How it works

How to check a lawyer's status

Licensing bodies publish searchable records. Always check the official record directly, because news reports and this site can fall out of date.

• In England and Wales, the SRA's Solicitor Check tool lists published regulatory decisions and can be searched by name or SRA ID.¹
• The SRA warns that its website "cannot give a complete picture of the regulatory record" and that decisions generally remain online for three years. It advises contacting the SRA for the latest information.¹
• Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal judgments are published on the Tribunal's website.^2,3,7
• In California, the State Bar runs an Attorney Licensee Search that shows each licensee by State Bar number.⁴
• New York disciplinary decisions are published in the official Slip Opinion reporter on the courts' website.⁵
• Colorado publishes disciplinary orders of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge through its Office of Attorney Regulation.⁶

Sources

1. Solicitors Regulation Authority, Solicitor Check (28 October 2026)
2. Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, About us (28 October 2026)
3. Solicitors Regulation Authority, Solicitor check, Philip Shiner, SRA ID 124775 (28 October 2026)
4. State Bar of California, Attorney Licensee Search (28 October 2026)
5. New York Appellate Division, First Department, Matter of Cohen, 2019 NY Slip Op 01381 (26 February 2019)
6. Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation, People v. Ellis, 24PDJ002, Order Approving Stipulation to Discipline (28 May 2024)
7. Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, 11510-2016, Philip Joseph Shiner (28 October 2026)