How to verify an advocate in Kenya

Why verification matters

Anyone can call themselves a "lawyer." Only a person admitted to the Roll of Advocates and holding a current Practising Certificate issued by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) may legally perform reserved advocate work in Kenya — appearing in court, drawing legal documents for reward, and giving legal advice for reward.

Engaging someone who is not a current advocate can mean void documents, no privilege, and money lost. It takes two minutes to check.

What you are checking for

1. Admission — the person is on the Roll of Advocates maintained by the LSK.
2. Current practising status — they hold a Practising Certificate that is valid for the current year.
3. Standing — they are not suspended, struck off, or under an active disciplinary order that restricts their practice.

Step-by-step: verify an advocate via the LSK

1. Get the advocate's full name and, if possible, their LSK number or firm. Ask the advocate directly — a legitimate advocate will give this willingly.
2. Search the LSK Roll of Advocates. The Law Society of Kenya publishes the Roll and the list of advocates with current Practising Certificates on its official website. Search by name.
3. Confirm the Practising Certificate is current. Practising Certificates are renewed annually. A person can be on the Roll (admitted for life) but not have a current certificate — in which case they cannot practise this year.
4. Check for suspensions or orders. The LSK and the Advocates Complaints Commission publish disciplinary actions. If the advocate is suspended or struck off, they cannot act for you.
5. Match the details. The name, firm and contact details the advocate gave you should match what the LSK publishes. If anything is off, ask before you pay.

Red flags

• The person will not give you their full name or LSK number.
• They are not on the Roll, or their Practising Certificate is not current.
• They ask for payment "to be admitted" or "to get a certificate" — these are personal obligations of the advocate, not the client.
• The firm name or contact details do not match the LSK record.

How Wakili Link handles this for you

Every advocate on Wakili Link is checked for bar admission, practising-certificate status, professional indemnity cover and references before they become eligible for referrals. We re-check status periodically and can suspend an advocate's access to referrals if their standing changes. You can still verify any advocate independently using the steps above — we encourage it.

Wakili Link is an online service operated by AI PRO LTD. It is a technology platform, not a law firm, and does not itself provide legal advice or representation.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. The LSK is the authoritative source for the Roll of Advocates and Practising Certificates in Kenya.