SBN

Law & Legal abbreviation · Legal Profession

SBN
Stands forState Bar number
CategoriesLaw & Legal

SBN stands for State Bar number, a legal profession abbreviation.

Identification number assigned to each lawyer admitted by the State Bar of California, and by some other bars, that must appear in the caption of court filings. It lets courts and the public verify the lawyer's license and discipline record.

Example: The caption lists her as "Ana Ortiz (SBN 287654)" above the firm's address.

Usage notes

California Rules of Court require counsel's name, address, telephone number and State Bar number at the top of the first page of papers. Other states use labels such as Texas's "State Bar No." The State Bar's website shows each lawyer's license status by number.

More legal profession abbreviations

  • ODC – Office of Disciplinary Counsel
  • OGC – Office of General Counsel
  • PHV – Pro hac vice
  • QC – Queen's Counsel
  • RPC – Rules of Professional Conduct
  • SA – Summer associate
  • SC – Senior Counsel
  • SQE – Solicitors Qualifying Examination
  • SRA – Solicitors Regulation Authority
  • UBE – Uniform Bar Examination
  • ULC – Uniform Law Commission
  • UPL – Unauthorized practice of law

See all 46 legal profession abbreviations →

This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.