About the Bar
All persons authorized to practice law in this state are required to be members.
The Bar has strict codes of ethics and discipline that are enforced by the Supreme Court of Georgia through the State Bar's Office of the General Counsel. Membership dues and other contributions help the Bar provide programs that are mutually beneficial to its members and the general public.
Atlanta Office
(Two blocks from CNN,
Philips Arena, Centennial Park)
104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 527-8700
(800) 334-6865
FAX: (404) 527-8717 |
Tifton Office
(Across from Courthouse)
244 E. Second St. (31794)
P.O. Box 1390
Tifton, Georgia 31793-1390
(229) 387-0446/0455
(800) 330-0446
FAX: (229) 382-7435
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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.
ETHICS
Georgia lawyers are bound by strict rules of ethics in all of their professional dealings. The Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct help define a lawyer's obligations to clients, to the judicial system, and to the public.
Although the Supreme Court of Georgia retains ultimate authority to regulate the legal profession, the State Bar of Georgia's Office of the General Counsel serves as the Court's arm to investigate and prosecute claims that a lawyer has violated the ethics rules.
The Rules of Professional Conduct are found at Part IV, Chapter 1 of the Bar Rules. Part IV, Chapter 2 contains the procedural rules for disciplinary actions against lawyers. In addition to the Rules, the Bar and the Supreme Court periodically have issued Formal Advisory Opinions that clarify a lawyer's obligations in certain situations. A complete list of Formal Advisory Opinions follows Part IV, Chapter 3 of the Bar Rules.
Lawyers who would like to discuss an ethics dilemma with a member of the Office of the General Counsel staff should contact the Lawyer Helpline at 404-527-8720 or 800-334-6865. Members of the public who believe that a Georgia lawyer has violated the rules of ethics should contact the Bar's Consumer Assistance Program at 800-334-6865. |