New York attorney record · Judicial Dept 1

Patricia Lau

Harvard alumna, admitted to the New York bar in 1995, registered office in Palo Alto, CA. Status, address, and registration history come straight from the NY Office of Court Administration registry.

1995
Admitted
31
Years in bar
2698819
NY reg #

The record in one line

Patricia Lau has held an active New York bar license for 31 years — admitted in 1995, longer-tenured than 71% of the state's currently-active attorneys.

31 yrs
in active practice since admission
Active
current bar status: "Currently registered"
Top 29%
by tenure among active NY attorneys
Law school
Harvard
Download card View watchlist
Bar status
Currently registered
active
Current registration status per NY Office of Court Administration
Year admitted
1995
31 years
Year of first admission to the New York bar
Law school
Harvard
Law school attended, with active-bar rate where available
Registration
2698819
NY registration #
Official NY OCA attorney registration number
PlainAttorney home → About this data

New York has 429,620 registered attorneys, of which 284,296 are currently active.

What this profile tells you

Bar status & tenure

Patricia Lau is registered as bar number 2698819 with the New York bar authority, carrying a current status of "Currently registered", which indicates the attorney is currently authorized to practice law and is in good standing for registration purposes. The attorney was admitted to the bar in 1995, representing roughly 31 years since admission — a useful signal when weighing depth of practical experience against fee expectations. Registration is recorded within Judicial Department 1, the appellate division overseeing this attorney's home district.

Practice context & education

Practice address is listed under Dr. Patty Lau, located in Palo Alto, CA, ZIP 94306. Educational background: HARVARD, one of the admissions credentials used by the bar to verify qualification for licensure.

State context & due diligence

For benchmarking context, New York has 429,620 registered attorneys statewide, of which 284,296 (66.2%) are actively registered — this attorney's "Currently registered" status places them within the active cohort. Bar registration status alone does not confirm competence, specialty, or fit for a specific legal matter — it confirms only that the attorney has met the bar's registration requirements as of the last reporting cycle. Before engaging any attorney, verify their current standing directly with the state bar, review any discipline history through official channels, confirm fee structure in writing, and ask about specific experience handling matters similar to yours. Public profiles like this one are a starting point for due diligence, not a substitute for it.

Experience vs. the active New York bar

Patricia Lau was admitted in 1995, giving 31 years on the New York register. The histogram places that tenure against every currently-active attorney in the state — taller bars hold more attorneys at that experience level.

31 years on the New York bar

Years since admission — all currently-active NY attorneys

31 Top 29% higher than 71% of 284,296 active NY attorneys

0–5: 32,969 active NY attorneys (12%). Below this entry. 5–10: 35,324 active NY attorneys (12%). Below this entry. 10–15: 37,359 active NY attorneys (13%). Below this entry. 15–20: 38,301 active NY attorneys (13%). Below this entry. 20–25: 30,322 active NY attorneys (11%). Below this entry. 25–30: 26,950 active NY attorneys (9%). Below this entry. 30–35: 22,362 active NY attorneys (8%). This entry sits in this band. 35–40: 20,427 active NY attorneys (7%). Above this entry. 40–45: 17,284 active NY attorneys (6%). Above this entry. 45–50: 11,205 active NY attorneys (4%). Above this entry. 50–55: 6,424 active NY attorneys (2%). Above this entry. 55–60: 3,176 active NY attorneys (1%). Above this entry. 60–65: 1,461 active NY attorneys (1%). Above this entry. 65–70: 568 active NY attorneys (0%). Above this entry. 70–75: 139 active NY attorneys (0%). Above this entry. 75–80: 25 active NY attorneys (0%). Above this entry. This attorney 0 80 every active NY attorney, bucketed by value

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 · May 2026

How Patricia compares to fellow Harvard alumni

Among the 3,070 Harvard graduates in the New York register, Patricia Lau is longer-tenured than 70% — a school-cohort view of experience, alongside the statewide one above.

31 years vs. Harvard alumni

Years since admission — 3,070 NY-registered alumni of this school

31 Top 30% higher than 70% of 3,070 fellow alumni

5–10: 37 fellow alumni (1%). Below this entry. 10–15: 140 fellow alumni (5%). Below this entry. 15–20: 306 fellow alumni (10%). Below this entry. 20–25: 942 fellow alumni (31%). Below this entry. 25–30: 729 fellow alumni (24%). Below this entry. 30–35: 647 fellow alumni (21%). This entry sits in this band. 35–40: 269 fellow alumni (9%). Above this entry. This attorney 5 40 every registered alum of this school, bucketed by value

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 · May 2026

Professional Details

Status
Currently registered
Registration Number
2698819
Year Admitted
1995 (31 yrs · veteran)
Judicial Department
1
Next Registration
Sep 2027

Location & Contact

Company
Dr. Patty Lau
City
Palo Alto, CA
ZIP Code
94306
Phone
(415) 295-6391

Education

HARVARD

Status Distribution Across the New York Bar

Bar status reference for the 429,620 attorneys registered in this jurisdiction. Patricia Lau's current status is "Currently registered".

Cohort Attorneys Share Profile relevance
Active in good standing 284,296
66.2%
This attorney is in this cohort
Other / inactive / discipline 145,324
33.8%
Verify status before engaging
Total registered 429,620 100.0% Full New York bar register

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

Always verify attorney credentials through official state bar records before making legal decisions.

Verify on NY Courts Attorney Search

Source: New York State Unified Court System — Attorney Registration Search

Nearby Attorneys in Palo Alto, CA

Robert H. Aaronson Delinquent Frederic Joseph Adam Currently registered Faisal Ajam Currently registered Nadia Aksentijevich Currently registered Melinda Chow Alankar Currently registered

Compare credentials side-by-side

Compare Patricia Lau with similar attorneys in Palo Alto.

Compare attorneys →
More attorneys in Palo Alto → Search more attorneys →

Related Guides

Understanding Bar Status Choosing the Right Lawyer How to Check Discipline Records

Before you rely on this record

Patricia Lau is currently listed as "Currently registered" — treat that as a registration fact to confirm, not a verdict on quality.

  • Bar status confirms registration only — it does not measure competence, specialty fit, or freedom from client complaints. How to choose a lawyer
  • Check the public discipline record for any suspension, disbarment, or resignation for a disciplinary reason. Check discipline
  • Compare other attorneys practising in Palo Alto. Attorney lookup

Always confirm an attorney's current standing directly with the NY Office of Court Administration before making legal decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Patricia Lau licensed?

Patricia Lau is licensed in New York. Their current bar status is "Currently registered".

When was Patricia Lau admitted to the bar?

Patricia Lau was admitted to the bar in 1995.

Where did Patricia Lau go to law school?

Patricia Lau attended HARVARD.

What company does Patricia Lau work for?

Patricia Lau is associated with Dr. Patty Lau in Palo Alto, CA.

Is Patricia Lau in good standing?

Yes, Patricia Lau has a current registration status of "Currently registered", indicating active standing with the bar.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from public state bar records provided by the New York Office of Court Administration. PlainAttorney does not provide legal advice, referrals, or endorsements. Use this data for informational purposes only. Always verify attorney credentials directly with the NY Courts Attorney Search before making legal decisions.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.