New York attorney record · Judicial Dept 3
Paul David Wachter
Columbia University alumna, admitted to the New York bar in 1982, registered office in Santa Monica, CA. A half-lifetime's worth of status, address, and registration history on this record come straight from the NY Office of Court Administration.
- 1982
- Admitted
- 44
- Years in bar
- 1846740
- NY reg #
The record in one line
Paul David Wachter has spent 44 years on the register since admission in 1982, one of the longest-standing active practitioners the state bar carries at 86% tenure percentile.
- 44 yrs
- in active practice since admission
- Active
- current bar status: "Currently registered"
- #19 of 309
- by tenure in Santa Monica office peers
- Law school
- Columbia University
Data updated August 2026
What this profile tells you
Bar status & tenure
Paul David Wachter has carried New York bar registration 1846740 for the better part of a career, still active and in good standing. Registration is recorded within Judicial Department 3, the appellate division overseeing this attorney's home district.
Practice context & education
Practice address is listed under Paul D. Wachter Esq., Main Street Advisors, located in Santa Monica, CA, ZIP 90405. Educational background: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (3,256 registered alumni).
State context & due diligence
Across a career spanning 44 years, Paul David Wachter has remained part of the New York bar's active cohort, a share of the register detailed further below.
Experience vs. the active New York bar
Paul David Wachter's 44 years since a 1982 admission places this record near the far edge of the statewide tenure curve below.
44 years on the New York bar
Years since admission, all currently-active NY attorneys
44 Top 14% higher than 86% 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 Paul David Wachter on tenure; this record sits at the 6th local percentile (rank #19). See the Santa Monica attorney directory .
- Local rank
- #19
- City cohort
- 309
- Local percentile
- 6th
- Admitted
- 1982
Nearest tenure peers in Santa Monica
- Steven Selover Lunghino admitted 1983 · 43 yr
- Peter Martin Nelson admitted 1981 · 45 yr
- Steven Earl Shapiro admitted 1983 · 43 yr
- George Marc Davis admitted 1984 · 42 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 Paul compares to fellow Columbia University alumni
Among the 1,236 Columbia University graduates in the New York register, Paul David Wachter is longer-tenured than 99%.
44 years vs. Columbia University alumni
Years since admission - 1,236 NY-registered alumni of this school
44 Top 1% higher than 99% of 1,236 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 1982 admission class today
Of the 5,181 attorneys admitted to the New York bar in 1982, 52.7% are still "Currently registered" today, below the statewide average across all admission years.
Professional Details
- Status
- Currently registered
- Registration Number
- 1846740
- Year Admitted
- 1982 (44 yrs · veteran)
- Judicial Department
- 3
- Next Registration
- Oct 2026
Location & Contact
- Company
- Paul D. Wachter Esq., Main Street Advisors
- City
- Santa Monica, CA
- ZIP Code
- 90405
- Phone
- (310) 778-2200
Education
Status Distribution Across the New York Bar
Paul David Wachter'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.
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Compare attorneys →Before you rely on this record
Paul David Wachter'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 Paul Wachter licensed?
Paul Wachter is licensed to practice law in New York.
When was Paul David Wachter admitted to the bar?
Paul David Wachter's admission to the New York bar dates back to 1982.
Where did Paul David Wachter go to law school?
Paul David Wachter attended COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.
What company does Paul David Wachter work for?
Paul David Wachter is associated with Paul D. Wachter Esq., Main Street Advisors in Santa Monica, CA.
Is Paul David Wachter in good standing?
Yes, Paul David Wachter 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.