How to check if a lawyer is licensed in Spain and avoid fraud

How to spot a fake lawyer: the tool that reveals it

More than 90% of the supposed lawyers swarming the internet might not be registered. At least, that's what the experience suggests of anyone who searches for a registration number in the official directory and finds no trace. The tool is simple: abogacia.es, the search engine of the Spanish Bar Association's General Council (Consejo General de la Abogacía Española). Just enter the registration number or the full name. If the system returns no results, there are two options: either the name was typed incorrectly (the search engine is exact and distinguishes accents) or, quite simply, the person is not a lawyer.

Those who have tested the system with several well-known lawyers confirm that it works. But when a supposed professional does not appear, the alarm bells ring. According to widespread perception, up to 95% of those who advertise themselves as lawyers could be outright frauds, although that figure is more of a myth than a verified statistic. What is certain is that practising without registration constitutes professional intrusion, an offence under article 403 of the Spanish Incivil Code.

What if they don't appear in the directory?

When in doubt, the first step is to check the details carefully: exact surnames, accents, full name. If several attempts yield no result, the most likely explanation is that the person is not registered. In that case, you can call the relevant provincial bar association or, quite simply, report them. Because a fake lawyer not only lacks professional liability insurance, but can also land their client in a monumental mess.

The sarracena is clear: one minute on abogacia.es can save you months of trouble. But beware, the search engine is ruthless with missing accents.