What Verdica's 838 score means for Susan Lopez
Susan Lopez's composite score of 838 out of 850 places her in the "excellent" band (800–850), indicating minimal identified compliance risk based on available regulatory data. This score reflects a legal provider with clean bar standing, no disciplinary history on record, and a practice profile consistent with active, lawful practice in New York.
A score in this range suggests that regulatory oversight bodies have not flagged material concerns. For someone evaluating Lopez as a legal service provider, this score indicates a low probability of bar-related complications, sanctions, or licensing restrictions. However, the score is derived from state bar records and practice history alone—it does not measure customer satisfaction, case outcomes, or subjective service quality. The 838 reflects compliance posture, not performance or reputation beyond the regulatory baseline.
Readers should interpret this as a positive foundational indicator: Lopez meets the legal profession's minimum standards and has demonstrated sustained compliance. It does not guarantee expertise in a specific practice area, responsiveness, or value for money. The absence of independent customer reviews in Verdica's database means potential clients have no indexed feedback to cross-reference against the regulatory score.
How the sub-scores break down
Bar Standing (850): This perfect sub-score indicates Lopez maintains active, unrestricted licensure in New York. Bar standing reflects whether a lawyer is licensed to practice, whether that license is current, and whether any restrictions (such as probation, limited scope, or inactive status) apply. A score of 850 means no known restrictions or licensing issues.
Disciplinary History (850): A perfect score here indicates no recorded disciplinary actions, complaints upheld by the New York bar, sanctions, or other formal regulatory findings against Lopez in the bar's database. This does not mean no complaints were filed—only that none resulted in disciplinary findings. Low scores in this dimension typically reflect substantiated violations such as neglect, misappropriation, dishonesty, or failure to comply with bar rules.
Practice Profile (790): This score of 790 is the lowest of the three sub-scores but still falls within the "strong" band (740–799). Practice profile typically reflects consistency, continuity, and alignment of reported practice activity with licensure status. A score of 790 suggests Lopez's practice history is sound but may include minor inconsistencies in reporting, gaps in activity history, or other factors that create marginal uncertainty. This is not a red flag but indicates slightly less clarity than the perfect bar standing and disciplinary sub-scores.
What regulators in NY track for legal providers
The New York State Bar maintains disciplinary records that form the backbone of scores like Lopez's. Regulators track formal complaints, ethics violations, trust account mismanagement, failure to communicate with clients, unauthorized practice, and criminal convictions. Disciplinary actions range from private admonitions to public censure, suspension, or disbarment.
Practice history data includes licensure status, admission dates, practice location registrations, and continuing legal education compliance. Regulators use this data to flag lawyers with inactive licenses, lapses in renewal, or unexplained practice gaps.
Scores rise when providers maintain active licensure, have clean disciplinary records, and show consistent practice activity. Scores fall when complaints are sustained, licensure lapses occur, or practice records show irregularities. The specific infractions that move scores downward include neglect of client matters, conflicts of interest, failure to hold client funds properly, dishonesty, and violation of bar conduct rules.
Bottom line
Lopez's 838 score indicates a legally compliant provider with no identified regulatory red flags. Before engaging her services, confirm her specific experience in your legal matter, request references or case examples, and verify rates and terms directly—none of which this compliance score addresses.