Choosing an attorney

How to Choose the Right Lawyer

A practical, five-step framework for finding, vetting, and selecting a lawyer, anchored in what New York's public bar records can (and can't) tell you about an attorney before you hire.

Bar status
verify first
Discipline
check the record
Experience
years admitted

Choosing the right attorney can significantly impact the outcome of your legal matter. This guide walks you through the process of finding, evaluating, and selecting a lawyer who is right for your specific situation.

Law is highly specialized. An excellent real estate attorney may not be the right choice for a criminal defense matter. Common legal specializations include:

  • Family law - Divorce, custody, adoption
  • Criminal defense - Misdemeanors, felonies, DUI
  • Personal injury - Accidents, medical malpractice
  • Business law - Contracts, corporate formation, employment
  • Estate planning - Wills, trusts, probate
  • Immigration - Visas, citizenship, asylum
  • Real estate - Transactions, disputes, landlord-tenant

Step 2: Research Candidates

Start your research with multiple sources:

  • Search PlainAttorney to verify bar status and credentials
  • Ask friends, family, and other professionals for referrals
  • Contact your local bar association's lawyer referral service
  • Check online directories and review sites

Step 3: Verify Credentials

Before scheduling a consultation, verify basic credentials:

  • Bar status: Confirm the attorney is currently registered and in good standing
  • Discipline history: Check for any disciplinary actions
  • Experience: Look at their year of admission to gauge experience level
  • Specialization: Verify they handle cases like yours

Step 4: Schedule Consultations

Most attorneys offer free or low-cost initial consultations. Meet with at least 2-3 candidates. During the consultation, pay attention to:

  • How well they listen to your situation
  • Whether they explain legal concepts clearly
  • Their assessment of your case's strengths and weaknesses
  • Fee structure and billing practices
  • Who will actually handle your case (partner vs. associate)

Step 5: Evaluate and Decide

Consider these factors when making your decision:

  • Communication: Will they keep you informed? How quickly do they respond?
  • Fees: Are fees transparent? Is the fee structure appropriate for your case?
  • Comfort: Do you trust this person with your legal matter?
  • Availability: Do they have capacity to take your case?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Choosing solely based on advertising or name recognition
  • Not checking discipline records
  • Hiring a generalist for a specialized legal issue
  • Not discussing fees upfront
  • Ignoring poor communication during the consultation

Understanding the Data

The information presented throughout this guide is informed by publicly available state bar registration published by New York Office of Court Administration. Our database aggregates and standardizes these records to make them more accessible and easier to interpret for general audiences. When we reference specific statistics or trends, they are drawn directly from these authoritative sources unless explicitly noted otherwise. See our methodology for full sourcing, the data vintage in effect, and how each figure is derived.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. PlainAttorney does not endorse, recommend, or rate any attorney.

The short answer

Public bar records confirm an attorney's status, admission year, and discipline history, the three checks worth doing before you weigh any referral or advertisement.

By the numbers

What the public bar records show

429,620
NY attorney registrations
66%
Currently active
23,319
With a public discipline flag

Law schools with the most New York bar alumni

Registered NY attorneys by the law school they attended, the eight largest alumni networks

NY attorneys
Source NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration As of May 2026
Check the record before the reputation: a clean discipline history and the years an attorney has actually been admitted tell you more than any advertisement.

Frequently asked questions

Where does this data come from?

Every figure in this guide traces to the New York Office of Court Administration attorney registration database, published as open data via data.ny.gov. It is public government data, no proprietary aggregators, ratings, or rankings.

How current are these records?

PlainAttorney reflects the latest published NY OCA registration cycle (vintaged May 2026 on this build). Bar status and admission records change as attorneys re-register, retire, or face discipline, so always confirm a specific attorney’s current standing directly with the state bar.

Can I rely on this to choose or vet an attorney?

Use it as a starting point, not a verdict. Public registration confirms that an attorney met the bar’s requirements as of the last cycle; it does not measure competence, fit, or freedom from complaints. Verify standing and discipline history through the official NY Courts attorney search before making any decision.

Search attorneys Verify bar status & record Discipline records Disbarred & suspended Rankings Top schools & markets Methodology How this data is sourced