Before an attorney's page goes live
- Identity. A government ID and a live selfie, verified by an independent provider; the name on the ID must match the application.
- Bar admission. Each admission the attorney lists is checked by a reviewer against the state bar's public directory. A bar number claimed by more than one applicant blocks approval.
- EOIR. The attorney's EOIR registration number is required, and the attorney is checked against EOIR's list of disciplined practitioners.
- Sworn disclosures. Under penalty of perjury (28 U.S.C. § 1746), the attorney declares, body by body, whether they have ever been disciplined, sanctioned, suspended or listed by their state bar, any other state bar, EOIR/BIA, federal courts, USCIS/DHS, or any government sanctions or exclusion list, and whether they have any criminal conviction. Any "yes" requires an explanation, and the reviewer must record that it was reviewed.
- Photo. A current professional photo, declared to be a likeness of the attorney.
A reviewer must confirm each of these before approval; the system refuses approval otherwise. Where something is unclear, the reviewer sends a request for evidence and the attorney answers on a one-time form, under penalty of perjury, with documents attached.
After approval
Attorneys must notify Proxenos Legal within 7 days of any change in license status or any new complaint or proceeding. Attorneys re-attest their standing annually. Clients can report a consultation. Any report, and any information that reaches us about discipline, triggers a review and may lead to immediate suspension.
Advertising rules
An attorney's page is attorney advertising. Attorneys attest that their profile complies with the advertising rules of each bar they belong to, and Proxenos Legal flags language such as "expert", "specialist", "certified" or any guarantee of outcome for review before approval.
Insurance and registrations
Attorneys tell us, under penalty of perjury, whether they carry professional liability insurance and which state registrations they hold. Proxenos Legal reviews these as part of verification. They are held by Proxenos Legal and the attorney and are not published.
What Proxenos Legal does not do
Proxenos Legal does not provide legal services, does not share in attorneys' fees, does not accept payment for directory placement, and does not record consultations. Every booking is screened against the US Treasury's sanctions lists, without exception.