Verification
All lawyers must complete verification before their profile goes live. The process has 5 steps and varies slightly by jurisdiction. Most UK solicitors complete verification in under 24 hours thanks to automated SRA/BSB number lookup.
Verification Steps
Navigate to esolicitors.com/lawyer/verify after creating your account.
Step 1: Regulatory Registration
Enter your registration number. The platform auto-detects the format:
| Number Format | Auto-Action |
|---|---|
| 6–7 digits (SRA format) | Instant SRA Public Register lookup |
| 5–6 digits (BSB format) | BSB Barristers' Register lookup |
| US state bar format | API lookup (CA, NY, TX, FL, IL) or manual review |
| International | Manual review by compliance team |
If auto-verification succeeds, you receive "Registration Verified" status immediately. If the lookup fails or your number is non-standard, your registration goes to the manual review queue - typically reviewed within 1 business day.
US attorneys: You can add multiple state bar admissions. Specify which states you are admitted to practise in, and provide your bar number for each state. The platform supports all 50 states.
Step 2: Practising Certificate
Upload your current practising certificate (or equivalent):
- UK solicitors: SRA practising certificate (PDF or JPG, max 10MB)
- UK barristers: BSB practising certificate
- US attorneys: State bar admission certificate / current bar card
- International: Current practising certificate issued by your regulatory body
The compliance team reviews uploaded certificates within 1–2 business days. You will receive an email notification when approved.
Step 3: Photo ID
Upload a government-issued photo ID:
- Passport (preferred)
- Driving licence
- National identity card
The ID is reviewed manually by the compliance team. This step verifies your identity matches your regulatory registration.
Step 4: PII Insurance Certificate
Upload your current Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) certificate:
- Must be in date
- Must show your name (or firm name if firm-level cover)
- Must show the insured amount
- Minimum cover: as required by your regulatory body
UK solicitors: SRA minimum qualifying insurance applies (£2m cover for most firms). UK barristers: Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF) cover certificate accepted. US attorneys: State bar minimum requirements apply.
Step 5: Proof of Address
Upload a proof of address document dated within the last 3 months:
- Bank statement
- Utility bill
- Official government letter
Verification Levels
As you complete each step, your verification level increases:
| Level | Steps Completed | Badge |
|---|---|---|
| None | Account created only | No badge |
| Basic | Registration verified | Blue badge |
| Standard | Registration + certificate + ID | Teal badge |
| Enhanced | All 5 steps complete | Gold badge |
Enhanced verification is displayed prominently on your public profile. Clients can filter search results by verification level.
Verification Status
Your account can have one of four verification statuses:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Documents submitted, awaiting admin review |
| Verified | Fully verified - profile is live |
| Paused | Temporarily suspended (e.g., PII expired). Must resolve before taking new matters |
| Rejected | Verification failed. See the rejection reason and re-submit |
Jurisdiction Badges
Your profile displays jurisdiction badges showing where you are verified to practise:
- UK Verified - Confirmed via SRA/BSB register
- US [State] Verified - Confirmed via state bar API
- International Verified - Confirmed by compliance team
Clients see these badges on your public profile and in search results.
Maintaining Verification
Your verification may be paused if:
- Your practising certificate expires - upload your renewal as soon as you receive it
- Your PII insurance lapses - upload your renewed certificate immediately
- Your regulatory status changes - notify compliance@esolicitors.com
You will receive email reminders before any expiry date.
Contact
For verification questions: compliance@esolicitors.com