Verifying Lawyer Credentials via the Roll of Attorneys in the Philippines

(A practical guide for clients, HR officers, in-house counsel, journalists, and anyone who needs to confirm that a person is a bona fide Philippine lawyer)

1. Why bother verifying?

Legal validity. Only a lawyer whose name appears in the Roll of Attorneys may practice law, sign pleadings, appear in court, or use the title “Atty.” under Philippine rules.
Protection from fraud. Bogus “fixers” and suspended lawyers prey on unsuspecting clients.
Professional due diligence. Courts, banks, embassies, and companies often require proof that counsel is in good standing before recognising an act, opinion, or notarisation.

2. What exactly is the Roll of Attorneys?

Feature	Description
Legal basis	§ 1, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court; Bar Matter No. 850 (June 17 1997) on the Roll of Attorneys; In re Integration of the Philippine Bar (1967)
Custodian	Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC), Supreme Court of the Philippines
Nature	A permanent, official list of every person ever admitted to the Philippine Bar since 1901
Contents	Full name, Roll/IBP number, date of admission, address, and remarks (e.g., “Deceased,” “Suspended,” “Disbarred”)
Effect	Entry is constitutive: a lawyer’s rights and privileges begin only after signing the Roll and taking the Lawyer’s Oath before the Supreme Court

3. Where and how can you access it?

A. Online Supreme Court e-Roll Portal

The Supreme Court maintains a free public search engine (often called the “e-Roll”). You only need a surname or Roll/IBP number. The portal displays the lawyer’s:

Complete name (surname first)
Roll number and IBP lifetime membership number
Date of admission to the Bar
Status flag (e.g., Active, Voluntarily Inactive, Suspended, Disbarred, Deceased)

Tip: Record the exact spelling and roll number; namesakes are common.

B. Physical verification

Path	What to do
Supreme Court, Manila	Visit the OBC or the Supreme Court Library; request a certification.
Court of Appeals / Regional Trial Courts	Clerks of Court keep updated extracts of the Roll for local reference.
IBP National Office (Ortigas)	The Integrated Bar holds an alpha-numeric index cross-referenced with dues status.

Written certification from the OBC carries a dry seal and is signed by the Bar Confidant or her duly authorised deputy; it is accepted by courts and foreign missions.

4. Reading and interpreting the entry

Status shown	Meaning	Consequence
Active / In Good Standing	Dues paid, no pending penalties, MCLE (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education) compliant	May practice, sign pleadings, and notarise (if also a commissioned notary).
Voluntarily Inactive	Lawyer opted to pause practice (often for government or corporate work)	Cannot sign or appear in court; must reactivate first.
MCLE Non-compliant	Did not finish required credits within the compliance period	May appear only by leave of court and cannot be commissioned as notary.
Suspended / Disbarred	Subject to disciplinary sanction	Absolutely barred from practice during the period or permanently.
Deceased	Self-explanatory	Cannot act; beware of forged signatures.

5. Supplementary checks you SHOULD run

IBP Dues Clearance – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines issues official clearances; chronic non-payment can produce an automatic Not in Good Standing tag.
MCLE Certificate of Compliance/Exemption – Judges increasingly require the MCLE number on every pleading (B.M. No. 1922, effective 2022).
Notarial Commission – For notarised documents, ask for the lawyer’s latest “Commission as Notary Public” (issued by the Executive Judge where the lawyer’s office is located).
Court Records – If the portal flags “Suspended,” verify the exact order and duration in the Supreme Court’s G.R. or A.C. docket.
Law Firm or Company HR Letters – Cross-check the individual’s employment; some impostors borrow the identities of real lawyers.

6. Typical red flags

Red flag	Why it matters
Roll number missing or mismatched	Every Philippine lawyer has a unique sequential Roll number.
Generic e-mail addresses in pleadings	Supreme Court now requires official e-mail addresses in the Rules on E-Service (A.M. No. 19-10-20-SC).
Notary seal refers to a city outside lawyer’s IBP chapter	Notarial commissions are territorial; mismatch suggests forgery.
“Esq.” without “Atty.” + Roll number	Filipino lawyers rarely use “Esq.” officially.
Refusal to show IBP ID or MCLE card	Genuine practitioners usually have both.

7. How to report an impostor or erring lawyer

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (Commission on Bar Discipline) – File a verified complaint-affidavit.
Supreme Court (Office of the Bar Confidant) – For outright fraud (e.g., forged roll entries).
Office of the Prosecutor – If the act constitutes Estafa, Usurpation of Authority (Art. 177, Revised Penal Code), or violation of the Notarial Law.
Civil Action for Damages – Victims may sue for attorney’s fees, moral, and exemplary damages.

8. Common myths debunked

“If someone passed the Bar Exam they are automatically a lawyer.” False. They must still sign the Roll and take oath.
“Any IBP card means active practice.” Some inactive government lawyers retain IBP IDs annotated “Exempt from Dues.” Always read the fine print.
“A lawyer once suspended is gone forever.” Suspension may be temporary; always check if the order has been lifted.
“Lawyers can practise nationwide without conditions.” True for litigation, but not for notarisation, which is province-specific.

9. Data-privacy and ethical pointers

The Roll is a public document, yet use the data only for legitimate purposes (Data Privacy Act of 2012).
Do not publish personal addresses or contact numbers of lawyers online without consent.
Lawyers who discover outdated or incorrect Roll entries should promptly inform the OBC (B.M. No. 850).

10. Step-by-step quick-reference checklist

Get the lawyer’s full name (include middle name).
Search the Supreme Court e-Roll portal.
Note the Roll number, admission date, and status.
Ask for IBP ID and MCLE Certificate.
For notarised acts: verify notarial commission details (city, commission number, validity period).
For court appearances: match lawyer’s name on pleadings with e-Roll spelling; confirm that a formal Entry of Appearance or SPA bears the same Roll number.
Store a screen-capture or obtain an OBC certification for your records.

11. Practical illustrations

Scenario	Action
HR onboarding in-house counsel	Screen using e-Roll + IBP clearance; attach certification to 201 file.
Verifying a notary for a real-estate sale	Request new Notarial Commission order; ensure venue (province) matches property’s location.
Due diligence for an international arbitration	Secure OBC certification and MCLE compliance to present to foreign tribunal.
Suspected “fixer” at LTO claiming to be a lawyer	Check Roll; if absent, report to NBI Anti-Organized Crime Division for Usurpation of Authority.

12. Consequences of practising without being in the Roll

Contempt of court
Nullity of pleadings, contracts, or notarised documents
Criminal prosecution under Art. 177, Revised Penal Code
Administrative liability for officers who knowingly engage an unlicensed practitioner

13. Key take-aways

The Supreme Court Roll of Attorneys is the single authoritative proof of a Philippine lawyer’s existence and status.
Online search is free and takes seconds; official certifications are inexpensive and swift.
Always supplement the Roll check with IBP, MCLE, and notarial commission verification for complete due diligence.

DISCLAIMER

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific cases, consult a Philippine attorney in good standing and, where necessary, obtain official certifications from the Supreme Court or the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

By following the processes outlined above, individuals and institutions can confidently confirm a lawyer’s credentials, avoid fraudulent representation, and uphold the integrity of legal transactions in the Philippines.