U.S. · Professional Licensing
California bar number lookup.
To verify a lawyer in California, use the State Bar of California’s own Attorney Search. This page explains what it searches, where the bar number appears and where discipline information is found.
Use the official register for the answer: the State Bar of California record is authoritative, and this page cannot confirm anyone’s licence or standing. Open the register below, compare the details with the person who contacted you, and confirm with the regulator if anything does not match.
How the CA register is searched and what it shows
How the register is searched:
- The main search box takes a name or a bar number. Advanced Search adds fields such as firm, city and county, and can filter certified specialists.
- If you only have a name, the State Bar says to search it: the public profile that comes up includes the bar number.
What the regulator says it shows:
- The State Bar describes the tool as showing the status of an attorney’s license and the attorney’s disciplinary and administrative history.
Verify a lawyer in California
The register belongs to the State Bar of California. Open it, search for the person, and treat its record as the authoritative answer.
The bar number in California
California calls it a “bar number”. The State Bar pages reviewed do not publish a fixed digit length, so do not reject a number because it looks short or long; confirm it by opening the profile and checking the name matches.
Where to find discipline records
Official discipline information is on the attorney’s profile. The State Bar’s Recent Disciplinary Actions page is a summary only. For a formal, dated statement, the State Bar issues a Certificate of Standing, which it says covers name, bar number, admission date, current status and any public discipline as of the certificate date.
Limits to keep in mind
- A profile is a snapshot: status and discipline can change after you look.
- The Recent Disciplinary Actions page is a summary, not the official record.
This page does not validate a number’s format or check a number against any list; only the official register can do that.
Sources
- State Bar of California: Attorney Search ↗
- State Bar of California: Forgot your bar number? ↗
- State Bar of California: Attorney Discipline ↗
- State Bar of California: Recent Disciplinary Actions ↗
- State Bar of California: Certificates of Standing ↗
Facts on this page come from the regulator’s public pages, retrieved 16 October 2026; wording and tools on those sites may change at any time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a California attorney by bar number?
Open the State Bar of California Attorney Search, type the bar number or the lawyer’s name into the main search box, and open the profile. Check that the name and details match the person who contacted you.
How do I find an attorney’s California bar number?
Search the name in the State Bar’s Attorney Search. The State Bar says the public profile includes the bar number.
Where is California attorney discipline shown?
On the attorney’s State Bar profile, which the State Bar says shows disciplinary and administrative history. Its Recent Disciplinary Actions page is a summary and points back to the profile for official information.
Is this page a verification tool?
No. It searches nothing and nothing you type here is sent anywhere. The State Bar’s own profile is the record.
Guide only — not a verification tool
This page describes the State Bar of California directory based on the regulator’s public pages retrieved 16 October 2026. It does not check anyone’s licence or standing, it is not affiliated with or endorsed by any state bar or court, and nothing you might type here is transmitted anywhere. Use the official register linked above and confirm directly with the regulator. Not legal advice.