Hi, JR.   ethicalEsq mentioned The [Illinois] Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission in our Sept. 2003 post.  It appears to be an excellent site, offering web access to Disciplinary Decisions (searchable, updated daily), and New Filings, as well as a Lawyer Search function, that allows consumers to find out if an attorney has been disciplined, is a member in good standing, and has reported having malpractice insurance.   Visitors are also told:

What Information Can the ARDC Give Me About an Attorney?
 
You may call or come in person to either our Chicago or Springfield offices and we can give you an attorney’s registration information, such as name, law firm, business address and telephone number, and the date the attorney was first licensed to practice in Illinois. We can tell you if the attorney is currently registered and authorized to practice law (”good standing”), if the attorney has been disciplined in the past and if there are any pending formal complaints. The fact that a request for an investigation was filed, and whether an investigation is closed or pending, is confidential and will not be disclosed.

Clearly, this is a site that could be an a good model for other States.
 
Trying out the Lawyer Serach, I was surprised to discover that there was no Evan Schaeffer listed as a member of the Illinois Bar.  However, by searching for ”Schaeffer,” I discovered that the multi-weblog-editor and lawyer is actually named “T. Evan Schaeffer,” a fact barely acknowledged at his law firm website.  How bad could that T-word be, if Lawyer Schaeffer prefers “Evan”?

Hi, JR.   ethicalEsq mentioned The [Illinois] Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission in our Sept. 2003 post.  It appears to be an excellent site, offering web access to Disciplinary Decisions (searchable, updated daily), and New Filings, as well as a Lawyer Search function, that allows consumers to find out if an attorney has been disciplined, is a member in good standing, and has reported having malpractice insurance.   Visitors are also told:

What Information Can the ARDC Give Me About an Attorney?
 
You may call or come in person to either our Chicago or Springfield offices and we can give you an attorney’s registration information, such as name, law firm, business address and telephone number, and the date the attorney was first licensed to practice in Illinois. We can tell you if the attorney is currently registered and authorized to practice law (”good standing”), if the attorney has been disciplined in the past and if there are any pending formal complaints. The fact that a request for an investigation was filed, and whether an investigation is closed or pending, is confidential and will not be disclosed.

Clearly, this is a site that could be an a good model for other States.
 
Trying out the Lawyer Serach, I was surprised to discover that there was no Evan Schaeffer listed as a member of the Illinois Bar.  However, by searching for ”Schaeffer,” I discovered that the multi-weblog-editor and lawyer is actually named “T. Evan Schaeffer,” a fact barely acknowledged at his law firm website.  How bad could that T-word be, if Lawyer Schaeffer prefers “Evan”?

David:

What do you think about the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission site?

http://www.iardc.org/index.html

I think it is pretty good, but I would like to know your opinion.

David:

What do you think about the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission site?

http://www.iardc.org/index.html

I think it is pretty good, but I would like to know your opinion.