How to Verify if a Lawyer is Registered and Active in Turkey

Feride Babalı
Jul 10, 2025
3 min read

When seeking legal assistance in Turkey, it’s crucial to ensure that the lawyer you are dealing with is officially registered and authorized to practice. The most reliable way to verify this is by checking the Bar Association Registry (Baro Levhası), which can be accessed online via the local bar associations or the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (Türkiye Barolar Birliği, TBB).

Below, we explain the step-by-step process to verify a lawyer’s status and avoid potential fraud or unauthorized legal services.

1. Using the Bar Association Registry (Baro Levhası)

The Baro Levhası is an official digital database that lists all lawyers registered with a specific provincial bar or the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. It contains the lawyer’s:

Full name
Registration number
Affiliated bar association
Contact details
Current status (active or inactive)

By searching the registry with the lawyer’s name, surname, registration number, or bar affiliation, you can quickly verify whether they are authorized to practice and obtain their official contact information.

🔗 Union of Turkish Bar Associations Lawyer Search: https://www.barobirlik.org.tr/AvukatArama

2. Online Verification Steps

There are several official platforms you can use to confirm a lawyer’s status:

a) TBB’s Lawyer Search Tool

Go to the Union of Turkish Bar Associations’ official Lawyer Search Page.
Enter the lawyer’s name, surname, registration number, or bar association.
View up-to-date information about their registration and contact details.

b) Local Bar Association Registries

Most large bar associations maintain their own online Baro Levhası portals. Examples include:

Each provincial bar has a similar system, making it easy to verify a lawyer’s credentials anywhere in Turkey.

3. QR Code and Electronic Document Verification

Some bar associations, such as the Istanbul Bar Association, issue official QR-coded documents confirming a lawyer’s registration or activity status.

Visit the relevant bar’s document verification page.
Scan the QR code or enter the verification number.
The official PDF document confirming the lawyer’s registration will open.

For example: Istanbul Bar Document Verification.

4. UYAP and E-Devlet Verification

In addition to bar registries, the National Judiciary Informatics System (UYAP) and e-Devlet (Turkey’s e-Government Portal) provide secure verification options:

UYAP: Lawyers’ case files and identities can be verified through UYAP SMS services or via the online portal using their T.C. identity number and case details.
e-Devlet: Through the UYAP Baro Portal, users can verify bar and lawyer information after logging in with official identification.

5. Why Verification Matters

Confirming a lawyer’s registration is not just a formality — it ensures that you are dealing with a licensed professional bound by:

Ethical standards
Professional responsibility
Disciplinary oversight by the bar association

Engaging unregistered individuals for legal services carries serious risks, including invalid legal representation and potential financial or legal harm.

6. Quick Summary

Use the TBB Lawyer Search Tool or your local bar’s registry to verify registration.
If you receive a QR-coded document, confirm its authenticity via the bar’s document verification page.
Use UYAP or e-Devlet for secure government-backed verification.
Always confirm a lawyer’s status before signing a power of attorney or engaging their services.

By following these steps, you can safely verify a lawyer’s registration and active status in Turkey, protecting yourself from unauthorized practice and ensuring reliable legal assistance.