Guides for vetting and understanding attorneys

Five fast checks to confirm a lawyer is real, licensed, and in good standing — using free official state bar and court records. Verify a license, bar number, and disciplinary history before you pay a retainer.

Confirm a lawyer's license in three steps using the free official state bar lookup: search by name or bar number, check the license status, and confirm the state of admission.

Attorney discipline is public record. Here's how to check whether a lawyer has been disbarred, suspended, or otherwise sanctioned — and what each status actually means.

A lawyer in "good standing" is licensed, current on their obligations, and not suspended or disbarred. Here's exactly what the term means and how to verify it for free.

A 7-point checklist to confirm your lawyer is real, licensed, and trustworthy — using free official records. Each step links to the tool or record that proves it.

Pick your state to verify an attorney's license and disciplinary standing against the official bar roster. Free, no account, official public records.

Step-by-step options when your attorney isn't responding, mishandled your case, or overcharged you — from talking it out to firing them, disputing fees, and filing a bar complaint.

Missed deadlines, conflicts of interest, mishandled funds, and going silent can be signs of legal malpractice. Here's what crosses the line — and your next move.

Your attorney won't return calls or emails. Here's how to escalate — from a documented written demand to firing them and filing a bar complaint for neglect.

You can usually change lawyers at any time. Here's how to do it cleanly — line up a replacement, get your file, handle fees, and vet the new attorney before you switch.

If a legal bill looks wrong, you have options: demand an itemized invoice, use bar-sponsored fee arbitration, and escalate misconduct. Here's how fee disputes work.

Suspension pauses a law license; disbarment revokes it. Here's what each means, whether a disbarred lawyer can come back, and how to check a lawyer's status for free.

A step-by-step guide to filing a grievance against a lawyer with the state licensing authority — what discipline can and can't do for you, and what to file.

What expungement is, who qualifies, how long it takes, and what it costs — plus how to check your own record. Eligibility varies by state; here's the framework.

Whether a DUI can be expunged depends entirely on state law — some allow it after a waiting period, others never do. Here's how DUI expungement eligibility works.

A misdemeanor stays on your record indefinitely unless you expunge or seal it. Here's how long it lasts, when it shows on background checks, and how to clear it.

Felony convictions don't expire on their own. Some can be expunged, sealed, or reduced depending on the state and offense — here's when a felony can be cleared.

Two clocks matter: the waiting period before you can file, and the court processing time after you do. Here's a realistic timeline for felony expungement.

A dismissal ends the case — but the arrest and charge can still appear on your record. Here's why, and how to clear a dismissed charge from background checks.

Expungement cost is court filing fees plus optional attorney fees, with possible add-ons like record copies. Here's how the costs break down and how to reduce them.

A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial — advising you, negotiating with prosecutors, challenging evidence, and representing you in court.

Public defenders are free, experienced, and often overloaded; private attorneys cost money but offer more time and choice. Here's how the two compare.

The prosecutor represents the government and must prove guilt; the defense attorney represents the accused and protects their rights. Here's how their roles differ.

Reprimand, suspension, disbarment — attorney discipline has a vocabulary. Here's what each status means, what's public, and how to read a lawyer's record.