Before you hire an immigration attorney, you can look up their bar record, disciplinary history, and professional credentials in a few minutes using free public tools. In Texas, attorney discipline is public record. Here is how to check it and what to look for.
The Texas State Bar Attorney Search
The Texas State Bar maintains a public directory of all licensed attorneys in the state. Go to texasbar.com and use the “Find a Lawyer” tool. Enter the attorney’s name or bar number. The result shows:
- Current license status (active, inactive, suspended, disbarred)
- Year of admission to the Texas bar
- Whether the attorney holds a Board Certification in any specialty area
- Disciplinary history — any public sanctions are listed here
An active license in good standing is the minimum. An attorney who has been publicly reprimanded, suspended, or disbarred will show that status in the directory. If you see a suspension or public reprimand, ask specifically what it was for before proceeding.
Texas Board Certification
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys in 24 specialty areas, including Immigration and Nationality Law. Board Certification means the attorney passed a written exam, demonstrated substantial experience in the specialty, received favorable evaluations from other attorneys and judges, and met ongoing continuing education requirements.
Not all immigration attorneys are Board Certified. Board Certification is optional and requires active effort to earn and maintain. Fewer than 5% of Texas attorneys hold any Board Certification. If an attorney claims Board Certification in Immigration and Nationality Law, verify it directly on the Texas State Bar directory — it will appear on their profile if it is current.
The State Bar Client Attorney Assistance Program (CAAP)
If you had a prior experience with an attorney that you believe was improper — overcharging, lack of communication, failure to file documents on time — you can file a complaint with the State Bar’s Client Attorney Assistance Program. CAAP handles fee disputes and grievances. If the State Bar finds that an attorney violated the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the disciplinary action becomes part of the public record.
You can search whether an attorney has any prior disciplinary action — not just current status — through the State Bar’s grievance information page. Past sanctions, even resolved ones, are listed in the online search results under the attorney’s profile.
Checking Federal Court Admissions
Immigration court cases can involve federal appellate practice before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. If your case has reached or may reach that level, verify that the attorney is admitted to practice in the relevant federal courts. Admission to the Texas State Bar does not automatically confer admission to federal courts — those require separate applications.
You can verify Fifth Circuit admissions on the Fifth Circuit website under attorney admissions.
What Third-Party Ratings Actually Measure
Avvo, Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell all provide attorney ratings. These are useful as starting points but have limits. Avvo ratings are algorithmic — they weight bar disciplinary history, years of experience, and peer endorsements, but they can be gamed by attorneys who actively solicit endorsements. Super Lawyers is a peer-nomination process. Martindale-Hubbell’s AV rating reflects peer evaluation of legal ability and ethical standards and has been around the longest.
None of these services replace checking the actual Texas State Bar disciplinary record. An attorney can have a high Avvo rating and still have a grievance filed or a disciplinary matter in progress that does not yet appear in third-party databases.
Questions to Ask Directly
After checking credentials, ask the attorney directly: Have you ever had a disciplinary complaint filed against you? Have you ever been suspended or publicly sanctioned by the State Bar? A good attorney will answer these questions directly. The public record is accessible anyway — what matters is whether they are forthcoming about it.
Also ask: How long have you practiced immigration law specifically? What percentage of your practice is immigration? Who else in your office will work on my case? These questions tell you more about day-to-day representation quality than any rating system.
About Adan G. Vega
Adan G. Vega has been Board-Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Immigration and Nationality Law for over three decades. His record is publicly verifiable on the Texas State Bar directory. The firm has practiced exclusively immigration law in Houston for over 45 years. Call (713) 527-9606 to schedule a consultation, or view our individual immigration services to see how we can help with your case.
