Editor’s Note: The compilation is a revised and updated version of an article originally published by Andrew Zimmerman and Trevor Rosen.
Every lawyer in the United States is licensed to practice in some state, but very few lawyers are licensed to practice in every state. As a result, the question often arises — is attorney X licensed to practice in state Y? Check the licensing authority, usually the bar association, for the state. Below is a list along with contact information for easy access.
If the attorney is not listed, however, you should call to determine conclusively whether the attorney is registered in that state. Due to privacy concerns, some states allow attorneys, on request, to opt out of the online database directory.
Although this guide focuses on websites that help you determine whether a lawyer is currently licensed to practice in a particular state, there are many other kinds of state-specific lawyer-related online databases — including lawyer finders, lawyer referral services, bar member directories, and disciplinary rolls. Many of these resources can be found by following the links posted at AmericanBar.org, LegalDockets.com and LegalServicesLink.com.
Alabama
Alabama Bar Association | 334-269-1515 | [email protected]
Alaska
Alaska Bar Association | 907-272-7469 | [email protected]
Arizona
State Bar of Arizona via Legal Services | 602.252.4804
Arkansas
Arkansas Judiciary | 501-682-6849
California
State Bar of California | 866-442-2529 | [email protected]
Colorado
Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel | 303-457-5800 | [email protected]
Connecticut
State of Connecticut Grievance Committee | 860-706-5130 | [email protected]
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Bar | 202-737-4700
Florida
Florida Bar | 850-561-5832 | [email protected]
Georgia
State Bar of Georgia | 404-527-8700
Hawaii
Hawaii State Bar Association | 808-537-1868 | [email protected]
Idaho
Idaho State Bar | 208-334-4500 | [email protected]
Illinois
Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission| 312-565-2600 | [email protected]
Indiana
Indiana Supreme Court Office of Judicial Administration | 317-232-5861
Iowa
Indiana Judicial Branch Office of Judicial Administration | 515-348-4670
Kansas
Kansas Supreme Court | 785-296-8410 | [email protected]
Kentucky
Kentucky Bar Association | 502-564-3795
Louisiana
Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board | 800-489-8411 | [email protected]
Maine
Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar | 207-623-1121| [email protected]
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers select ‘Look Up An Attorney’ | 617-728-8750
Michigan
State Bar of Michigan | 800-968-1442
Minnesota
Minnesota Judicial Branch, Lawyer Registration Office | 651-296-2254 | [email protected]
Mississippi
Mississippi Bar | 601-948-4471 | [email protected]
Missouri
Missouri Bar | 573-635-4128 | [email protected]
Montana
State Bar of Montana via Licensed Lawyer | 406-442-7660 | [email protected]
Nebraska
Nebraska Supreme Court Attorney Services Division | 888-342-6395
Nevada
State Bar of Nevada | 702.382.2200
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Bar Association | 603-224-6942 calls only
New Jersey
New Jersey Courts | 609-815-2930 | [email protected]
New Mexico
State Bar of New Mexico | 800-876-6227 | [email protected]
New York
New York State Unified Court System | 212-428-2800 | [email protected]
North Carolina
North Carolina State Bar | 919-828-4620 | [email protected]
North Dakota
North Dakota Supreme Court | 701-328-4201 | [email protected]
Ohio
Supreme Court of Ohio | 614.387.9320 | [email protected]
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Bar Association | 800-522-8065 | [email protected]
Oregon
Oregon Bar Association | 800-452-8260 x0 |[email protected]
Pennsylvania
Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | 717-231-3380 | [email protected]
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Bar Association | 401-421-5740 | [email protected]
South Carolina
South Carolina Judicial Branch | 803-734-1800
South Dakota
State Bar of South Dakota | 800-952-2333 calls only
Tennessee
Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee | 800-486-5714 | [email protected]
Texas
State Bar of Texas | 800.204.2222
Utah
Utah State Bar via Licensed Lawyer | 801-531-9077 | [email protected]
Vermont
Vermont Judiciary Attorney Licensing select ‘Attorneys in Good Standing’| 802- 652-1900 | [email protected]
Virginia
Virginia State Bar | 804-775-0530 | [email protected]
Washington
Washington State Bar Association | 800-945-9722 | [email protected]
West Virginia
West Virginia State Bar | 866-989-8227
Wisconsin
State Bar of Wisconsin | 608-257-4666 | [email protected]
Wyoming
Wyoming State Bar | 855-445-8058 | info@wyoming