Q ] What are New York's registration requirements for attorneys?
A ] Section 468-a of the Judiciary
Law and 22 NYCRR Part 118 of the Rules of the Chief Administrator
of the Courts require the biennial registration of all
attorneys admitted in the State of New York, whether
they are resident or non-resident, active or retired,
or practicing law in New York or anywhere else. All attorneys
are required to renew their attorney registration every
two years, within 30 days of their date of birth. The
fee for this registration is $350.00 (of which $60.00
is deposited in the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection,
$50 to the Indigent Legal Services Fund, and the remainder
in the Attorney Licensing Fund). No fee is required from
an attorney who certifies that he or she is retired from
the practice of law as defined in 22 NYCRR 118.1(g).
Please review the instructions for Section
B to determine
if you may claim the exemption to the fee.
Note that all New York attorneys are required to file the biennial registration
form, either with payment of the $350 fee, or with a certification of retirement.
Q ] When do I register?
A ] A biennial registration must be
filed within 30 days of the attorney’s birthday,
in alternating years. Each biennial period runs for the
24 month period from birth month to birth month:
The Registration of attorneys in New York began in 1982;
- If your date of admission was in 1982,
or any year prior to 1982, you were required to register
during this first biennial period, and in each subsequent
even year thereafter (1984-85, 1986-87, 1988-89...).
- If your date of admission was in any
even years after 1982 are also on an even-year schedule
(1984-85, 1986-87, 1988-89...).
- Only attorneys admitted in odd years,
beginning in 1983, are required to re-register on an
odd-year schedule (1983-84, 1985-86, 1987-88...).
Q ] What is my New York Bar number?
A ] Many states have Bar numbers;
New York does not. The registration number, which appears
on the biennial registration form, is used for internal
Office of Court Administration record-keeping only. This
registration number should be used on all correspondence
with this office. Your registration number is also available
in the Attorney
Directory.
Q ] I'm admitted in New York but practice out-of-state. Do I still have
to register in New York?
A ] Yes. New York does not have an "inactive"
status. All duly-admitted New York attorneys are required
to
file the biennial registration form, either with payment
of the $350 fee, or with a certification of retirement.
Q ] What about retirement?
A ] Attorneys who certify that they
are retired from the practice of law pursuant to Section
118.1(g) are not required to pay the $350.00 registration
fee. An attorney is "retired" from
the practice of law when, other than the performance
of legal services
without compensation, he or she does not practice law
in any respect and does not intend ever to engage in
acts that constitute the practice of law, in the State
of New York or elsewhere. In addition, full-time judges
or justices of the Unified Court System of the State
of New York (as well as full-time judges in other states
and/or federal courts) are deemed "retired" from
the practice of law.
If you are engaged in the active practice of law in New York or elsewhere, and
cannot certify that you are retired pursuant to Part 118.1(g), then you are required
to pay the biennial registration fee(s).
Q ] How does an attorney resign from the New York bar?
A ] Questions regarding resignation
from the bar should be directed to the attorney's Appellate
Division of admission.
If an attorney resigns from the New York Bar, s/he is no longer duly-admitted,
and no longer obligated to file the registration.
Q ] How do I obtain a certificate of good standing?
A ] Certificates
of good standing must be requested from the Appellate
Division where the attorney was admitted.
A certificate of good standing is the only document available to New York attorneys
as proof of admission to the Bar.
Q ] How do I update the information on my record?
A ] Changes to an attorney’s
registration information (address, phone number, or any
other information with the exception of a name change)
must be filed with the Office of Court Administration
within 30 days of the change. All changes must be
submitted in writing, by the attorney. Changes will not be accepted
over the phone. The attorney must include the following
information in the correspondence:
- His/her full name;
- Attorney Registration number;
- Indication of the nature of the change (i.e., home vs business address being
changed).
Changes may be submitted in one
of the following formats:
- On the Registration form. Cross out
the incorrect information and write in the corrected/new
information. Return the form (with the registration
fee) to the address noted on the form.
- On the blue receipt. Cross out the
incorrect information and write in the corrected/new
information. Sign and return the receipt to the address
noted on the form.
- Via a personal e-mail to: attyreg@courts.state.ny.us.
Requests for address changes will not be accepted if
e-mailed from another person, secretary, etc.
- Via US mail to:
OCA - Attorney Registration
PO BOX 2806
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
- Via fax to Attorney Registration: (212)
428-2804
Name Changes must be made with the
Appellate Division
in which you were admitted. The Attorney Registration Unit
will only accept name changes upon written order from an Appellate
Division.
For Continuing Legal Information, visit
our CLE web site.
Q ] What if I have another question?
For assistance with questions not answered above, please send an e-mail to:
attyreg@courts.state.ny.us
Or contact our office at the following address:
New York State Unified Court System
Office of Court Administration
Attorney Registration Unit
25 Beaver Street - Room 840
New York, NY 10004
212-428-2800
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