What Verdica's 796 score means for Tempe Smith
Tempe Smith's composite score of 796 out of 850 places them in the "strong" band (740–799), indicating a legal provider with solid regulatory standing and practice credentials. This score reflects an above-average profile relative to peers in Michigan's legal market, though not in the highest tier of excellence (800–850).
A score in this range signals that a legal provider has maintained good standing with the state bar, has not accumulated significant disciplinary actions, and operates within recognized professional norms. For a business owner or consumer evaluating Tempe Smith, this score suggests low compliance risk and reasonable confidence in professional conduct—but it also indicates there is room for improvement in at least one dimension of their practice profile or regulatory history.
The score is drawn from state bar records, which are the primary objective source of information about a legal provider's regulatory compliance. Unlike client reviews, which can be subjective and sparse, these records reflect formal findings by regulators. The absence of independent customer reviews for Tempe Smith is neutral; it simply means Verdica has not yet indexed third-party feedback, so the evaluation rests entirely on regulatory data.
How the sub-scores break down
Bar Standing (790/850): This reflects Tempe Smith's current license status and any formal findings related to their eligibility to practice law in Michigan. A score of 790 indicates strong standing with no major licensing suspensions or disbarment actions, but it may signal minor flags—such as late license renewal, a conditional license, or a finding that did not rise to disciplinary action. For practical purposes, this means Tempe Smith is authorized to practice and has not faced severe regulatory intervention.
Disciplinary History (850/850): This is a perfect score, meaning Tempe Smith has no recorded disciplinary actions in Michigan's bar records. In regulatory terms, this is the best possible outcome—no complaints upheld, no sanctions, and no formal violations on record. This dimension carries significant weight because it directly measures professional conduct accountability.
Practice Profile (700/850): This sub-score is the lowest of the three and sits in the acceptable range. Practice profile typically reflects factors such as practice areas, client base, fee structures, and operational transparency visible through bar filings and public records. A score of 700 suggests Tempe Smith's practice profile is within normal bounds but may lack distinction in areas like specialization credentials, peer recognition, or clarity in public-facing practice information. This is not a red flag, but it indicates the provider's profile could be stronger or more thoroughly documented.
What regulators in MI track for legal providers
Michigan's State Bar maintains disciplinary records that track formal complaints, investigations, and sanctions against licensed attorneys. These records capture violations of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, which cover conflicts of interest, competence, communication with clients, fee disputes, and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. The bar also monitors licensing compliance—renewal status, continuing education requirements, and fitness to practice.
Practice history records include publicly available data on an attorney's areas of practice, client types, fee arrangements (where disclosed), and any public complaints or judgments. Regulators use these records to identify patterns of misconduct, poor client service, or financial irregularities. A high score in these dimensions indicates an attorney who has not triggered formal complaints, maintained their license in good standing, and operates transparently within regulatory expectations.
Scores can move downward due to upheld complaints, disciplinary sanctions, fee arbitration losses, or licensing lapses. They remain stable for attorneys who practice without formal complaints and maintain current credentials.
Bottom line
Tempe Smith presents a strong, low-risk profile for legal services in Michigan, with perfect disciplinary history and solid bar standing. Before engaging, a business owner should verify that Tempe Smith's specific practice areas and fee structure align with their needs—the practice profile sub-score suggests there may be limited public information available to evaluate fit.