Public Information

Finding the Public Disciplinary History, Membership Status and Contact Information of an Attorney
The general public now has more access than ever before to information about attorneys who are members of the State Bar of Georgia. The State Bar of Georgia has considerably improved reporting of lawyer discipline information on the Bar's website.

By going to the Member Directory and conducting a member directory search, anyone can look up an attorney and learn more about them.  The website improvements allow users to see an attorney's public disciplinary record online, if such disciplinary record exists, as well as their current membership status and contact information.

The public has long been able to get this information by calling the State Bar. Now the information is also available via the Internet, any time, any day. The website displays a wide variety of sanctions, and consumers can easily read case summaries so they know why the lawyer was disciplined. The site also provides definitions of terminology, for ease of understanding.

Visitors to the site are able to review an attorney's public disciplinary history, if any exists, as far back as January 1995. Click here, to find which attorneys have been disciplined most recently. 

If you have any questions or would like information about an attorney's public disciplinary history prior to January 1995, as always, you may contact the Office of the General Counsel at 404-527-8720.

If you have any questions about an attorney's membership status, you may contact the Membership Department at 404-527-8777.

Please Note: With a few exceptions, attorneys who wish to practice law in Georgia are required to be members of the State Bar of Georgia. However, because of privacy concerns, some attorneys choose not to be listed in the Member Directory found on the Bar's website.

Click here, to begin searching the Member Directory.

Selecting a Lawyer/Lawyer Referral Services
Although the State Bar of Georgia is not authorized to refer clients to lawyers, the Bar is permitted to refer clients to lawyer referral services that can help clients find lawyers.

Click here to see a list of lawyer referral services that have registered with the State Bar of Georgia and are currently certified in compliance with Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 7.3(c).

The Bar encourages those seeking an attorney to view the list of local bars that do offer lawyer referral services, or visit www.legalaid-ga.org, an organization whose goal is to provide the public with easy Internet access to basic legal information and legal resources in Georgia. On the legalaid-ga.org Web site you can search a database of legal service organizations, pro bono programs and lawyer referral projects throughout the state.

*Read suggestions on how to choose a lawyer.

Filing a Grievance
If you feel an attorney has engaged in unethical behavior, prior to filing a grievance, we encourage you to contact the Bar's Consumer Assistance Program. CAP responds to all inquiries from the public regarding State Bar members and assists the public through informal methods to resolve inquiries which may involve minor violations of disciplinary standards by attorneys.

Fee Arbitration Program
The Fee Arbitration program is a service to the general public and lawyers of Georgia. It provides a convenient mechanism for the resolution of fee disputes between attorneys and clients. The actual arbitration is a hearing conducted by two experienced attorneys and one non-lawyer citizen. Like judges, they hear the arguments on both sides and decide the outcome of the dispute. Arbitration is impartial and usually less expensive than going to court. View a list of Fee Arbitration Frequently Asked Questions.

Consumer Pamphlet Series
The State Bar publishes a variety of consumer information brochures and pamphlets to help educate the public about legal issues. Although the pamphlets are designed to inform the public, they are not designed to give advice on any specific legal matter. Review the Bar's consumer pamphlets.

Senior Citizen Resource Guide
This Information and Resource Guide is provided as a service for seniors, their families and friends to assist them in finding basic information and locating services for Georgia senior citizens. This service is provided by the State Bar of Georgia's Elder Law Section and is intended for use as a general resource and starting point. It is not intended to provide individual professional advice. More specific information can be obtained by contacting the listed resources or by seeking the services of professionals in these areas of concentration. Further information can also be obtained by contacting the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline at 1-888-257-9519.

Clients Security Fund

The Clients' Security Fund of the State Bar of Georgia was initially created by Resolution of the Board of Governors on March 29, 1968, at Stone Mountain, Georgia ". . . for the purpose of maintaining the integrity and protecting the good name of the legal profession by reimbursing to the extent deemed proper and feasible by the Board losses caused by the dishonest conduct of members of the State Bar of Georgia."

In 1991, the Supreme Court of Georgia adopted the Rules of the Clients' Security Fund as Part X of the State Bar Rules. The Fund fulfills, in part, the duty of the legal profession to keep faith with the public and serves to maintain the profession's collective reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. Attorneys from the State Bar of Georgia Office of the General Counsel act as staff for the Clients' Security Fund.

Click here, to review the rules of the Client Security Fund.

Legal Resources by Subject
Visit this page to find a link to many law/government related organizations throughout the state.