How to verify a lawyer’s license
In the U.S., each state licenses its own lawyers, and most offer a free online lookup. A license check takes a few minutes and is the first thing to do before you hire anyone.
Last reviewed: September 24, 2026 · VettedCounsel
Educational information, not legal advice. Written for U.S. consumers. Rules and official resources vary by state and change over time. Confirm anything important with the official source for your state or with a qualified lawyer. How we work.
Where to look
Lawyers are licensed state by state. Depending on the state, the official lookup is run by the state bar, the state’s highest court, or a board that acts for the court. Search for the lawyer in the state where your matter is, because a license in one state does not generally allow a lawyer to practice in another.
Use the official source rather than a commercial directory. Directories can be useful for finding lawyers, but they may be out of date and some listings are paid for.
How to check
- Open the official lookup for your state (links below for the largest states).
- Search by the lawyer’s full name. If there are several matches, use the city, firm, or bar number to find the right person.
- Read the license status and the date the lawyer was admitted.
- Note whether the profile shows any public discipline, and follow any link to the record.
- Write down what you found and the date you checked it.
What the status means
Terms vary by state, but you will usually see one of these. If the wording is unclear, ask the lawyer or the licensing body what it means.
- Active, or in good standing: licensed and currently allowed to practice.
- Inactive: licensed, but not currently allowed to practice in that state.
- Suspended or disbarred: not allowed to practice, usually because of discipline. The profile or a linked record normally explains why.
- Not found: check the spelling and any former names, then ask the lawyer for their bar number and the state where they are licensed.
Official lawyer lookups for the ten largest states
For other states, search for the state bar or the state supreme court together with “attorney search”, and make sure you are on the official website.
What a license check does not tell you
A license confirms that a lawyer is allowed to practice. It does not tell you how experienced they are in your type of matter, how they communicate, or whether they are the right fit for you. Practice areas listed on a profile are often described by the lawyer, not verified.
Next, check for public discipline, then use the consultation to ask the questions a license check cannot answer.