how do i find an attorney that practices in multiple states

by Vernice Torphy 9 min read

The ABA provides a link which allows members of the public to search for an attorney licensed in more than one jurisdiction.
  1. Visit the ABA website. ...
  2. Make sure that "Lawyers" is selected in the "Search For" screen at the top of the "Lawyer Locator" section.

How do I find a lawyer in two different states?

Click on the "Public Resources" menu and scroll down and click on "Lawyer Locator." Step 2 Make sure that "Lawyers" is selected in the "Search For" screen at the top of the "Lawyer Locator" section. Step 3 Select the jurisdictions where your legal problem arises in the "U.S. State/Canadian Province" window.

How do I become a multi-state lawyer?

May 24, 2021 · Take the bar exam for multiple states Sitting for the Bar Exam in multiple states is the most obvious way to become a multi-state lawyer, but it is not a popular route to take. However, when a...

How do I find out if a lawyer has a license?

Feb 15, 2021 · If you need to find out whether an attorney is licensed to practice in a particular state, then visit the above list of attorney directories maintained by each state's bar association. Often called the "roll of attorneys," these directories provide the most updated contact information and disciplinary record for each attorney.

Can a lawyer practice in another state?

Jun 29, 2018 · If Kentucky has become the "home state" of the children under the UCJEA, then you may only need a Kentucky lawyer, but if you need one licensed in both states, you will probably have to use google and make several phone calls until you find one who practices custody law.

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Can US lawyers practice in any state?

The simple answer is no: Attorneys must be admitted to the bar in each state they wish to practice in. However, legal answers are rarely so simple, and indeed, there are exceptions that would allow an attorney from one state to practice in another state.Mar 6, 2015

Can a New York lawyer practice in California?

An attorney who passed the New York bar exam and is admitted to practice in New York, for example, cannot practice law in California without first passing the California bar exam and being admitted in California. (Some states do allow attorneys to use bar admissions in other states to “waive” into the bar.Feb 11, 2022

Can an out of state attorney practice in California?

In some instances, attorneys who are properly licensed and in good standing in another state are allowed to practice in California. For example, attorneys who practice only federal law, such as immigration, may practice in California but be licensed in another state.

What States Can a NY attorney waive into?

NEW YORK: Has reciprocity with the following states: AK, CO, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.Aug 19, 2021

Which state has the hardest bar exam?

For example, many experts believe that California has one of the hardest bar exams to pass in order to work as a licensed attorney in the state....Bar Exam Pass Rates by State: Highest to LowestOklahoma: 86.9%Iowa: 86.57%Missouri: 86.3%New Mexico: 85.71%New York: 83.92%Montana: 82.61%Utah: 82.61%Oregon: 82.55%More items...

Can you practice law in California remotely?

Lawyers may ethically practice remotely under the California Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Act, provided they continue to comply with these rules, including the duties of confidentiality, competence, communication, and supervision.Aug 10, 2021

What is considered the unauthorized practice of law?

Black's Law Dictionary defines unauthorized practice of law as "The practice of law by a person, typically a nonlawyer, who has not been licensed or admitted to practice law in a given jurisdiction."

Do I have to live in California to practice law in California?

If you live outside of California, you don't have to come back to the state for activities that qualify for Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). The State Bar allows many activities that are approved by other jurisdictions, including foreign countries, to count towards California's MCLE requirement.

Step 1

Visit the ABA website. (See Reference 1.) Click on the "Public Resources" menu and scroll down and click on "Lawyer Locator."

Step 2

Make sure that "Lawyers" is selected in the "Search For" screen at the top of the "Lawyer Locator" section.

Step 3

Select the jurisdictions where your legal problem arises in the "U.S. State/Canadian Province" window. Hold down the control key to select more than one jurisdiction. The system works best if you select just one jurisdiction under this window.

Step 4

Select the areas of law that best cover your legal problem (s) under the "Areas of Practice" window. Hold down the control key to select more than one area.

Step 5

Click on the jurisdictions in which you need the attorneys to be licensed under the "Bar Admissions" window. Hold down the control key to select more than one jurisdiction and try to limit your search to no more than two jurisdictions.

Step 6

Skip the "Years in Practice" and "Major Memberships" windows and click on "Go." The system will return information on attorneys who meet your search criteria.

Why do I want to become a multi state lawyer?

The most obvious reason to become a multi-state lawyer is to increase the number of potential clients you can represent. This is especially true for attorneys who have a highly specialized practice and may find themselves unable to expand in their current market.

What is UBE in law?

The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is a standardized version of the Bar Exam that allows you to move your practice between states more easily. However, each state has their own unique requirements regarding the exam, as well as coming from another jurisdiction to practice law.

Do states have reciprocity?

Many states offer reciprocity if you meet certain conditions. States that offer reciprocity typically require a certain amount of experience practicing law, and/or may allow you to practice if you have passed the bar in a state they have deemed allowable.

List of State Lawyer Licensing Databases

How do you check to see if an attorney has a valid bar license to practice law in a given state?

How to Search for an Attorney by Speciality

All of these directories allow you to search for the attorney by name.

How to Find Disciplinary Records Online

Use the links below to select the state where the attorney practices law. Then go to the state bar site to search the attorney's name or bar number. On many of these directories, you can see if the license has ever been inactive or if the attorney was disciplined for misconduct.

Ellen Cronin Badeaux

No. Under both Choice of Laws principals and the UCJEA you only need a KY family law attorney to register the TX Judgment.#N#Then file for custody and relocation in KY if you are seeking custody or just a modification.

Larry Bernard Hampton Jr

If Kentucky has become the "home state" of the children under the UCJEA, then you may only need a Kentucky lawyer, but if you need one licensed in both states, you will probably have to use google and make several phone calls until you find one who practices custody law.

Thomas J. Wagner

You could google "lawyer admitted to practice Massachusetts and ___________" (insert other state. I agree that it is unlikely that local lawyers are "threatened" or afraid to take your case but simply do not believe there is a case.#N#More

Erik Hammarlund

You can search Avvo. Generally speaking, most attorneys will list their state bar memberships.#N#You can search Google, e.g. "Bar membership STATE1 and STATE2" or "member of the bar STATE1 and STATE2" and so on...

Rixon Charles Rafter III

One way is to use Avvo's find a lawyer tab--you can view lawyers and their profiles--many with multiple bar admissions.#N#FWIW, if lawyers in your area are refusing your case--that is a strong indication that you don't have a case--as a general rule lawyers are NOT afraid of local courts...

Why do lawyers practice in multiple states?

Practicing in multiple states allows a lawyer to practice in the state in which they wish to retire. One of the great advantages to being a lawyer is that you never age out of the business as is so frequent in corporate America.

Where is Russell Knight?

Russell Knight is a lawyer licensed in Illinois and Florida who splits his time between Chicago, Illinois and Naples, Florida. His Florida website can be found at www.divorceattorneynaplesfl.com. March 28th, 2019. |.

Model Rule 5.5 (c) (2)

" Rule 5.5: Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law#N#" (c) A lawyer admitted in another United States jurisdiction, and not disbarred or suspended from practice in any jurisdiction, may provide legal services on a temporary basis in this jurisdiction that:#N#" (2) are in or reasonably related to a pending or potential proceeding before a tribunal in this or another jurisdiction, if the lawyer, or a person the lawyer is assisting, is authorized by law or order to appear in such proceeding or reasonably expects to be so authorized.".

Purpose of Model Rule 5.5 (c) (2)

"This subsection permits temporary practice in a host state under two circumstances. First, it authorizes an out-of-state lawyer’s services in the host state that are in anticipation of litigation that the lawyer expects to be filed in the lawyer’s home state.

Variations on the Model Rules

Pro haec vice admission is specifically provided for.

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Benefits of Becoming A Multi-State Lawyer

  • More opportunities to grow your client base
    The biggest benefit of being a multistate lawyer is that you open up a larger client base. For example, for states that lack population density for your niche legal practice area, being able to take cases from the other side of the state line is big. For some practice areas(like business for…
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Ethical Responsibilities of Becoming A Multi-State Lawyer

  • As mentioned, there is a great debate on whether you need multiple State Bar licenses if you are primarily practicing federal law. Some lawyers take the stance of “it’s primarily federal, so I’ll practice everywhere.” On the other hand, a lawyer who practiced bankruptcy law in Michigan while carrying only a Texas bar card wasadmitted to the federal court. Years of litigation later, the Sixt…
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Not Quite “Uniform” Bar Exam

  • It is no longer 50 states, 50 bar exams. Even the legendarily difficult New York state bar exam is now gone in favor of the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). There are even rumors that California—the state that once had the longest, most difficult exam and zero reciprocity—may move to the UBE soon. The Uniform Bar Exam is at once a welcome change and a frustrating misnomer. While ea…
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How to Become A Multi-State Lawyer

  • Apply for reciprocity with other states’ bars
    Even if you did not take the uniform bar, there are other ways to get admitted in a state without taking another bar exam. Most states have some form of reciprocity where they will allow lawyers admitted in a reciprocal state to gain admission on application—no exam required. The states ty…
  • Take bar exams in multiple states
    There is always the option of taking another bar exam. This tends to be a less popular option for multi-state lawyers—reciprocity and the UBE are typically much more popular options. My first bar exam in another state was an excruciating marathon, while struggling with unemployment, inso…
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Transactional Lawyer vs. Litigator

  • The process of gaining admission to the bar will not vary based on whether or not you like to step into a courtroom. Similarly, the advantages are similar for transactional lawyers and litigators if they stack up a couple of bar cards. For transactional lawyers, other than the cost of admission, bar dues, and CLEs, there is very little downside to being a multi-state lawyer. You can probably …
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Federal Courts

  • As mentioned, there is a great debate about whether you need additional state licenses for practicing federal law out-of-state. Theoretically, if you are admitted to the federal court and the law is entirely federal, you should not need a local State Bar license. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get into trouble with the State Bar from the unauthorized practice of law. However, it is im…
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Practical Considerations For Multi-State Lawyers

  • For lawyers licensed in multiple states, be prepared to put in more work upfront. Trust accounts?Some states will allow you to piggyback on another state’s trust account if you are a multi-state legal practitioner. But most states will require their own. Finding a bank that can effectively handle lawyer trust accounts is challenging in itself. Finding a bank that can successf…
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You Could Benefit from Getting Licensed in Multiple States

  • Admittedly, it is so much easier to just practice in one state. However, there are many benefits to becoming a multi-state lawyer, including increased flexibility and opportunities to grow your legal practice. Today, with reciprocity and uniform bar admission, becoming a multi-state lawyer is a lot less challenging than before. If your circumstances require it or if you find it advantageous for y…
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