The display of your search result will vary depending upon the type of search you request. For example:

• If you search by the bar number, you will receive information about only that attorney.
   
• If you know the first few letters of the attorney’s first or last name or firm and you are searching by ‘Begins with,’ ‘Contains’ or ‘Sounds like’, you will get a listing of all attorneys whose names match the criteria, and they will be listed in alphabetical order. Attorneys will be listed regardless of their status with the bar.
   
• If you search by criteria other than the attorney’s name or firm, the results will be randomly selected from the directory and displayed in that random order. The results will not be in alphabetical order. Please note: Beginning a new search using the same search criteria will not necessarily display the names in the same order as the results of your first search. Therefore, if you find an attorney or several attorneys you wish to contact, copy their contact information before executing a new search.
   
• All search results will be limited to 500 names.

At this time you cannot search by practice area. You will still see the attorney’s self-designated areas of practice. The State Bar of California’s Board of Governors limits search criteria to name, firm name, location/geography, certified legal specialization and language(s) spoken.

Yes, if the attorney whose results you are viewing has voluntarily posted a photo. Attorneys are not required to include a photo.

It is possible to search the online directory by a particular language either spoken by the attorney or a member of the law firm’s staff. Once your search is completed, attorneys who indicated that they or their employees speak your language will be displayed in random order. You may click on an attorney’s name to get all of their information.

• Access the directory of lawyer referral services
   
• Call the State Bar’s telephone line to assist you in locating the nearest lawyer referral service. The toll-free number for callers inside California is 1-866-442-2529 (1-866-44CALAW). Callers outside California can dial 1-415-538-2250.
   
• Access the list of lawyers certified as specialists by the State Bar in 11 practice areas.

You may search the online directory to find a specific attorney or an attorney meeting specific criteria, such as location or languages spoken.

Some attorneys have chosen to voluntarily provide the following additional information, which is not considered part of the official record and which has not been verified by the State Bar:

• links to firm web page
• languages spoken by the lawyer or the law firm employees
• a photo of the attorney
• legal practice area 

The State Bar provides information about California attorneys through its online directory. An attorney’s official State Bar record includes:

• name
• bar number
• contact information
• law school attended
• status of practice,
• legal specialty, if certified
• disciplinary history, if any
• sections membership

The Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE; JNE Commission), is an agency of the State Bar created by statute for the express purpose of evaluating judicial candidates nominated by the Governor. The language of the statute, Government Code section 12011.5, is mandatory. It provides that, prior to exercising their constitutional right to make judicial appointments, the Governor shall submit to JNE the names of all potential appointees or nominees for judicial office for evaluation of their judicial qualifications. The commission operates pursuant to rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the State Bar.

The role of the JNE Commission is to gather information about the candidates and to conduct a confidential evaluation of the judicial qualifications of candidates whose names have been submitted to the commission by the Governor and to report its findings, in absolute confidence, to the Governor.

The commission, in evaluating candidates, functions independently of the Board of Trustees of the State Bar. Board liaison attend the commission meetings periodically but do not participate in discussions, express opinions, or vote, and are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as commission members.