How to Check if a Lawyer Is Licensed in Canada

To check whether a lawyer is licensed in Canada, search the public directory of the law society in the province or territory where the lawyer practises. Every law society publishes a free online lookup. The result should show the lawyer's name, their current status, and any restrictions or discipline. The whole process takes a few minutes and should be done before paying any money or sharing sensitive information.

Why checking matters

• Only licensed lawyers can practise law. Someone who is suspended, retired or never licensed cannot legally give legal advice or represent clients.
• Licences are provincial. A lawyer licensed in Ontario is not automatically allowed to practise in Alberta or British Columbia.
• Licensed lawyers carry protections for clients. Lawyers in private practice must carry professional liability insurance, hold client money in regulated trust accounts and follow rules of professional conduct. Law societies also run compensation funds that can reimburse clients if a lawyer steals client money.
• Fraud happens. Scammers sometimes pose as lawyers, use real lawyers' names or create fake firm websites to collect fees or personal information.

Checking a licence is one step in choosing a lawyer. For the full process, see the guide to finding and hiring a lawyer in Canada.

How to Search a Law Society Directory

1. Identify the right province or territory. Use the law society where the lawyer says they practise and where the legal matter is based. If those are different, confirm the lawyer is licensed in the province whose law applies.
2. Go to the law society's official website. Type the address directly or search for the law society's name. Do not rely on a link in an email or text message from the person being checked.
3. Open the public directory. It may be called a lawyer directory, member directory, licensee search or "find a lawyer" tool.
4. Search by last name first. Then narrow by first name, city or firm if many results appear. Spelling variations and middle names can affect results.
5. Match the details. Compare the name, firm, city, phone number and email in the directory with the details the person provided. A mismatch may mean the contact details are fake even if the name belongs to a real lawyer.
6. Check status and restrictions. Confirm the lawyer is currently entitled to practise and note any conditions or restrictions.
7. Look for discipline history. Many law societies list past hearings on the lawyer's directory profile or in a separate section of the website.
8. Contact the law society if anything is unclear. Law society staff can confirm a lawyer's status by phone or email.

If the lawyer does not appear

A missing result does not always mean something is wrong. The person may be licensed under a different first name, may have recently changed their name, or may be licensed in a different province. Ask the person for their full licensed name and the law society they belong to, then search again. If they still cannot be found, contact the law society before going any further.

Law Society Lookup by Province and Territory

British Columbia update

BC's Legal Professions Act creates a single regulator, Legal Professions BC, for lawyers, notaries and licensed paralegals. The Supreme Court of British Columbia upheld the law in April 2026, and the transition from the Law Society of BC is ongoing. British Columbians should use whichever regulator's website is current when they search.

Lawyers licensed in more than one province

Some lawyers hold licences in several provinces, especially near provincial borders or in national firms. Each licence is listed separately with each law society. Mobility rules between law societies also allow limited temporary work in another province, but for an ongoing matter it is best to confirm the lawyer is licensed where the matter is based.

How to Read the Results

Law society directories use slightly different wording, but most show the same core information.

Status

• Practising, active or entitled to practise: the lawyer can currently provide legal services.
• Non-practising or inactive: the person is still a member but cannot currently provide legal services to the public.
• Retired: the person has stopped practising.
• Suspended: the lawyer is temporarily prohibited from practising, often because of discipline or failing to meet an administrative requirement such as paying fees or filing reports.
• Disbarred, revoked or permitted to resign: the person is no longer a lawyer.

Only a lawyer with active, practising status should be hired.

Restrictions and conditions

Some lawyers are allowed to practise only under certain conditions. Examples include being barred from handling client trust money, being limited to certain practice areas or being required to work under supervision. Restrictions do not always mean serious misconduct, but they are worth understanding before hiring. Ask the lawyer about them directly.

Discipline history

Many law societies publish discipline decisions, hearing notices and summaries. Decisions from law society tribunals are also often available free on CanLII, Canada's public legal information database. A single minor issue years ago may not be a concern. Repeated findings, or findings involving dishonesty or client money, deserve serious weight.

Contact information

The directory usually lists the lawyer's firm, address and phone number. When contacting the lawyer, use these official details rather than contact information from an unsolicited email, ad or social media message.

Specialist certification (Ontario)

The Law Society of Ontario's directory also shows whether a lawyer is a Certified Specialist in a practice area. Most other provinces have no equivalent designation, so experience should be confirmed by asking. The questions to ask a lawyer before hiring can help.

Checking Paralegals, Notaries and Immigration Consultants

• Ontario paralegals appear in the Law Society of Ontario's Lawyer and Paralegal Directory, alongside lawyers.
• Quebec notaries can be checked through the Chambre des notaires du Québec directory.
• BC notaries are listed by the BC regulator for notaries.
• Immigration consultants must be licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, which has its own public register.

For a full explanation of what each of these professionals can do, see lawyer vs paralegal vs notary in Canada.

Warning Signs of a Fake or Unlicensed Lawyer

• The person cannot be found in any law society directory.
• The phone number or email does not match the official directory listing.
• Communication only happens through personal email accounts, messaging apps or social media.
• Payment is requested by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards, or into a personal bank account.
• There is pressure to pay immediately or keep the matter secret.
• The person guarantees a result, such as a guaranteed visa or a guaranteed court win.
• The firm website is new, has no physical address or uses a name very similar to a real firm.

If something seems wrong, stop all payments and contact the relevant law society. Suspected fraud can also be reported to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it free to check a lawyer's licence?

Yes. Every law society directory in Canada is free and open to the public.

Can I see complaints made against a lawyer?

Generally, only complaints that lead to formal discipline proceedings are public. Complaints that are investigated and closed without discipline are usually confidential.

What if my lawyer was suspended partway through my case?

Contact the law society right away. In many cases, the law society or a court-appointed custodian arranges for client files and trust money to be transferred to another lawyer.

Does a lawyer need a separate licence for each practice area?

No. A licensed lawyer can practise in any area of law in their province. It is still wise to choose someone with real experience in the type of matter involved. See the guide to what lawyers cost for how experience affects fees.

Ready to build a shortlist? Search LawyerDirectoryCanada.ca by practice area, province and city, then confirm each lawyer with the law society before booking a consultation.

Sources

• Updates and timeline: single legal regulator legislation, Law Society of British Columbia
• Legal Professions Act transition, Legal Professions BC
• Paralegal fact sheet, Law Society of Ontario