Complaints About Attorneys

Attorney / Client Disputes

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.

  • First Judicial Department Attorney Grievance Committee
    • New York & Bronx Counties
      Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Department
      180 Maiden Lane
      17th Floor
      New York, NY 10038
      (212) 401-0800
  • Second Judicial Department Attorney Grievance Committees
    • Kings, Queens & Richmond Counties
      Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts
      Renaissance Plaza
      335 Adams Street, Suite 2400
      Brooklyn, NY 11201-3745
      (718) 923-6300
    • Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland & Westchester Counties
      Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District
      399 Knollwood Road, Suite 200
      White Plains, NY 10603
      (914) 824-5070
    • Nassau & Suffolk Counties
      Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District
      150 Motor Parkway, Suite 102
      Hauppauge, NY 11788
      (631) 231-3775
  • Third Judicial Department Attorney Grievance Committee 
    • Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Madison, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren & Washington Counties
      Attorney Grievance Committee
      286 Washington Avenue Extension
      Suite 200
      Albany, New York 12203
      (518) 285-8350
  • Fourth Judicial Department Attorney Grievance Committees
    • Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga & Oswego Counties
      Grievance Committee for the Fifth Judicial District
      Syracuse Square
      224 Harrison Street, Suite 408
      Syracuse, NY 13202-3066
      (315) 401-3344
    • Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne & Yates Counties
      Grievance Committee for the Seventh Judicial District
      Attorney Grievance Committee
      50 East Avenue, Suite 404
      Rochester, NY 14604-2206
      (585) 530-3180
      Fax: (585) 530-3191
    • Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genessee, Niagara, Orleans & Wyoming Counties
      Grievance Committee for the Eighth Judicial District
      438 Main Street, Suite 800
      Buffalo, NY 14202-3212
      (716) 845-3630

Attorney/Client Fee Disputes

Part 137 of the Rules of the Chief Administrator establishes a statewide Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program

Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection

The Lawyers' Fund was established in 1982 to provide reimbursement to law clients who have lost money or property as a result of lawyer's dishonest conduct in the practice of law. The fund is a remedy for law clients who cannot get reimbursement from the lawyer who caused the loss, or from insurance or other sources.

For information on filing an application to recover funds, contact the New York Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection at 1-800-442-FUND or visit their website at www.nylawfund.org