You can look up a New York law firm's court record free of charge by searching the firm's name in the state court system's eCourts case search, and you can confirm any individual lawyer's license in the attorney directory. You generally cannot look up most settlements, because settlements are private agreements and New York court rules treat the related attorney filings as confidential, so public verdicts and the firm's own results page are usually the only dollar figures you will ever see. This guide walks through each free tool, what it proves, and where the paid databases and firm marketing pages fit in.
At William Mattar, P.C. our team has focused on motor vehicle accidents for more than 30 years, with attorneys and offices and intake locations across New York State.
Key facts about researching a New York law firm's results
- The court system's free eCourts service lets anyone search active and disposed Supreme Court civil cases in all 62 New York counties by attorney or firm name.
- Every New York lawyer's admission and registration status is public in the attorney directory.
- Most settlements never become public. That said, some verdicts are reported and verdicts that go up on appeal ordinarily are memorialized in appellate decisions.
- Verdicts are different. A jury's award is announced in open court and becomes part of the public court record.
Search the firm's cases in eCourts
The state court system's eCourts platform includes WebCivil Supreme, which covers active and disposed civil Supreme Court cases in all 62 New York counties, and WebCivil Local, which covers city and district civil courts. Both let you search by attorney or firm name. A search shows whether the firm actually files lawsuits, in which counties, in what volume, and in what kinds of cases.
Why you cannot look up most settlements
A settlement is a contract between the injured person and the insurance company. So when a firm reports a settlement on its website, you are seeing a number the firm chose to publish not a figure you can independently pull from a database.
Where verdicts are public
Trial verdicts work differently. A jury announces its award in open court, the result enters the public court file, and written decisions are published through the court system. Reported verdicts are also collected by jury verdict reporters such as VerdictSearch, subscription services that lawyers, insurers, and journalists use to compare awards in similar cases. Local news coverage of large trials is another free cross check. If a firm's results page leans on trial verdicts, those entries are the easiest ones to verify, because a real verdict leaves a public trail.
Put the numbers in context before you hire
Once the records check out, remember what results can and cannot tell you. The largest published recoveries usually involve catastrophic injuries and deep insurance coverage, so no past number predicts your case. Use your research to test candor instead.
Frequently asked questions
Are lawsuit settlements public record in New York?
Usually no. A settlement is a private agreement. Settlements you see on firm websites are figures the firm chose to publish. Court approved settlements for minors and wrongful death cases generate court filings, but even those files are not always simple to access.
How do I find out how much a law firm has won for clients?
Start with the firm's own results page, which must carry the disclaimer that prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Cross check trial verdicts through published court decisions and news coverage. Jury verdict reporters such as VerdictSearch compile reported verdicts and settlements, but they are subscription services used mostly by lawyers, insurers, and journalists.
Can I search New York court cases by law firm name?
Yes. The court system's free eCourts service includes WebCivil Supreme, which covers active and disposed civil Supreme Court cases in all 62 counties, and it allows searches by attorney or firm name. The results show real filings by county and case type, though they generally will not show settlement dollars.
Were you hurt in a New York car accident and trying to find a firm? The attorneys at William Mattar, P.C. are available 24/7 with no fee unless you receive a recovery. Call (844) 444-4444. Offices and intake locations across New York State.
About William Mattar, P.C.
William Mattar, P.C. is a New York law firm that handles motor vehicle accident cases and has represented injured people for over 30 years. The firm’s principal office is in Williamsville, with offices and intake locations throughout New York State, with free case reviews available 24/7 at (844) 444-4444.
Related reading from William Mattar
- What Questions Should I Ask My Car Accident Attorney?
- A Guide to Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Buffalo
- Why You Should Never Accept the Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer After a Long Island Car Accident
- How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for a Car Accident in New York?
Each of the above is part of William Mattar’s New York State accident resource library.
Sources
- New York State Unified Court System, Attorney Directory, iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorneyservices/search
- New York State Unified Court System, eCourts case information services, iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain
- New York State Unified Court System, Attorney Grievance Committees, nycourts.gov/attorney-grievance-committees
- New York Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.1, 22 NYCRR Part 1200, published by the Appellate Division at nycourts.gov
- 22 NYCRR 691.20, retainer and closing statement filing and confidentiality rules, via Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
- William Mattar, P.C., About Us page and car accident fee guide, williammattar.com, reviewed July 2026
Attorney Advertising. This article provides general information about New York law and is not legal advice for any specific situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last updated July 2026.