Why verify an advocate at all?
Only advocates enrolled with a State Bar Council may practise law in India (Advocates Act 1961, s.29), and practising without enrolment is a criminal offence (s.45).
Fake advocates are a real problem. The Bar Council of India removed 107 fake advocates from the Delhi roll between 2019 and October 2024, and the Bar Council of Delhi publishes a list of enrolment numbers obtained with fake or forged law degrees — some going back decades. Long practice alone does not prove someone is genuine.
Being enrolled is not the whole story either. A suspended advocate cannot practise in any court in India while the suspension lasts (s.35(4)), even though their name stays on the roll.
What does an advocate’s enrolment number look like?
The usual pattern is state code / serial number / year of enrolment — but the exact format differs from state to state.
| State Bar Council | Example format |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra & Goa | MAH/1234/2015 |
| Delhi | D/1234/2010 (some older numbers have a letter after the serial, e.g. D/635-R/1997) |
| Karnataka | KAR/1234/2012 |
| Uttar Pradesh | UP12345/12 (no slash after “UP”, 2-digit year) |
| Telangana | TS/9/1999 |
| Gujarat | G/1234/1990 |
The prefix tells you which State Bar Council to check. That may not be the state where the advocate practises: advocates can transfer their enrolment (s.18), and an advocate enrolled in any state may appear in courts anywhere in India (s.30).
How to check an advocate online, state by state
Always start from the council’s official website. The Bar Council of India’s list of State Bar Councils gives the correct address for each one.
| State Bar Council | How to check | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Enrolment Status Search by: Enrolment number and year | Name, enrolment date, and whether the licence is marked fake, removed, cancelled or suspended |
| Karnataka | Membership Details (homepage) Search by: Name, roll number or place of practice | Enrolment number and member status |
| Uttar Pradesh | Advocate On Roll Search by: Enrolment number | Name, address, district and enrolment date — no suspension status |
| Telangana | Search by enrolment number Search by: Enrolment number, name or bar association | Enrolment details and status |
| Tamil Nadu & Puducherry | Advocate Search Search by: Enrolment number or name — you must give your own name, mobile number (OTP) and a reason | Results appear after OTP verification |
| Gujarat | Practice Verification Status (partial) Search by: Enrolment number | Name, district and whether the practice verification form was submitted — not suspension |
| Maharashtra & Goa | No public search | Contact the office: 2nd Floor, High Court Extension, Fort, Mumbai 400032 · barcouncilmahgoa@gmail.com |
| West Bengal | No public search | Contact the office: City Civil Court Building, 7th Floor, 2 & 3 K.S. Roy Road, Kolkata 700001 · westbengalbarcouncil@gmail.com |
| Bar Council of India | No public advocate search | Useful for its official list of State Bar Council websites, and for complaints |
At least one website that search engines show as a Bar Council’s official site currently redirects to an unrelated domain. Reach the council through the Bar Council of India’s list of State Bar Councils, not through a search result.
What should you check on the record?
- The name matches the person you are dealing with — including the father’s or husband’s name where it is shown
- The enrolment number matches what they gave you, and the prefix matches the council
- The status is clear — nothing marked suspended, removed, cancelled or fake
- Certificate of Practice — an advocate also needs a valid, verified Certificate of Practice (BCI Verification Rules 2015, Rule 5), renewed every 5 years. Advocates on a published “non-practising” list may not appear in any court (Rule 21.1). If you are unsure, ask to see it
What if there is no online search, or no status shown?
Email or write to the State Bar Council’s Secretary. Give the advocate’s full name and enrolment number, and ask whether they are on the roll, hold a valid Certificate of Practice, and are free of any suspension or removal order.
Can you check which cases an advocate has handled?
Partly. On eCourts (and eCourts High Court services) you can search cases by advocate name or bar registration number — see our eCourts guide. This shows the number is used on real court filings. It does not prove the advocate is in good standing today: a suspended advocate’s past cases still appear.
For the Supreme Court, only an Advocate-on-Record can file cases. The Supreme Court website has an Advocate-on-Record search and current list.
What are the red flags?
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| No enrolment number, or the name doesn’t match | A genuine advocate gives both without hesitation |
| The prefix doesn’t match the claimed council | The prefix identifies the State Bar Council that holds the enrolment |
| Record shows suspended, removed, cancelled or “fake” | A suspended advocate cannot practise anywhere in India (s.35(4)) |
| An “agent” offers you a lawyer for a commission | At court gates, offices or railway stations. Since 2023, courts and district authorities can publish lists of such touts (s.45A) |
| A private “arbitration” or “tribunal” outside a real court | In 2024 Gujarat police arrested a man who ran a fake arbitration “court” for years |
| Arrest threats over a phone or video call | Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 — see our digital arrest scam guide |
How do you complain about an advocate?
Misconduct complaints go to the State Bar Council where the advocate is enrolled. Its disciplinary committee can reprimand, suspend, or remove the advocate from the roll (s.35(3)). The Bar Council of India’s website explains the complaint procedure, and several State Bar Councils (Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh) have complaint pages.
How does Legal Setu verify its lawyers?
Every advocate on Legal Setu is checked against State Bar Council records before onboarding. Our Lawyer Verification Policy explains what we check — and what verification does not guarantee.
Official sources
- Bar Council of India — list of State Bar Councils; complaints against advocates
- eCourts Services — case search by advocate name or bar registration number
- Supreme Court of India — Advocates-on-Record