Researching Attorney Discipline

An important step in evaluating whether an attorney is right for you is investigating whether he or she has ever been disciplined.

All states have a disciplinary organization that closely monitors attorneys. If a complaint is made against an attorney, the state's organization will investigate the claim and determine whether or not the attorney has violated any ethical rules. If so, the organization will discipline the attorney as appropriate.

Attorneys can be disciplined for various reasons - from failing to pay their bar dues to misappropriating client funds to gross ethical violations. Some attorneys who have been disciplined are no longer eligible to practice law. You should never hire an attorney who is not currently eligible to practice law.

It is to your benefit to thoroughly research an attorney's disciplinary history. You should take into account any previous discipline taken and the circumstances surrounding the discipline.

The following state links will help you learn whether an attorney is currently eligible to practice law or has been disciplined in the past. If you need additional information regarding an attorney, follow up with the appropriate disciplinary committee.


Alabama	Alabama State Bar Center for Professional Responsibility
Alaska	Alaska Bar Association
Arizona	State Bar of Arizona
Arkansas	Office of Professional Conduct, Supreme Court of Arkansas
California	State Bar of California
Connecticut	Statewide Grievance Committee
Colorado	Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Regulation
Delaware	Delaware Office of Disciplinary Counsel
DC	District of Columbia Office of Bar Counsel
Florida	The Florida Bar
Georgia	State Bar of Georgia
Hawaii	Supreme Court of Hawaii, Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Idaho	Idaho State Bar
Illinois	Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission
Indiana	Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission
Iowa	Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board
Kansas	Supreme Court of Kansas
Kentucky	Kentucky Bar Association
Louisiana	Louisiana Office of the Disciplinary Counsel
Maine	Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar
Maryland	Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Office of the Bar Counsel
Michigan	Michigan Attorney Discipline Board
Minnesota	Minnesota Office of Professional Responsibility
Mississippi	Mississippi State Bar
Missouri	Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel
Montana	Montana Disciplinary Counsel
Nebraska	Nebraska Counsel for Discipline
Nevada	State Bar of Nevada
New Hampshire	The Supreme Court Attorney Discipline Office
New Jersey	Office of Attorney Ethics, Supreme Court of New Jersey
New Mexico	State Bar of New Mexico Commission on Client Protection
New York	New York Attorney Grievance Committees
North Carolina	North Carolina State Bar
North Dakota	Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of North Dakota
Oklahoma	Oklahoma Bar Association
Ohio	Ohio Supreme Court
Oregon	Oregon State Bar
Pennsylvania	Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Rhode Island	Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island
South Carolina	South Carolina Office of Disciplinary Counsel
South Dakota	South Dakota Disciplinary Board Counsel
Tennessee	Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee
Texas	State Bar of Texas
Utah	Utah State Bar
Vermont	Professional Conduct Board of the Supreme Court of Vermont
Virginia	Virginia State Bar
Washington	Washington State Bar Association
West Virginia	West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation
Wyoming	Wyoming State Bar

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