Official legal help / Lawyer check
Check an Australian lawyer
Lawyer names and law firm pages are not practising-certificate checks. Verify the lawyer who would handle the work and the channel you are using before sharing sensitive information.
A five-part check
Do not collapse different trust questions into one.
- 01Identify the person
Ask who would supervise and perform the work, including any hand-off.
- 02Open the official register
Use the jurisdiction the practitioner identifies; do not rely on a badge screenshot.
- 03Compare the details
Check the name and current information shown within the register’s stated scope.
- 04Verify the channel
Cross-check the website, telephone and payment instructions independently.
- 05Confirm the engagement
Registration does not mean the firm has agreed to act. Obtain scope and costs in writing.
Official starting points
Lawyer registers by jurisdiction
Each authority controls its own register and explains what the information means. Open the current source and follow its instructions.
Questions people ask
Checking a lawyer or Law Firm
Does a law firm page prove that every lawyer there is registered?
No. A law firm page describes published firm and office information. Check the individual lawyer who would be responsible through the appropriate official register.
Which register should I use?
Start with the jurisdiction in which the practitioner says they are entitled to practise and the jurisdiction relevant to the work. If the position is unclear, ask the practitioner to identify the appropriate register.
Does registration prove specialist experience or suitability?
No. Registration and any formally published accreditation are different from experience, availability, communication, price and fit for a particular task. Confirm each question separately.
Should I trust a phone number shown on a law firm page?
Independently compare contact details with an official or firm-controlled source, especially before sending identity documents, confidential information or money. Stop if details conflict.
What if the register and law firm information do not match?
Do not assume the reason. Pause contact through the disputed channel, check the register and firm-controlled website directly, and use the correction route if the lawyer information may be wrong.