How to check a lawyer's license in Illinois
How to use the Illinois ARDC Lawyer Search, what "authorized to practice" means, and where discipline and malpractice insurance disclosures appear. Based on the ARDC Lawyer Search as it appeared on 14 September 2026. This is a guide to reading an official record, not legal advice.
Updated October 3, 2026 · No named lawyer review is recorded · AI-assisted content, not yet reviewed by a lawyer
Key points
- Illinois lawyers are looked up by name through the ARDC, not by bar number.
- The results table has an "Authorized to Practice" column: check it first.
- Each profile states whether the lawyer reported malpractice insurance and lists public discipline.
Who regulates lawyers in Illinois
Illinois lawyers register each year with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, known as the ARDC. Its Lawyer Search is the official record.
How to search
The search works by name. Enter the last name, and a first name if you have it. You can choose an exact or a sounds-like match on the last name, include former names, and narrow by status, city, state or county. There is no field for a registration number.
What the results show
The results table lists each lawyer's name, city, state and date admitted, and a column headed Authorized To Practice with Yes or No. That column is the quickest answer to the main question.
What the profile shows
Selecting a name opens a profile with the full licensed name, the registered business address, phone and email, the date admitted, the Illinois Registration Status, and a line on Malpractice Insurance that reports what the lawyer disclosed at registration. At the foot of the profile is the Public Record of Discipline and Pending Proceedings, which reads "None" when there is nothing to show.
Things to know
The ARDC notes that a change of registration status may not appear until the next business day. Address details are not shown for lawyers who are retired, inactive or deceased, or for those who never registered. A status such as "Not authorized to practice law as never registered with ARDC" means exactly that: the person is on the roll but may not practice in Illinois.
How TheLawyerWorld uses this record
This directory cannot be searched by number, so when a lawyer claims a Illinois profile here we search it by name and accept the match only when a single record fits; otherwise a person reviews it. A listing on this site is not a license check. An "Unclaimed profile" label means the details came from older public listings and nobody has confirmed them.
Before you rely on it
Official directories change their layout and wording. This guide describes the ARDC Lawyer Search as it appeared on 14 September 2026. If what you see differs, trust the official site. For anything the record does not answer, such as whether a lawyer may act in your type of matter, ask the regulator or the lawyer directly. Source: ARDC Lawyer Search.
Can I search for an Illinois lawyer by bar number?
No. The ARDC Lawyer Search is by name. Use the first and last name, then confirm you have the right person from the city and date admitted.
Does Illinois show whether a lawyer has malpractice insurance?
Yes. Each ARDC profile has a Malpractice Insurance line showing what the lawyer reported when registering.