How To Check If A California Lawyer Is Licensed In 2025

Lawyer Referral Center
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.

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.

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 He's not allowed to practice law and his licensed has been revoked by the California State Bar.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 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Be skeptical of marketing materials published online, many times these are not accurate or outdated.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:

HOME > BLOG > THIS POST✔︎

American Bar Association–Accredited and California State Bar–Certified Lawyer Referral and Information Service

Welcome to 1000Attorneys.com, a Lawyer Referral and Information Service certified by the California State Bar and nationally accredited by the American Bar Association.

Our role is to provide unbiased and impartial lawyer referrals to members of the public.

We operate independently from the attorneys who receive referrals and do not engage in pay-to-play or advertising-based rankings.

While we focus primarily on California employment law and personal injury matters, our referral services extend to many additional practice areas throughout the state.

Each referral is based on the legal issue presented, geographic considerations, and the attorney’s licensure status, experience, and professional standing.

We recognize that every legal matter is unique and aim to connect individuals with independently licensed attorneys suited to their specific needs.

Why Lawyer Referrals Matter

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

Verifying licensure alone does not always provide sufficient insight into an attorney’s suitability for a particular legal matter.

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

This due diligence is intended to help the public make more informed decisions when seeking legal representation.

Learn more about attorney discipline and public records here.

Our History

Since 2005, we have assisted Californians in locating qualified legal representation through a structured, regulated referral process.

We recognize the challenges individuals face when navigating legal advertising, promotional claims, and online directories.

Our service is designed to provide a neutral, reliable alternative focused on public protection and informed choice.

Attorneys in Our Network

Attorneys who receive referrals through our service are licensed in California, in good standing with the State Bar, and maintain professional experience in their respective practice areas.

Evaluation considerations may include:

Licensure status and disciplinary history
Relevant practice experience
Professional background and education
Client service and communication practices
Fee practices consistent with applicable rules

Participation in the referral service does not constitute endorsement, and hiring decisions remain solely with the individual seeking legal representation.

How to Request a Lawyer Referral

Submit your legal issue online for review by our referral staff. Online requests are typically processed in under 10 minutes.
Inquiries may also be submitted by email, with responses generally provided within one business day.
You may contact our referral line at 661-310-7999. Referral agents are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice.