how to find out if someone is a disbarred attorney

The American Bar Association maintains an online listing of each state’s lawyer disciplinary agency. You can then search for that attorney’s name in the state bar’s record to see whether that attorney has been disciplined.

Full Answer

What does it take to get an attorney disbarred?

Aug 12, 2014 · • Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards. • Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Is it easy for a lawyer to get disbarred?

Feb 15, 2021 · 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.

How do I get a lawyer disbarred?

Jan 13, 2015 · To determine whether a practitioner has been previously disciplined, click on this link for the List of Previously Disciplined Practitioners. For more information about the Executive Office for Immigration Review's Attorney Discipline Program, click on these links: Rules for Professional Conduct (2000), (PDF)

What ways can a lawyer get disbarred?

Jul 07, 2010 · It provides links to the official lawyer look-up page for every state and the District of Columbia. An alternative, unofficial source for this information is the lawyer-directory site Avvo. It provides disciplinary histories for the lawyers it lists. I would start with the official source and use Avvo as a back up.

What happens if an attorney is disbarred?

An attorney who is disbarred loses that professional license, and is banned from practicing law. Disbarment normally occurs when the state bar association determines, typically after numerous complaints by clients, other lawyers, or judges, that a lawyer is unfit to continue practicing law.

What is disbarment in law?

Disbarment is an extreme punishment, requiring the attorney to literally change careers. (Reinstatement is possible, but extremely difficult for the lawyer to obtain.) That's why disbarment is usually a punishment of last resort. The bar association usually will take one or more other disciplinary actions first.

How long do you have to notify your lawyer of disciplinary action?

Pursuant to Rule 27 of the American Bar Association’s Model Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Enforcement, a lawyer who is disbarred or suspended from the practice of law must, within ten days of the date when discipline was imposed, send a notice to all clients, opposing counsel, and any co-counsel, notifying them that the lawyer is no longer able to act as a lawyer in the matter. Attorneys are usually required to notify clients (as well as co-counsel and opposing counsel) within ten days of being disbarred or suspended. Most jurisdictions require clients to be notified by certified mail.

What happens if you are in court?

If your case is in court, watch out for any hard-and-fast statutes of limitations that might eventually cut off your right to relief. If not, the court is likely to give you a short delay in the proceedings (sometimes called an adjournment or stay) in order for your new attorney to get up to speed.

How many years of school do I need to become an attorney?

Not everyone can call themselves an attorney. In most states, you need to graduate from a three-year law school, take a difficult bar examination, and attend annual classes so as to obtain continuing legal education credits, in order to gain and keep a license to practice law in that state.

For the Judiciary: Review Your Dockets

When reviewing your dockets of pending cases, you may click on the links above to determine whether an attorney is ineligible to practice law.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about an attorney’s eligibility status to practice law in Texas, please contact the State Bar Membership Department at the contact information below.