Verify an Immigration Lawyer in the US, UK, Canada, and NL: Quick Checks

A polished website, a confident voice note, a logo in an email signature—none of that proves someone is authorized to represent you.

When immigration is involved, acting without verification can be costly: money sent too early, sensitive documents shared too soon, or pressure that keeps you from slowing down long enough to check the basics.

Fast verification is not about paranoia. It is about reducing exposure before you pay, before you share personal records, and before you sign anything.

This article is about verification, not choosing a visa route or predicting outcomes.
Educational only. Not legal advice.

What you are verifying

Verification is a simple question: is this person who they say they are, and are they currently authorized to practise in the jurisdiction they claim.

You are typically verifying four things:

License or registration status
Whether the person appears as current/authorized in the official system for that jurisdiction.

Identity match
Whether the name you were given matches the name in the official listing, including spelling, middle names, and any alternate names.

Official contact footprint
Whether the contact details you are using align with what a legitimate practice normally shows: professional email, firm details, and a traceable presence beyond a single channel.

Scope clarity
Whether the person is clear about what they can do and what they cannot do, without overpromising. You are not judging legal strategy here—just looking for professional boundaries and basic transparency.

The four-step quick check framework

Use this framework every time, regardless of the country. If something fails at any step, do not argue—pause and verify again from an official source.

Step 1: Name match and identity basics

Before you search any register, collect the basics in writing:

• Full name exactly as they want it on the contract
• Claimed title and jurisdiction of practice
• Claimed firm name
• Claimed registration or license number, if they have one
• Professional email address and office location, if applicable

Then do a quick consistency scan:

• Does the spelling of the name stay the same across email, invoice, contract draft, and profile?
• Does the firm name stay the same, or does it subtly change?
• Are they using a personal email when they claim to be part of a firm?

You are not “catching” anyone. You are simply making sure you can run a clean check without guessing.

A small note that helps: a legitimate professional will usually understand why you want details in writing. If you feel rushed, that is a signal to slow the process down.

Step 2: Official register lookup

A serious professional should be findable through an official register or official professional directory in the jurisdiction they claim.

This is where you confirm:

• The person exists in the official system
• The status appears current/authorized in the register’s terms
• The jurisdiction matches what they told you

Do not rely on screenshots someone sends you. Do the lookup yourself.

How to use official registers safely

• Use the regulator’s or professional body’s official website, not a link forwarded to you.
• Double-check the site address carefully before entering any personal information.
• If a “directory” looks unusual, search for the regulator first and navigate from there.

If you cannot find the person, treat that as a verification failure until you can confirm their status through the official system.

Step 3: Firm and contact validation

This step answers a simple question: does the practice footprint match the claim.

You are looking for consistency, not perfection:

• Does the firm exist as described?
• Does the professional’s name appear associated with the firm in a reasonable way?
• Do the contact methods make sense for professional work?

Be cautious if communication is limited to informal channels only, or if there is no stable way to identify the firm beyond social media-style profiles.

A real professional should not be offended by basic verification. The goal is to confirm you are dealing with the right person in the right jurisdiction before you share anything sensitive.

Step 4: Contract and payment sanity checks

Before you pay or share sensitive documents, you want basic professional structure:

• A written engagement document or retainer agreement
• Clear scope of work in plain language
• Fee structure that is understandable
• A payment method that matches the firm’s documented billing details, plus receipts or invoices

If someone wants money first and details later, treat that as a verification trigger.

Country-by-country quick checks

The goal here is not to learn the entire system. It is to know where licensing typically sits and what to confirm quickly.

Registers and titles differ across countries. Treat the official register as the source of truth for what “authorized” means in that place.

United States quick checks

In the US, attorney licensing is typically state-based. That means a lawyer is generally licensed by one or more states, not by a single national attorney license.

What to do:

• Ask which state they are licensed in.
• Use that state’s official attorney lookup tool, often run by the state bar or state court system.
• Confirm the name, status, and any public discipline notes if shown.

What to watch:

• Vague answers like “I’m licensed in the US” with no state.
• A refusal to say which state they are admitted in.
• A name that cannot be found even with spelling variations.

United Kingdom quick checks

In the UK, you may hear titles like solicitor or barrister. They are different roles, and they appear in different official directories depending on the role.

Your objective is the same: confirm the person’s status using the appropriate official register for that professional category.

What to do:

• Ask whether they are a solicitor or a barrister.
• Use the official register associated with that title to confirm they are listed and authorized in the way the register describes.

What to watch:

• Someone using “solicitor” as a title but refusing to share registration details.
• A mismatch between the title they claim and the register where they should appear.
• Pressure to skip verification because “it’s complicated.”

Canada quick checks

In Canada, licensing is typically handled by provincial or territorial law societies. A lawyer is generally licensed in one or more provinces or territories, so the directory you use should match the province they name.

What to do:

• Ask which province or territory they are licensed in.
• Use that law society’s official lawyer directory to confirm name and status.

What to watch:

• “Licensed in Canada” with no province or territory.
• A lawyer claiming they can represent matters everywhere without clarifying where they are licensed.
• A directory result that looks close but does not match the name exactly.

Netherlands quick checks

In the Netherlands, a lawyer authorized to practise as an attorney is typically referred to as an advocaat. Verification is usually done via the official register for advocates, and in some cases you may also see listings connected to local bar structures.

What to do:

• Ask whether they are an advocaat and where they are registered.
• Use the official register for advocates in the Netherlands (and, where relevant, the local directory connected to that system) to confirm their listing and status.

What to watch:

• Someone calling themselves an “immigration lawyer” but not using or matching the advocaat registration system.
• An inability to provide a consistent professional identity when you attempt to verify.

Quick verification map

Country	Common title	What “licensed” usually means	Minimum fields to confirm	Verification trigger if missing
US	Attorney	Authorized to practise in one or more states	Full name, licensed state, current status	No state named, not found in official lookup
UK	Solicitor or barrister	Authorized under the relevant professional register	Full name, role title, register listing	Title claimed but no register match
Canada	Lawyer	Authorized by a provincial or territorial law society	Full name, province or territory, status	No province named, directory mismatch
Netherlands	Advocaat	Registered within the official advocate system	Full name, advocate listing, status	“Lawyer” claim without advocate register presence

Red flags as verification triggers

These are not proof of wrongdoing. They are signals that you should slow down and verify more carefully.

• Pressure to pay immediately before you receive anything in writing
• Guarantees or confident promises of outcomes
• Refusal to share a registration or license identifier when asked
• Payment requests that do not match the firm’s documented billing details, without a clear written explanation
• Communication only through messaging apps, with no stable professional email or office details
• Identity mismatch, including inconsistent name spellings, a firm that cannot be found, or conflicting contact details
• Rushed “sign now” behavior when you ask basic verification questions

If you notice one of these, pause. You do not need a confrontation. You just need a second, official confirmation before you move forward.

10-minute call script

Use this as a calm, neutral checklist. You do not need to sound suspicious. You just need clarity.

1. What is your full name as it appears in the official register?
2. Which jurisdiction are you currently licensed or registered in?
3. What is your registration or license number, if applicable?
4. What is your current status in the register, and where can I verify it?
5. What is the exact name of your firm, and what is your role there?
6. What professional email should I use for documents and billing?
7. What services are included in your engagement, and what is not included?
8. How do you handle client documents and identity checks securely?
9. What are your payment terms, and when do you invoice?
10. Who will be my day-to-day contact, and how do I reach you directly if needed?

If the answers are clear and consistent, verification is usually fast. If they dodge, rush, or get angry, that is useful information too.

Printable checklist

Step 1: Identity basics

• I have the full legal name in writing
• I have the claimed country and jurisdiction of practise
• I have the firm name in writing
• The name spelling is consistent across messages and documents

Step 2: Official register

• I searched the official register myself
• The listing matches the name I was given
• The jurisdiction matches what they claimed
• The status appears current/authorized in the register’s terms

Step 3: Firm and contact validation

• The firm exists as described
• The professional’s identity aligns with the firm footprint
• I have a professional email to use for formal communication
• The contact details are consistent and traceable

Step 4: Contract and payment sanity checks

• I received a written engagement agreement or equivalent
• Scope and fees are clear and readable
• Payment method matches the firm’s documented billing details
• I will receive an invoice or receipt tied to the engagement

Stop rule: If the name, jurisdiction, or status cannot be confirmed in an official register, pause. Do not pay, do not share sensitive documents, and verify again through official sources or regulator guidance for that jurisdiction.

Conclusion

Immigration decisions get stressful fast—and stress is exactly when people skip basic checks. The safest move is not to become suspicious of everyone. It’s to follow the same calm routine every time: get the name in writing, verify the license in the official register yourself, confirm the firm footprint, and only then talk money and documents.

If one step doesn’t hold up, you don’t need an argument. You just need a pause. Legitimate professionals are usually comfortable with verification because it protects both sides and keeps the case clean.

Think of this article as a “seatbelt system.” It won’t remove every risk, but it helps you avoid the most preventable losses: paying too early, oversharing sensitive records, and trusting claims you haven’t checked. Slow down, verify, and keep everything in writing—then decide with confidence.

For more information, see this official Government of Canada guidance:

While this page is Canada-specific, the verification principles are broadly useful: confirm authorization in an official register, insist on written scope and fees, and avoid pressure tactics.

FAQ

Is an immigration consultant the same as a lawyer?

Not always. In many places, “lawyer” is a protected professional title tied to a license or registration system. Some jurisdictions also have regulated non-lawyer representatives, while others restrict who can provide paid legal services.

If someone is not calling themselves a lawyer, verification still matters—confirm what they are authorized to do in that jurisdiction and what category they fall under.

What if I cannot find the person in the official register?

Pause. First, check spelling variations and ask for the exact name as listed in the register. If you still cannot find them, treat it as a verification failure until you can confirm their status through the official system.

What does active or practising usually indicate?

In many registers, “active” or “practising” generally suggests the person is currently authorized to work as a legal professional under that system. The exact meaning can vary, so focus on the practical point: the register should indicate the person is currently authorized rather than inactive or not permitted.

Also remember: authorization confirms status, not fit. It does not guarantee experience in your specific immigration route.

Can a firm’s staff speak for the lawyer?

Staff can handle scheduling and intake, but you should still be able to verify the professional’s identity and authorization independently and have a clear way to communicate formally with the responsible lawyer for key decisions and agreements.

Why do titles differ across countries?

Legal professions are organized differently across countries, and the titles reflect those systems. What matters for you is not the title itself, but whether the person is verifiably registered and authorized in the jurisdiction where they claim they can act.

What documents should I avoid sending before verification?

Avoid sending high-risk identity and financial documents before you confirm authorization and identity. In many cases, delay sharing items like passport scans, national ID documents, bank statements, or full civil records until you have confirmed who you are dealing with and you have a written engagement structure.

If you must share anything early, consider limiting it to low-risk information (for example, a general timeline summary) until verification is complete.

Can verification prevent every scam?

No. Verification reduces risk, but it cannot eliminate it entirely. The goal is to avoid the most preventable situations: paying too early, oversharing sensitive documents, and relying on unverified claims.

If someone is real and licensed, does that mean they are right for me?

Not necessarily. Licensing is a baseline. Fit, communication style, scope, fees, and transparency still matter. Verification simply ensures you are making that decision with a real, authorized professional.