how to file complaint about lawyer in westchester, ny

by Ida Haley 10 min read

If the attorney maintains an office in Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam Counties, the complaint should be filed with: State of New York Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District Crosswest Office Center 399 Knollwood Road, Suite 200 White Plains, NY 10603 (914) 824-5070 ad2-grv9@nycourts.gov

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  1. Westchester County Bar Association.
  2. (914) 761-3707 (Main) | (914) 761-9402 (Fax)

Full Answer

How do I file a complaint against an attorney in NY?

If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Please note that the New York State Unified Court System does not have jurisdiction to investigate complaints concerning representation by attorneys.

How to file a complaint against a lawyer for Professional Conduct?

If you believe a lawyer may have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, you can write a letter to the appropriate Attorney Grievance Committee or fill out and submit a form available from their websites. The form or letter should be as clear, specific and detailed as possible when explaining your complaint.

What is discriminatory harassment in Westchester County?

Additionally, as of Dec. 7, 2021, the Westchester County Human Rights Law prohibits Discriminatory Harassment. Discriminatory harassment is injury or intimidation, by force or threat of force, that:

Where can I find information about the Attorney Grievance committees?

For more information about the attorney disciplinary process or how the Committees work, go to their websites: The First Department Attorney Grievance Committee and The Second Department Attorney Grievance Committee.

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

How do I file a complaint with the NYS Attorney General?

ContactComplaint Form: To file a complaint, please complete the form at this link and mail it to us at:Phone: 212-416-8090.Email: public.integrity@ag.ny.gov.PIB Hotline: ... NYS OAG Information and Complaint Helpline: 1-800-771-7755.NY State Police Investigation:More items...

Who do you report a crooked lawyer to NY State?

A complaint should be filed, by email or regular mail, with the attorney grievance committee having jurisdiction over the county in the State of New York in which the attorney maintains their office for the practice of law.

Who regulates attorneys in NY?

Appellate Division of State Supreme CourtIn New York State, authority over the conduct of attorneys rests with the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court and the discipline and grievance committees (the “committees”) appointed by that court.

What does filing a complaint with the Attorney General do?

Complaints are used by the Attorney General's Office to learn about misconduct and to determine whether to investigate a company. However, the Attorney General's Office cannot provide legal advice or assistance to individuals.

Does filing a complaint with the FCC do anything?

Complaints may be shared among FCC bureaus and offices for further review and possible investigation. By filing a consumer complaint with the FCC, you contribute to federal enforcement and consumer protection efforts on a national scale and help us identify trends and track the issues that matter most.

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What is it called when a lawyer doesn't do his job?

Legal malpractice is a type of negligence in which a lawyer does harm to his or her client. Typically, this concerns lawyers acting in their own interests, lawyers breaching their contract with the client, and, one of the most common cases of legal malpractice, is when lawyers fail to act on time for clients.

Can I sue a lawyer for lying?

No matter what name the agency in your state goes by, they will have a process you can use to file a complaint against your attorney for lying or being incompetent. Examples of these types of behavior include: Misusing your money. Failing to show up at a court hearing.

How do you write a complaint letter about a lawyer?

Formal complaint against [name of lawyer or law firm] describe what the lawyer had been hired to do for you [for example dealing with the sale or purchase of a house] • say when this was [give the date or dates when the problem occurred]. My complaint is that [list what you think went wrong or wasn't done properly.

How do you find out if an attorney has been disciplined in NY?

The New York court system has added records showing whether an attorney has been disciplined to its publicly available online database.

How do you disbar a lawyer?

Proceedings for disbarment or any administrative case against a lawyer may be filed before the Commission on Bar Discipline by submitting six (6) copies of a verified complaint to the same. He shall have the power to issue subpoenas and administer oaths.

How to help yourself when you have a complaint?

To help yourself, you should: Try to work out a solution with your attorney before you file a complaint. If the problem is that he/she does not speak to you, write him/her a letter and keep a copy to show the Committee.

What happens if you have a valid complaint?

If you do have a valid complaint, the Committee will ask the attorney to answer it, and, after the Committee receives the attorney’s answer, it will give you a chance to reply to it. The Committee will also investigate the complaint by looking at any papers or court records that may help, speaking to witnesses, and speaking further, if necessary, ...

What is the 9th Judicial District Grievance Committee?

Do you have a complaint or concern about your attorney? If so, it is the Grievance Committee of the Ninth Judicial District to which you will direct your complaint.#N#What is the Grievance Committee of the Ninth Judicial District?#N#The Committee investigates complaints against attorneys with offices in Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland Counties (the Ninth Judicial District, 9th JD, or NJD). In certain cases, they will investigate other complaints if the conduct occurred in our area, but usually such complaints will be referred to other grievance committees.#N#The Committee consists of a Chairperson and 19 members, 15 of whom are attorney members and four of whom are non-attorney members. They are appointed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for terms of up to four years. Each attorney is experienced in a different area of law (criminal, divorce, landlord- tenant, taxation, estates, etc.) and each lay person has a varied background in areas other than the law.#N#What You Can Do to Help Yourself Before and After You Bring the Complaint to the Grievance Committee:#N#When you bring the complaint to the Grievance Committee, you help preserve the honor of the legal profession and you render a public service. To help yourself, you should:

What happens if an attorney fails to answer a complaint?

The attorney has a professional obligation to comply with that request and the failure to submit an answer may, in and of itself, constitute professional misconduct.

What are the rules of professional conduct in New York?

These rules state the standard of conduct below which no lawyer can fall without being subject to disciplinary action. Professional Discipline.

What is the importance of the assistance of the public in grievance committees?

The assistance of the public is essential to the work of the grievance committees. The efforts of the grievance committees often may not, however, solve the problem that the complainant had with the attorney. The grievance committees cannot take money or property from the attorney to return to the complainant.

What happens after a grievance is received?

After the attorney’s answer is received, the grievance committee may further investigate the complaint by looking at any documents or court records that may help, speaking to witnesses, and speaking further, if necessary, to the complainant and to the attorney.

How many members are on the grievance committee?

The Attorney Grievance Committees. Each of the three attorney grievance committees in the Second Judicial Department consists of 21 members (no fewer than 3 whom are non-lawyers) who are appointed by the court.

What is the Appellate Division?

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is legally responsible for maintaining the integrity of the profession by enforcing those Rules. In the 10 downstate counties of Richmond (Staten Island), Kings, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam, the Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department has ...

How often do lawyers have to register?

Lawyers are required to register with the Office of Court Administration every two years. That office maintains a public Directory of Registered Attorneys in which each lawyer’s business address and the judicial department of the Appellate Division in which they were admitted to practice are listed.

What does the Commission do after a complaint is filed?

At any time after a complaint is filed, the Commission may assist the parties in reaching a settlement or agreement that is acceptable to the Complainant (s), Respondent (s), and the Commission. Determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe discrimination has occurred.

Where to forward a copy of a complaint?

Forward a copy of the complaint to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where applicable. Investigate the allegations. Investigation may include written questions, witness interviews, field visits, and requests for documentation.

What should be included in a complaint letter?

The materials in your complaint should include the names, phone numbers and addresses of you and your attorney as well as copies of any pertinent documents, papers, and other information connected to the complaint.

What to do if you believe a lawyer violated the Rules of Professional Conduct?

If you believe a lawyer may have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, you can write a letter to the appropriate Attorney Grievance Committee or fill out and submit a form available from their websites. The form or letter should be as clear, specific and detailed as possible when explaining your complaint.