Before I decide to work with a lawyer on a business transaction can I see his history?
Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at
8:55 am
I know all court records are "public" and while that might mean "if you come to the court and pay us money"… i know that is all easy if you know buy generic drugs the case information.
Is there a way to search the history of all cases from one attorney?
I am looking for somebody that would practice in San Diego County.
Attorney discipline is usually handled separately from the court, and those records often are available online.
This site might help you find California records related to attorneys:
http://www.courtreference.com/California-Courts-Online.htm
The California Bar Association can also probably help you:
http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member.aspx
and here is some info about getting those records:
http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/sbc_generic.jsp?cid=13469&id=23365
On the contrary, very few court records are public. You can’t just stroll into the clerk’s office and say "I want to see all of Joe Blow’s cases".
Even if you did, the court file will reveal very little about an attorney’s competence. It’s just a chron file with pleadings and court notes.
Besides, if it’s just a transaction, what do you care about his litigation skills?
Ask for references and about prior deals he has worked on. If he’s evasive or you get a bad feeling, talk to someone else.
The San Diego Bar Assn can refer you to certain specialists.
You should be more trusting after all it’s only 98.7 percent of the lawyers that give the rest of them a bad name.