinary board or in court decisions. The official lookup or the disciplinary agency’s website usually explains where to find them.

Names and categories differ by state. Common outcomes, from least to most serious, include:

• A public reprimand or censure: a formal finding of misconduct, without a suspension.
• Probation: the lawyer may keep practicing under conditions, such as supervision or extra training.
• Suspension: the lawyer may not practice for a period of time.
• Disbarment or revocation: the license is taken away.

• Read the decision itself, not just the headline category.
• Note what the conduct was, and whether it relates to the kind of work you need.
• Note when it happened, and whether any conditions have been completed.
• If something concerns you, ask the lawyer about it directly and see how they answer.

No public discipline is a good sign, but it is not a guarantee. Most complaints do not lead to public discipline, some outcomes are private, and records do not measure skill or fit. If you cannot find a record, that does not prove none exists; the information you can see depends on the state.

Use the record as one input, together with the consultation and the questions you ask.

Each state has an official body that handles complaints about lawyers, usually part of the state bar or the state’s highest court. The official lookup site normally links to it. VettedCounsel does not handle complaints or give legal advice.