icantthink

All,

How do I find out if a lawyer is in good standing? That is, something like a Better Business Bureau for the legal profession?

thanks

Ray

for an immigration lawyer www.aila.org

icantthink

Yes, I tried that already, but the only thing I found was the referral service. That service only sends out one name in a geographical location. So I can't check whether the law firm of say, Dewy Cheetum and Howe is in good standing unless I happen to hit on it in the request they send back.

NC Penguin

Contact the State Bar where he or she practices? Maybe there's info on the website for the State's Bar that will answer your questions.

Ray

Go to your State Bar site ... they may have a list of naughty people

Elvira

Not sure I can help but maybe there is some more information on the immigration portal site? http://boards.immigration.com

Rete

Try http://www.martindale.com/xp/Martindale/home.xml

Martindale Hubbell has a rating system for attorneys

mamon

Just go on the state bar web site eg. California
www.calbar.org

Type the name of the lawyer and better if you have their state bar number. Everything will pop up.
On the bottom, it will say, disciplined, suspension etc.

For details on the discipline, you need to write the state bar however.

Hope it helps

Matthew Udall

Yes, that works for California attorneys as the Cal. Bar website has this function incorporated in it. In fact, on my own website, I have a link directly to "my" records at the Cal. Bar so people can check it out.

Other state bar associations have this too. I believe the Texas bar site has this function, and perhaps the NY bar site as well. I'd actually be surprised if most states bar association sites don't have this set up yet.

Matthew Udall

Yeah, I get their ads asking me to sign up for their service all the time, and they always go straight into the trash. They want a lot of money to be listed with them, and from the little I know about them, all they will know is what the attorney (who is paying them) tells them. But I could be wrong. MH might be good for looking at large firms, but I wonder how effective (as far as an indication of competence) it is for solo practitioners?

To me, it seems like MH is just another form of advertising (and if you pay them, you can put in a detailed ad about the firm). I also get the "ego-stroking" ads from "who's who" asking for money in exchange for some cheesy placard one can hang in their office. Those invitations go straight into the trash too.

MH is yesterday's technology (at least as far as I'm concerned… but maybe there are good aspects about it that I'm simply not aware of).

Lkng4hw

Hi, icantthink:


TRY the "BAD Business Bureau" !!!

http://www.badbusinessbureau.com

Lkng4hw

Hi, icantthink:


TRY the "BAD Business Bureau" !!!

http://www.badbusinessbureau.com

icantthink

Just checked the New Jersey State Bar Association. Nothing on the site that would let me check on lawyers...

http://www.njsba.com

Jonathan McNeil Wong

Ray wrote:
    >>Yes, I tried that already, but the only thing I found was the referral
    >>service. That service only sends out one name in a geographical
    >>location. So I can't check whether the law firm of say, Dewy Cheetum
    >>and Howe is in good standing unless I happen to hit on it in the
    >>request they send back.
    >
    >
    > Go to your State Bar site ... they may have a list of naughty people
    >

To clarify:

Different states regulate lawyers differently. "Unified bar" states
such as California have a State Bar Association that is the licensing
body. "Non-unified" states do not have a single licensing body; in
those states, the highest court of the state regulates lawyers,
sometimes through a court-appointed committee or administrative apparatus.

So, without knowing which state your lawyer is admitted in, we can't
give you more specific advice.

The Martindale-Hubbell ratings that Rete mentioned are by a private
company, and are based on peer review (i.e., the company polls other
lawyers for a reference). M-H has been around a long time and is one
source to look at, but it is not an official licensing body and has
nothing to do with "good standing" or lawyer discipline.

--
Above intended as general commentary, not specific legal
advice. Your mileage may vary.

================================================== =============
Jonathan McNeil Wong Voice: 510-451-0544
Donahue Gallagher Woods LLP Facsimile: 510-832-1486
P.O. Box 12979 URL: http://www.donahue.com
Oakland, CA 94604-2979 E-mail: [email protected]
================================================== =============

Folinskyinla

Hi Matt:

I agree with you in that I throw out the solicitations. I did have it once and found it too expensive and not worth it.

However, M-H will list the basic info such as address, date of birth, date of admission to bar, undergraduate school & degree and law school and degree. Also, the address will have the county listed [e.g. look yourself up and you'll see what I mean]

The RATING system is a different animal -- it is intiated by M-H istelf and is solicited of peer review. I have no idea how they initiate the process but I've recieved requests for such reviews from time to time.

BTW, I looked up my last name on M-H, my niece's firm has listed her resume but she is not rated. In contrast, I have the basic information that any lawyer, but I AM "rated" as "AV".