Office of Court Administration Makes Changes to Attorney Registration Requirement
10.31.2023
Starting Dec. 1, New York admitted attorneys will have to complete their biennial registration online. The registration requirement is not new, but attorneys will no longer be able to fill out a paper form.
The requirement applies to all New York admitted attorneys whether they are resident or non-resident, active or retired, or practicing law in New York or elsewhere. Registration is due within 30 days of the attorney’s birthday.
In a letter to bar association presidents, Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George noted that 80% of attorneys are already registering online.
“Mandatory online registration reduces paper waste, shortens processing times and improves data collection, including the accuracy and completeness of attorney information. Embracing an electronic registration system will save money for the state and enhance the court system’s ability to contact and serve attorneys,” Judge Zayas said.
Attorneys obligated to pay the $375 biennial registration fee may securely do so online using a credit card or debit card (with a 2.99% service fee) or with an eCheck (with a $1 service fee), the court system announced.
No fee is required from attorneys who certify that they are retired from the practice of law as defined in Part 118.1(g) or serve as in-house counsel and foreign legal consultants covered by Part 118.3.
A revised biennial registration notice will be introduced in December. While a paper notice of an attorney’s biennial renewal date will continue to be mailed to attorneys who have not opted to receive email notifications, the new notice will no longer include a paper registration form to complete and return by mail. However, any paper forms already in circulation will continue to be accepted for filing for the time being.
In conjunction with the new online filing mandate, attorneys will be required to establish an online services account to log on to the electronic registration system. The system allows attorneys to maintain contact information, pay the biennial fee, report CLE compliance and affirm other certifications required by court rules.
The online services account credential also permits attorneys to securely log on to other UCS systems such as NYSCEF, eTrack, and other portals used for eFiling and case management.
