This page helps you complete a Bar Attorney Search in California, check a lawyer’s public profile, and understand the official State Bar tools available for license and discipline review.

The State Bar of California Attorney Search is the main public tool for looking up an attorney by name or bar number. It can also point you to related options for certified specialists, provisionally licensed lawyers, and discipline information.

Use the State Bar of California Attorney Search when you already have an attorney’s name or bar number and want to review the attorney’s public profile.

  • Attorney name
  • California bar number

For names with accents or other extended characters, enter the name without those characters. For example, search Nunez instead of Nuñez.

  • Open the search for a California attorney profile.
  • Enter the attorney’s name or bar number in the search field.
  • Review the matching profile for license status and public discipline or administrative history.

Tip: If a basic name search is too broad, use the Advanced Search option in the Attorney Search tool for more search choices.

Attorney profile results

The State Bar’s attorney profile tool provides the status of an attorney’s license and shows disciplinary and administrative history when that information is part of the public profile.

Before hiring someone for legal work, compare the contact information you have with the information shown on the State Bar website. Attorneys are required to keep that information current.

Certified specialists and lawyer referral services

If you need more than a license check, the State Bar also provides official resources for finding legal professionals. Certified legal specialists are attorneys certified by the State Bar in specific areas of law.

To find a specialist, use the State Bar’s certified legal specialist search guidance. The Attorney Search tool’s Advanced Search option lets you choose a legal specialty and review matching specialists.

If you need help finding an attorney, a certified Lawyer Referral Service can help identify legal assistance by county, area of law, and languages spoken. The State Bar notes that it is not a Lawyer Referral Service and cannot direct you to a lawyer or give legal advice.

Discipline, complaints, and public trust resources

Attorney discipline summaries are available through the State Bar, but official discipline information is found on the attorney’s profile and in the State Bar Court case search. Copies of official attorney discipline records are available upon request.

If you need to file an attorney misconduct complaint, use the State Bar’s online attorney misconduct complaint form. Questions about filing a complaint can be directed to the State Bar phone number listed in the contact section.

The Office of Public Trust Liaison helps with unresolved questions or concerns about attorney discipline complaints and admissions issues. It can explain processes and review whether proper procedures were followed, but it cannot draft complaints, act as a legal representative, intervene in pending matters, or overturn decisions.

The State Bar advises users to verify that anyone offering legal services is licensed to perform legal work. Use Attorney Search to confirm credentials and active license status.

Be careful with people who rush payment, promise guaranteed results, request cash or wire transfers, or communicate through encrypted services for payment pressure. People sometimes impersonate lawyers, so use the contact information shown on the State Bar website to double-check.

State Bar of California contacts

Use these State Bar contacts for public questions related to attorney profiles, complaints, and related State Bar services.

  • State Bar of California San Francisco Main Office, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105
    Phone: (415) 538-2000
  • State Bar of California Los Angeles, 845 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
    Phone: (213) 765-1000
  • Attorney misconduct complaint questions
    Phone: (800) 843-9053

Common questions

Where do I search for a California attorney by name or bar number?

Use the State Bar of California Attorney Search to look up an attorney by name or bar number and review the public profile.

What should I do if an attorney name has an accent mark?

Search without extended characters. For example, enter Nunez instead of Nuñez.

Yes. The State Bar’s Advanced Search option includes certified legal specialty filters, and the certified specialist guidance explains how to use that search.

Where can I file a complaint about an attorney?

You can use the State Bar’s online attorney misconduct complaint form. For questions, call (800) 843-9053.