Visitor Information

With New York City having ended its Key to NYC program, and in consideration of public health guidance and the low COVID transmission rates in and around the City, the New York City Bar Association is no longer requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination or wear a mask when entering the building. In keeping with public health recommendations, we strongly recommend vaccinations for all visitors.  If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been instructed to isolate, you should reschedule your visit to the building.  Masks are not required, but we respect and fully support each person’s decision to wear a mask. In small (1 to 4 person) meetings where it is easier to accommodate individual preferences, please wear a mask if other attendees ask you to.

While we are hopeful and optimistic about the progress made thus far in the pandemic, we will continue to carefully monitor public health guidance and implement policies that prioritize everyone's safety and health.

This page is intended to serve as an ongoing hub to inform City Bar members and the public about access to the building, as well as City Bar activities and other helpful resources during the pandemic.

Scroll down to read about how the City Bar has responded to the pandemic, through its pro bono work, legal referral service, small law firm center, highlights of COVID-19 related court directives and executive orders, and more.

City Bar Justice Center Resources

CLEs and Programs

We are updating our roster of On-Demand CLE programs, creating new, timely CLE programming to be delivered via live webinars. Effective September 7, we will be reintroducing a limited selection of live programs and CLE in-person.

Lawyers Assistance Project - Mental Health & Well-being

The City Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program is a free, confidential service for attorneys, judges, law students and their family members in New York City who are struggling with alcohol or drug use, depression, anxiety and stress, as well as other addictions and mental health issues, remains available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 212-302-5787.

City Bar Legal Referral Service

The Legal Referral Service is fully operational with all attorney referral counselors and participating lawyers working remotely. The call is free and, if referred, the initial virtual or phone consultation will be free and will last for up to 30 minutes. Call 212-626-7373 (212-626-7374 en español) or submit a lawyer referral request online.

LRS Legal Resources:

Association Library Resources

To serve the legal community, the library’s member online services will continue to be available, as will Fastcase, the online legal research platform that is free for its members. The Library hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Small Law Firm Center

The Small Law Firm Center continues to produce specialized programming on effective client relations, business development, marketing and more. It has launched remote bi-monthly chats where solo and small-firm practitioners can share best practices and help one another during this period. If you are a solo or small-firm practitioner and would like to be included, please contact Eve Guillergan, Small Law Firm Center Manager.

The Center also provides advice and coaching to solo and small firm members in the area of practice management. Please contact Eve Guillergan for an appointment or any questions.

Customer Relations

Customer Relations can be reached by email at customerrelations@nycbar.org or by calling 212-382-6663.

For real-time updates from the New York City Bar Association, please follow us at our social media accounts on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

City Bar CLE Programs and Events in Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

March 2020 – December 2020

 

Model Attestation Clause

With the pandemic continuing to impede our ability to conduct face-to-face meetings, some New Yorkers are now executing their Last Will and Testament remotely. The Trusts, Estates & Surrogate’s Court Committee has drafted a model attestation clause for use by those who bear witness to wills by live video conference.

(PDF) (docx)

COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Support for Provisions of the HEROES Act - Letter to New York Congressional Representatives, July 24, 2020
The HEROES Act is an extensive COVID-19 relief package that was passed by the House of Representatives in May. This letter outlines support for a number of provisions contained in the bill and urges their inclusion in any final relief package that is adopted. Issues include funding for civil legal services, providing proportionate relief for nonprofit organizations, reducing and protecting prison populations and adopting consumer protections. Significant policy and funding decisions need to be made across a wide variety of areas in crisis, including housing and education, but the letter is limited to those areas on which the City Bar has previously urged Congressional action.