The State Bar of California's Attorney Search features records of an attorney's history from admission to the State Bar to present.
Before you place an order, check online Attorney Search for free copies. Public records of discipline, which explain why an attorney was disciplined, can be ordered by sending a written request to the State Bar Court with the following information:
The State Bar Court charges a $25 certification fee per case for all records requests. In the event the copying costs exceed $25, you will be notified. The records will be provided to you upon receipt of payment. Please make your check or money order for $25 payable to the State Bar of California.
Please call 213-765-1400 if you have any questions.
Mail written requests and your check/money order for $25 to:
State Bar Court Discipline Copies 845 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, California 90017-2515
Effective January 1, 2018, access to judicial administrative records maintained by the State Bar Court is governed by rule 10.500 of the California Rules of Court. Rule 10.500 sets forth comprehensive public access provisions applicable to these records. The State Bar Court makes identifiable judicial administrative records available for inspection upon request unless the records are exempt from disclosure. A judicial administrative record is defined as:
any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the people's business that is prepared, owned, used, or retained by a judicial branch entity regardless of the writing's physical form or characteristics, except an adjudicative record. The term "judicial administrative record" does not include records of a personal nature that are not used in or do not relate to the people's business, such as personal notes, memoranda, electronic mail, calendar entries and records of Internet use.
Records relating to specific cases are "adjudicative records" and are not governed by this rule. If you would like copies of public records of discipline, please refer to the instructions available on this page.
If you would like to request judicial administrative records maintained by State Bar Court, you may make a request in person at the State Bar Court, or by email, mail or telephone. The State Bar encourages requesters to submit a Request for Judicial Administrative Records form and email it to statebarcourt@calbar.ca.gov or mail it to:
The State Bar of California ATTN: State Bar Court 845 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, California 90017-2515
Submitting the written form helps focus the request, avoids miscommunication and ensures that the requester receives a response as soon as possible. If a requester needs assistance in formulating a request, please call 415-538-2388 or email statebarcourt@calbar.ca.gov.
The State Bar Court has 10 days to respond to a judicial administrative records request from the date the request is received. This response will typically inform the requester whether the State Bar Court has responsive public records, when the records will be available for inspection or copying, the anticipated cost of providing copies and whether any exemptions apply. Under certain circumstances, the State Bar Court may write to the requester and invoke a 14-day extension.
You may be charged fees that reflect the direct costs of duplication or production. In addition, you may be charged fees that reflect actual costs of staff search and review time expended on a commercial use request. Payment may be required before records are duplicated or produced. See rule 10.500(e)(4) and the Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records Fee Guidelines.
Call 213-765-1400 at least 24 hours in advance to make an appointment to view the Original Court File of a public record of discipline. Copies of documents from the Original Court File cannot be provided at the time of appointment. However, documents to be copied can be selected and payment deposited with the clerk. Documents will be mailed within 10 days.