# Do lawyers have to prove they are lawyers before they go to court? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382 "2021-12-20T20:41:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/41 "2022-01-07T11:55:39Z")
The main has been answered, but this is even more true now. My paralegals and associates have access to my court filing account and they can upload filings in my name. And do. I get a Text alert when it happens on my phone and my email account, but I get so many in a day, that if they snuck one or two things in there that they shouldn’t be doing in there I might miss them. (I got one just now as I write this reply). When I started, middle of the 2000’s, the transition to efiling was always ahead. All the paralegal knew and could copy all the lawyers signatures perfectly, and regularly employed them in filings when needed. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > As I recall my brief stint in private practice (before electronic filing), IIRC, it was common for my clerk to physically file pleadings w/ the court clerk. So, was there any way for the clerk to confirm that I had actually written - or even seen - the pleading? Man this profession is heavily dependent on trust. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/42 "2022-01-07T14:07:41Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Man this profession is heavily dependent on trust. Thankfully we have the credibly effective self-regulation! 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/43 "2022-01-07T14:27:53Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Thankfully we have the credibly effective self-regulation!. You crack me up! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/44 "2022-01-07T14:36:00Z")
Dang - I meant to write INcredibly. Drat this spellcheck! ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@Old\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Wench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/45 "2022-01-07T15:49:15Z")
I’m a legal secretary and have full access to my attorneys’ e-filing accounts in numerous state and federal courts. One of our paralegals maintains a list of the e-filing logins for every attorney in the office so that anyone can file for someone else, if necessary. I’m not aware that anyone has ever filed something that wasn’t legitimate. I also have access to my attorneys’ credit card info, SSNs, log-in info for airlines & other travel, etc. I guess they trust me after 25+ years! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/46 "2022-01-07T16:29:28Z")
> [@Old\_Wench](#): > > I also have access to my attorneys’ credit card info, SSNs, log-in info for airlines & other travel, etc. I guess they trust me after 25+ years! Damn - I used to LOVE it when I had support such as you! A remote memory at this point, sad to say. I’ve long said the quality of an atty largely depends on the quality of his/her staff. I hope your bosses acknowledge your contribution. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/47 "2022-01-07T18:02:04Z")
Oh, not suggesting for a moment my clerks have ever used it for something I haven’t explicitly of implicitly authorised. It’s just an observation as to how much trust lawyers place in their staff and each other, compared to how little we have for everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382/48 "2022-01-07T19:15:11Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Man this profession is heavily dependent on trust. I just realized an exception. When I apply to a jurisdiction where I’m not admitted (_pro hac vice_) I have to submit certificates of good standing from the Court or bar association in every state I am admitted, along with an affidavit saying I’ve never been disbarred or suspended, and give my home and office addresses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-have-to-prove-they-are-lawyers-before-they-go-to-court/956382.md?page=2)