N.Y. Judiciary Law Section 478
Practicing or appearing as attorney-at-law without being admitted and registered

It shall be unlawful for any natural person to practice or appear as an attorney-at-law or as an attorney and counselor-at-law for a person other than himself or herself in a court of record in this state, or to furnish attorneys or counsel or an attorney and counsel to render legal services, or to hold himself or herself out to the public as being entitled to practice law as aforesaid, or in any other manner, or to assume to be an attorney or counselor-at-law, or to assume, use, or advertise the title of lawyer, or attorney and counselor-at-law, or attorney-at-law or counselor-at-law, or attorney, or counselor, or attorney and counselor, or equivalent terms in any language, in such manner as to convey the impression that he or she is a legal practitioner of law or in any manner to advertise that he or she either alone or together with any other persons or person has, owns, conducts or maintains a law office or law and collection office, or office of any kind for the practice of law, without having first been duly and regularly licensed and admitted to practice law in the courts of record of this state, and without having taken the constitutional oath. Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be held to apply (1) to officers of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly appointed, when exercising the special powers conferred upon such corporations under section fourteen hundred three of the not-for-profit corporation law; or

(2)

to law students who have completed at least two semesters of law school or persons who have graduated from a law school, who have taken the examination for admittance to practice law in the courts of record in the state immediately available after graduation from law school, or the examination immediately available after being notified by the board of law examiners that they failed to pass said exam, and who have not been notified by the board of law examiners that they have failed to pass two such examinations, acting under the supervision of a legal aid organization when such students and persons are acting under a program approved by the appellate division of the supreme court of the department in which the principal office of such organization is located and specifying the extent to which such students and persons may engage in activities otherwise prohibited by this statute; or

(3)

to law students who have completed at least two semesters of law school, or to persons who have graduated from a law school approved pursuant to the rules of the court of appeals for the admission of attorneys and counselors-at-law and who have taken the examination for admission to practice as an attorney and counselor-at-law immediately available after graduation from law school or the examination immediately available after being notified by the board of law examiners that they failed to pass said exam, and who have not been notified by the board of law examiners that they have failed to pass two such examinations, when such students or persons are acting under the supervision of the state or a subdivision thereof or of any officer or agency of the state or a subdivision thereof, pursuant to a program approved by the appellate division of the supreme court of the department within which such activities are taking place and specifying the extent to which they may engage in activities otherwise prohibited by this statute and those powers of the supervising governmental entity or officer in connection with which they may engage in such activities; or

(4)

an attorney and counselor-at-law or the equivalent who is admitted to the bar in another state, territory, district or foreign country and who has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in the state of New York within the limitations prescribed in the rules of the court of appeals; or

(5)

an attorney licensed as a legal consultant under rules adopted by the court of appeals pursuant to subdivision six of § 53 (Rule-making power of court of appeals as to admission of attorneys and counsellors)section fifty-three of this chapter and rendering legal services in the state within limitations prescribed in such rules.

Source: Section 478 — Practicing or appearing as attorney-at-law without being admitted and registered, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/JUD/478 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed May 3, 2025).

460
Examination and admission of attorneys 460–B
Applications for special arrangements 461
Compensation of state board of law examiners 462
Annual account by state board of law examiners 463
Times and places of examinations 464
Certification by state board of successful candidates 465
Fee for examinations and for credential review for admission on motion 466
Attorney’s oath of office 467
Registration of attorneys 468
Official registration of attorneys to be kept by the chief administrator of the courts 468–A
Biennial registration of attorneys 468–B
Clients’ security fund of the state of New York 469
Continuance where attorney is member of legislature 470
Attorneys having offices in this state may reside in adjoining state 471
Attorney who is judge’s partner or clerk prohibited from practicing before him or in his court 472
Attorney who is surrogate’s parent or child prohibited from practicing berfore him 473
Constables, coroners, criers and attendants prohibited from practicing during term of office 474
Compensation of attorney or counsellor 474–A
Contingent fees for attorneys in claims or actions for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice 474–B
Attorney retainer statements 475
Attorney’s lien in action, special or other proceeding 475–A
Notice of lien 476
Action against attorney for lending his name in suits and against person using name 476–A
Action for unlawful practice of the law 476–B
Injunction to restrain defendant from unlawful practice of the law 476–C
Investigation by the attorney-general 477
Settlement of actions for personal injury 478
Practicing or appearing as attorney-at-law without being admitted and registered 479
Soliciting business on behalf of an attorney 480
Entering hospital to negotiate settlement or obtain release or statement 481
Aiding, assisting or abetting the solicitation of persons or the procurement of a retainer for or on behalf of an attorney 482
Employment by attorney of person to aid, assist or abet in the solicitation of business or the procurement through solicitation of a reta... 483
Signs advertising services as attorney at law 484
None but attorneys to practice in the state 485
Violation of certain preceding sections a misdemeanor 485–A
Violation of certain sections a class E felony 486
Practice of law by attorney who has been disbarred, suspended, or convicted of a felony 486–A
Conviction for felony of person who is an attorney and counselor at law 487
Misconduct by attorneys 488
Buying demands on which to bring an action 489
Purchase of claims by corporations or collection agencies 490
Limitation 491
Sharing of compensation by attorneys prohibited 492
Use of attorney’s name by another 493
Attorneys forbidden to defend criminal prosecutions carried on by their partners, or formerly by themselves 494
Attorneys may defend themselves 495
Corporations and voluntary associations not to practice law 496
An organization described in subdivision seven of section four hundred ninety-five of this article shall file with the appellate division... 497
Attorneys fiduciary funds 498
Professional referrals 499
Lawyer assistance committees
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Accessed:
May 3, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 478’s source at nysenate​.gov

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