Bar-compliant from day one, in every state.
PLLC or PC, by state
Some states require PLLC, some require PC for attorneys. We map each state to the correct entity type and file accordingly.
Bar pre-approval
Most state bars require pre-approval of the firm name + entity structure. We submit and coordinate the bar response.
Owner = active attorney
Every state requires PLLC members to be actively licensed attorneys in good standing. Disbarred or suspended members trigger dissolution risk.
Multi-state practice
Practicing in multiple jurisdictions? You need bar admission + foreign qualification in each. We track both.
Trust account setup
IOLTA trust account guidance per state bar. We don't hold client funds but we wire you to the right banking partners.
Annual bar + AR tracking
State bar dues + entity annual reports tracked together in BOS. One calendar, one renewal flow.
A clean handoff, in 4 steps.
Verify active bar status
We pull your status from the state bar to confirm good standing before forming the entity.
Submit firm name to bar
Most state bars pre-approve law-firm names. Naming conventions vary: some require partner names, some allow trade names.
File PLLC (or PC) with SOS
Once bar clears, we file articles with the Secretary of State. Some states require certified bar approval letter at filing.
Multi-state setup if needed
Add foreign qualifications + bar admissions in additional states. We coordinate both.
One-time, or part of your BOS.
- Articles drafted to state spec
- Bar pre-approval coordination
- EIN application
- RA · 1 year
- Filed receipts to vault
- State bar dues tracker
- State AR autofile
- Foreign qual renewals
- RA + EIN included
- Compliance score
- BosAI for legal-specific Qs
Common questions.
Do attorneys have to use a PLLC?
In many states, lawyers who want a liability-protected entity must use a professional LLC or professional corporation rather than a standard LLC, with ownership limited to licensed attorneys, though the rules vary by state. We flag your state's requirement so your law practice is formed in the correct entity.
Why can't attorneys use a regular LLC?
Because most states restrict the practice of law to professional entities owned by licensed attorneys, a standard LLC generally is not permitted for a law practice, so the entity choice is licensing-driven. We flag your state's rule so you form a compliant professional entity rather than one the bar will not allow.
Does the state bar get involved in forming an attorney PLLC?
Often yes: many states require bar or licensing approval, a certificate of registration, or name compliance as part of forming a law firm entity, adding steps beyond the standard filing. We flag your state's bar requirements so your formation includes what the bar expects rather than being rejected.
Do PLLC requirements for attorneys vary by state?
Significantly: whether a PLLC or professional corporation is required, ownership rules, name requirements, and bar involvement all differ by state, so a firm practicing in multiple states faces different rules in each. We flag the requirements in your states so your firm is compliant everywhere it practices.
Does an attorney PLLC protect me from malpractice?
Not from your own: a PLLC shields owners from the firm's general debts and from other attorneys' malpractice, but not from a lawyer's own malpractice, which is why firms carry malpractice insurance. We flag what the structure does and does not protect so your expectations are accurate.
What about naming an attorney PLLC?
Many states impose naming rules on law firm entities, such as using only current or former licensed members' names or including a required designator, so the firm name must comply. We flag your state's naming requirements so your firm's name is acceptable to the bar and the state.
Can File.Business form my attorney PLLC?
Yes: we form the professional entity your state requires for a law practice, coordinate any bar or registration requirements, obtain the EIN, provide the registered agent, and flag the ownership and naming rules, so your firm is set up in the correct, compliant structure.