Attorneys › California
California attorney license lookup
Search the State Bar of California and see a lawyer's status, bar number, and standing. Every result is checked against the official board.
Checked against the State Bar of California in real time. Search by bar number, or type a name to pick from a list. The board's record is the source either way.
Enter a California bar number or a name above to see a live result.
Monitor this license
We email you if the status changes, the license lapses, or discipline is filed. $19 a month, cancel anytime.
What each status means
- Eligible to practice
- Dues are paid, any required CLE is current, and no suspension is in effect. This is what you want to see before you hire.
- Not eligible
- The license exists but the lawyer cannot practice right now, usually for unpaid dues or a missed CLE deadline. It can often be cured within days.
- Suspended or disbarred
- The bar has taken disciplinary action. The order is public, and the record links to it.
Verifying a California attorney
- Licensing authority
- The State Bar of California is the sole body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in California.
- Bar number
- A State Bar of California bar number, assigned at admission and permanent for the lawyer's career.
- Renewal
- An annual licensing fee, with 25 hours of MCLE every three years including 4 hours of ethics.
- Disciplinary history
- Public. The State Bar posts discipline, and any suspension or disbarment shows on the record.
Common questions
How do I know a California lawyer is really licensed?
Match the name to an active record on the State Bar of California with a status of eligible to practice. A lawyer who cannot be found on the board's roll is not licensed in California, whatever a website says.
What does "not eligible" mean if the license still exists?
The lawyer is on the roll but barred from practicing today, most often for unpaid dues or a lapsed requirement. It is not the same as discipline, and it is usually temporary.
Can I see if a lawyer has been disciplined?
Public. The State Bar posts discipline, and any suspension or disbarment shows on the record. Where an order exists, the board links to it from the record.