Finding a Lawyer

Have a legal problem? The Law Society has a list of resources to help you find a licensed lawyer and other helpful information. We encourage you to check a lawyer’s current practice status using our Lawyer Directory and verify a law firm’s website before hiring a lawyer.

Note: As the regulator of lawyers, the Law Society cannot refer you to a specific lawyer or provide legal advice.

Check a lawyer's current practice status

If you know the lawyer’s name, use our Lawyer Directory to confirm they are licensed to practice, find their contact information, and see any current practice restrictions, discipline history and current regulatory proceedings.

You can also:

Visit the LSBC Tribunal website to check if the lawyer has any past or current citations for violating Law Society Rules or the Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia.
Search the unauthorized practitioners database to confirm the person is not illegally offering legal services or misrepresenting themselves as a lawyer.
Contact Credentials & Licensing at the Law Society for a list of foreign lawyers who are allowed to practice in BC.

Check that a law firm's website is real

Scammers sometimes create fake websites to collect your data or sell fraudulent services. Here’s what to look for:

Look for American references: Wooden gavels are not used in Canadian courts. Lawyers are not called “attorneys” in Canada.
Check the website domain: Use an online service such as WHOIS to check the website’s registration. If the firm claims to be local, but the registered address is in another country, it may be a fake site.
Check the URL: a website that has an “https” tag is generally more secure.
Check the site’s security status: Most browsers display a green padlock icon to the left of the website’s URL if the site is safe.