Find a Qualified Lawyer in New York City

How the New York City Bar Legal Referral Service Works

Need a lawyer in New York City? The Legal Referral Service (LRS) connects you with experienced, vetted attorneys who match your specific legal needs.

What Happens When You Contact Us:

We talk through your situation with you in plain language. We want to understand the legal issue you’re facing and result you would like to see happen. Based on that conversation, we determine whether hiring a lawyer would be cost-effective or beneficial for your situation.

If you need a lawyer, we match you with an attorney from our network whose experience fits your specific legal needs.

If you don’t need a lawyer, we explain why and do our best to connect you with reliable, cost-effective resources instead. Our goal is to help you understand your options before you spend money on legal help.

Submit an online request HERE. Our counselors review every online request. You can also call 212-626-7373 (English) or 212-626-7374 (Español) to speak with a trained referral counselor at no charge.

How Much Will the Legal Referral Service Cost?

There is no charge for speaking with an LRS referral counselor or submitting an online request for a referral counselor to review.

We only ask for your debit or credit card information to preauthorize your card to cover the cost of your initial consultation ($35) in case you do receive a referral and meet an LRS lawyer. We do not charge your card until we receive confirmation from you or the lawyer that you had an initial. If no consultation took place, we release the preauthorization and the pending charge will disappear from your account in 3-5 business days.

How We Vet Attorneys in Our Network

Every lawyer in our network undergoes a rigorous vetting process before they can accept referrals. We don’t simply list attorneys who pay to be included—we require every one of our attorneys to complete a detailed application and we interview them to learn more about their experience in each area of law for which they have applied. We also verify their qualifications – qualifications that online directories and search results might not be able to confirm or show you.

Our Attorney Vetting Process Includes:

• Experience verification: We require attorneys to have substantial practice experience and documented work history, including years practicing in each area of law for which they would like to receive referrals .
• Bar standing confirmation: We verify good standing before the Bar of the State of New York.
• Malpractice insurance requirements: Every attorney must carry professional liability insurance and provide proof of coverage—protecting you in the unlikely event something goes wrong.
• Disciplinary and malpractice claims history review: We require disclosure of any malpractice claim or disciplinary proceedings.
• Confirmation of Practice Area Experience: Attorneys must specify their area of practice and demonstrate active experience in those areas.
• Physical office verification: We confirm attorneys maintain accessible office locations where they meet with clients in person, if needed.

We maintain a network of hundreds of attorneys across 150 practice areas serving all five boroughs of New York City, in addition to surrounding counties on Long Island and Westchester. Every LRS attorney has agreed to our consultation fee structure and is committed to providing accessible, professional service to the potential clients we refer to them.

Why Use a Legal Referral Service Instead of Searching Online?

When you search for a lawyer online, it might be difficult to know if they’re qualified to assist you with your specific issue or if you even need a lawyer at all. It can also be difficult to determine exactly what kind of lawyer you may need.

The NYC Bar Legal Referral Service is different:

• We provide guidance first—we help you understand if hiring a lawyer makes sense for your situation.
• We match you with a lawyer based on your specific legal issue—and not just in a general practice area, but the specific sub-area of law that your type of case or matter requires.
• We pre-screen every attorney—you are not sorting through paid ads or online directories that any attorney could pay to be featured in.

About the New York City Bar Legal Referral Service

Founded in 1946, the NYC Bar Legal Referral Service (LRS) is one of the oldest lawyer referral services in the country and was the first in New York approved by the American Bar Association.

We were created by two nonprofit associations—the New York City Bar Association (est. 1870) and the New York County Lawyers’ Association (est. 1908)—with a simple mission: to help individuals and businesses find the right lawyer for their legal needs.

For 80 years, we’ve connected New Yorkers with experienced, vetted attorneys and provided guidance to people who aren’t sure where to start.

Our Service Areas

We serve individuals and businesses throughout New York City, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. In addition, we also serve surrounding counties on Long Island and Westchester.

 Common Legal Issues We Handle Referrals For

Our attorney network includes lawyers who practice in nearly every area of law, including:

• Family Law (divorce, custody, child support)
• Landlord-Tenant Law (tenants’ rights, evictions, leases and subleases, property disputes)
• Employment & Labor law
• Immigration Law
• Personal Injury
• Business and Corporate Law
• Estate planning and probate
• Criminal Defense
• Consumers’ Rights
• Workers’ Compensation
• Legal Malpractice

Whether you need legal representation or just clear information about your legal options, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

Ready to find a lawyer? Call 212-626-7373 or submit an online request today.