The ABA National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank is the only national repository of information concerning public regulatory actions relating to lawyers throughout the United States. It was established in 1968 and is operated under the aegis of the ABA Standing Committee on Professional Discipline. Although information concerning public regulatory actions is available from each jurisdiction, the difficulty involved in locating and examining individual court records is obvious. Through the voluntary cooperation of courts in forwarding to the Data Bank regulatory orders, the ABA has been able to offer a valuable service to the profession and the public. The Data Bank is particularly useful for disciplinary authorities and bar admissions agencies in providing a central repository of information to facilitate reciprocal discipline and to help prevent the admission of lawyers who have been disbarred or suspended elsewhere. All states and the District of Columbia, as well as many federal courts and some agencies, provide regulatory information to the Data Bank.
In addition to serving courts and agencies, the Data Bank conducts name searches on request for the public. Inquirers should begin their search with the state where the lawyer is known to be licensed. See the Directory of Lawyer Disciplinary Agencies.
Requests for searches in the Data Bank of individual lawyer names or regulatory actions approved into the Data Bank will be accepted provided that the inquirer confirms the request in writing.
For more information contact us at:
National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank
Center for Professional Responsibility
American Bar Association
321 North Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312-988-5290