When you need legal help, it’s important to make sure your lawyer is genuine and licensed. Unfortunately, there are many cases in Pakistan where people who were not properly licensed or had fake credentials claimed to be advocates.

This guide walks you through exactly how you can verify a lawyer’s licence or registration in Pakistan, region by region, what to check, why it matters, and what to do if something seems wrong.

Why Verification Matters

• It ensures the lawyer is registered with the appropriate Bar Council and has the right to practice.
• It protects you from fraudulent practitioners with fake degrees or licences.
• It gives you peace of mind about your legal representation.
• Some licences can be suspended or cancelled even after registration (e.g., for misconduct).

Key Regulatory Bodies to Know

Here are the main bodies that regulate lawyer licensing in Pakistan:

• Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) — Federal level regulatory body under the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973.
• Provincial Bar Councils (for each province):
  • Punjab Bar Council (PbBC)
  • Sindh Bar Council (SBC)
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council (KPBC)
  • Balochistan Bar Council (BBC)
  • Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) — for Islamabad Capital Territory.
• These bodies maintain rolls or lists of enrolled advocates and may provide verification tools.

Step-by-Step Guide to Verifying a Lawyer’s Licence in Pakistan

Step 1: Ask the Lawyer for Credentials

Ask the lawyer:

• Their enrolment number (registration number) with the relevant Bar Council.
• Which Bar Council they’re enrolled with and from which year.
• Copy/photo of their licence (or enrolment certificate).
• Their law degree/qualification (LLB, etc) and university.

Step 2: Check Online Verification (if available)

Many Bar Councils provide online verification tools. For example:

• The Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) offers a “Lawyers Verification” portal.
• The Sindh Bar Council has an “Advocate Verification” section.
• The Punjab Bar Council’s portal includes verification and enrolment systems via their “Q-Sahulat” portal.
  So you should visit the website of the relevant provincial Bar Council and use their verification/search tool.

Step 3: Verify Through the Roll of Advocates

If there’s no robust online tool, you can:

• Visit the Bar Council’s office or ask them via email/phone to check if the lawyer’s name/enrolment number is on the roll.
• Ensure the lawyer is active (i.e., their licence hasn’t been suspended or cancelled). For example, licences have been cancelled in Punjab when fake degrees were discovered.
• Confirm the lawyer is registered for the correct jurisdiction (district courts, high courts) because sometimes different licences exist for different court levels.

Step 4: Verify Credentials & Degree (optional but wise)

Since fake degrees have been a big problem:

• Confirm the LLB or other law qualification is from a recognised institution. The university should be recognised by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) or relevant authority.
• Check if the Bar Council has verified the degree. Councils in some provinces are actively verifying degrees.
• If something seems off (e.g., very short programme, unknown university), raise concerns.

Step 5: Check for Disciplinary Actions

Even if a lawyer’s licence is genuine, they may have had disciplinary actions:

• Look for notices on the Bar Council’s website about suspensions or cancellations. Example: A licence was suspended by the Punjab Bar Council for harassment allegations.
• You may ask the lawyer to confirm they have no ongoing disciplinary proceedings.

Step 6: Get Everything in Writing & Document Your Verification

• After you’ve verified, keep a record: screenshots of the Bar Council verification, copies of enrolment number, lawyer’s details.
• If a dispute arises later, you’ll have proof you did your due diligence.

What to Do If Verification Fails or Something is Wrong

• If the lawyer is not found in the Bar Council’s roll/list, avoid engaging them for serious legal matters.
• If you discover the degree or licence is fake or the person is practising improperly, you can lodge a complaint with the relevant Bar Council. E.g., the PBC or provincial council may cancel the licence and take action.
• Consider seeking a different lawyer whose credentials check out.