top of page

How To Check If A California Lawyer Is Licensed In 2025

  • Writer: JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
    JC Serrano | Founder - LRIS # 0128
  • Feb 10, 2020
  • 2 min read

Updated: May 14, 2025

How To Screen Lawyers in Los Angeles And How To Find The Best California Lawyer For Your Case

Take attorney Fergus Mahony Ginther Jr from Newport Beach, California. A quick online search reveals this attorney is listed as a "top lawyer" with 26 years experience, a very popular lawyer directory site called JUSTIA lawyers has this attorney listed as having a current and active license at the time of this post.


check attorney license

Even his Linkedin account shows him as Vice President and claims counsel of a major title company, not to mention his years of experience and hundreds of connections.



how to check if a lawyer is licensed

Anyone looking at this online footprint will be confident to hire Mr. Ginther.


Even AVVO has him listed as an active member of the California State Bar. However, a closer look into this attorney, reveals a disturbing fact, far from what it's portrayed in many lawyer directories and platforms.


Mr. Ginther was disbarred for failure to perform with competence, failure to refund unearned fees, among other charges. He's not allowed to practice law and his licensed has been revoked by the California State Bar.
how to check a california lawyer

How to find great lawyers in California


The best way to find reputable lawyer in Los Angeles is to follow these simple steps:

  • Be skeptical of marketing materials published online, many times these are not accurate or outdated.

  • Spend time conducting your own research, visit the California State Bar website and use the lookup tool to find specific information about the attorney you are considering.

  • Use a California State Bar Lawyer Referral Service to locate pre-screened attorneys in your area.

Being involved in a legal issue is difficult enough, having the wrong attorney represent you can have a disastrous outcome to your legal case.


There are great lawyers in Los Angeles out there who can really make a difference and give you peace of mind knowing you're in good hands.


Related articles:

1000Attorneys.com - CALBAR-certifiction #0128

Official California State Bar Lawyer Referral Service

​

Established in 2005, 1000Attorneys.com is a California State Bar–certified Lawyer Referral and Information Service, operating under LRIS Certificate No. 0128, accredited by the American Bar Association, and independently listed as a LawHelpCA Verified Resource.

​

❝ Certified referral services exist to promote public protection, allowing consumers to bypass self-serving and misleading attorney advertising ❞

​

Our role is to connect Californians with reputable, vetted, independently licensed counsel through a regulated, certified channel.

 

We do not advertise on behalf of any law firm, do not auction inquiries to multiple competing attorneys, and do not engage in advertising-based or pay-to-play rankings.

 

While our primary focus areas are California employment law and personal injury matters, our referrals extend to many additional practice areas.

 

Each match is based on the legal issue presented, jurisdiction, statute-of-limitations considerations, and the attorney's licensure and experience profile.

​

Why Lawyer Referrals Matter in California

​

The California State Bar investigates thousands of attorney misconduct complaints each year.

 

Verifying that an attorney holds an active license is necessary but not sufficient — licensure alone does not capture disciplinary patterns, practice-area depth, or fit for a specific legal matter.

 

A State Bar Certified LRIS operates under defined statutory authority — Business and Professions Code § 6155, Rule 3.800 of the California Rules of Court, and the State Bar's Minimum Standards for a Lawyer Referral Service.

 

Non-certified matching platforms and lead-generation services are not authorized to operate under this framework.

​

As part of our referral process, we review publicly available licensure and disciplinary records and consider substantive practice experience in the area at issue.

 

→ Learn more about attorney discipline.

​

California Attorneys in Our Network

 

Panel attorneys are required to maintain an active California Bar license in good standing, demonstrate substantial experience in the relevant area of law, carry professional liability insurance, and comply with established client communication and ethical standards.

​

Evaluation criteria include:

​

  • Active California Bar licensure and verified disciplinary history

​

  • Depth of experience in the relevant practice area

​

  • Professional background and educational credentials

​

  • Client service standards, including responsiveness and communication

​

  • Client feedback and reviews, where available

​

  • Fee practices consistent with the California Rules of Professional Conduct

 

Participation in the referral service does not constitute an endorsement. The decision to retain counsel remains solely with the individual seeking legal representation.

​

How to Request a Lawyer Referral

​

  1. Submit your legal issue online for review by our staff. Online requests are typically processed in under 10 minutes.

  2. Email submissions are also accepted, with responses generally provided within one business day.

  3. Call our referral line at 661-310-7999. Referral agents are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice.

1000Attorneys.com American Bar Association Approved
bottom of page