New York attorney record · Judicial Dept 1
Michael Samuel Chernis
Fordham alumna, admitted to the New York bar in 1995, registered office in Santa Monica, CA. Decades of status, address, and registration history on this record come straight from the NY Office of Court Administration.
- 1995
- Admitted
- 31
- Years in bar
- 2690949
- NY reg #
The record in one line
With 31 years on the register since a 1995 admission, Michael Samuel Chernis ranks among the New York bar's most senior active practitioners, longer-tenured than 71% of the currently-active bar.
- 31 yrs
- in active practice since admission
- Active
- current bar status: "Currently registered"
- #62 of 309
- by tenure in Santa Monica office peers
- Law school
- Fordham
Data updated August 2026
What this profile tells you
Bar status & tenure
Registration 2690949 with the New York bar authority has long belonged to Michael Samuel Chernis, a veteran practitioner still in active good standing. Registration is recorded within Judicial Department 1, the appellate division overseeing this attorney's home district.
Practice context & education
Practice address is listed under Chernis Law Group, P.C., located in Santa Monica, CA, ZIP 90401. Educational background: FORDHAM (6,328 registered alumni).
State context & due diligence
After 31 years on the register, Michael Samuel Chernis still falls within the New York bar's active cohort, a share of the register detailed further below.
Experience vs. the active New York bar
Few active New York attorneys match Michael Samuel Chernis's 31 years since admission in 1995.
31 years on the New York bar
Years since admission, all currently-active NY attorneys
31 Top 29% higher than 71% of 290,787 active NY attorneys
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more active NY attorneys. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration · August 2026
Tenure among Santa Monica, CA office peers
Most of the 309 NY-registered attorneys in Santa Monica, CA outrank Michael Samuel Chernis on tenure; this record sits at the 20th local percentile (rank #62). See the Santa Monica attorney directory .
- Local rank
- #62
- City cohort
- 309
- Local percentile
- 20th
- Admitted
- 1995
Nearest tenure peers in Santa Monica
- Barbara Fortson admitted 1995 · 31 yr
- Eric W. Golden admitted 1995 · 31 yr
- Michael Tenenbaum admitted 1995 · 31 yr
- Rebecca Sian Walker admitted 1995 · 31 yr
How local rank is computed
Rank uses years since NY-bar admission among non-deceased registry rows that list the same office city and state, a local placement, not a statewide claim. Source: NY Office of Court Administration Attorney Registration · as of August 2026. Derived local rank, not published upstream.
How Michael compares to fellow Fordham alumni
Among the 2,708 Fordham graduates in the New York register, Michael Samuel Chernis is longer-tenured than 58%.
31 years vs. Fordham alumni
Years since admission - 2,708 NY-registered alumni of this school
31 Top 42% higher than 58% of 2,708 fellow alumni
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more fellow alumni. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration · August 2026
The 1995 admission class today
Of the 6,807 attorneys admitted to the New York bar in 1995, 80.2% are still "Currently registered" today, above the statewide average across all admission years.
Professional Details
- Status
- Currently registered
- Registration Number
- 2690949
- Year Admitted
- 1995 (31 yrs · veteran)
- Judicial Department
- 1
- Next Registration
- Sep 2027
Location & Contact
- Company
- Chernis Law Group, P.C.
- City
- Santa Monica, CA
- ZIP Code
- 90401
- Phone
- (310) 566-4388
Education
Status Distribution Across the New York Bar
Michael Samuel Chernis's current status, "Currently registered", places this attorney in the 67.2% of the 432,625-attorney New York register currently marked active.
Full statewide breakdown & source note
Source: NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registrations. Status counts reflect the latest reporting cycle. Bar status confirms registration only; it does not imply competence, specialty fit, or freedom from complaints.
Verify This Attorney
Verify on NY Courts Attorney SearchNearby Attorneys in Santa Monica, CA
Compare credentials side-by-side
Compare Michael Samuel Chernis with similar attorneys in Santa Monica.
Compare attorneys →Before you rely on this record
Michael Samuel Chernis's "Currently registered" listing confirms bar standing only, it is a registration fact to verify, not a verdict on quality or competence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Michael Chernis licensed?
Michael Chernis is licensed to practice law in New York.
When was Michael Samuel Chernis admitted to the bar?
Michael Samuel Chernis's admission to the New York bar dates back to 1995.
Where did Michael Samuel Chernis go to law school?
Michael Samuel Chernis attended FORDHAM.
What company does Michael Samuel Chernis work for?
Michael Samuel Chernis is associated with Chernis Law Group, P.C. in Santa Monica, CA.
Is Michael Samuel Chernis in good standing?
Yes, Michael Samuel Chernis holds active bar status ("Currently registered").
Cite this page & disclosure
Sourced from the NY Office of Court Administration, informational only, not legal advice. Full disclosure.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.