Practicing Law in New York | Get the Latest Updates & Insider Tips on New York Legal Careers

SUMMARY

Practicing law in New York can be an intimidating and challenging task, but also a rewarding one. An attorney who has the right amount of preparation and knowledge can be successful in New York. This article outlines the essential considerations for a lawyer looking to practice law in New York.


Before practicing law in New York, an attorney must first become admitted to the bar. This requires the completion of an application and proof of good moral character. In addition to the bar exam, there are additional assessment steps an attorney must complete to be admitted and to receive a license. These assessments may include background checks, character and fitness reviews, and an ethics and practice exam.

Once an attorney is admitted to the bar, there are several important considerations for practicing law in New York. It is important to understand the laws and regulations governing the practice of law in the state. Attorneys should also familiarize themselves with the rules and procedures of the court system in New York, in order to effectively represent clients in court.

One of the most important aspects of practicing in New York is the establishment of a professional reputation. Attorneys should make sure that they are committed to providing honest and professional services to their clients. They should also be diligent in maintaining their reputation by avoiding any behavior or actions that could damage it.

For attorneys looking to practice law in New York, it is essential to understand the importance of attorney-client privilege. Attorneys must not discuss or reveal information that their clients have shared during a consultation or otherwise. This is to protect their clients' best interests, as well as to maintain the attorney's own professional reputation.

In addition to the abovementioned considerations, attorneys should also be aware of the requirements for professional insurance. It is important to note that the minimum coverage requirements for professional liability insurance vary by state. All attorneys should understand their state's requirements for liability coverage and make sure that they have the necessary insurance in place.

Practicing law in New York can be an intimidating challenge, but also a rewarding one. With the right amount of preparation and knowledge, attorneys can be successful in New York. By understanding the bar admission process, the New York court system, maintaining a professional reputation, and understanding attorney-client privilege and liability insurance requirements, attorneys can prepare to practice law in New York.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS ARTICLE

 

What are the best places in New York City to find legal jobs?

Legal job opportunities can be found with the FBI, Legal Aid Society, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and other New York City enterprises.
 

How can I stay ahead of the competition when looking for a legal job in NYC?

Consider internships and volunteer opportunities that help you build experience. Staying ahead of the competition also involves being informed about the latest job openings, staying current with legal news, attending relevant events, and networking.
 

What are some tips for successfully impressing clients in NYC?

Consider booking a table at the renowned Four Seasons restaurant or Rao’s in Harlem when taking clients out to lunch. Showing off unique, fashionable accessories from Paul Smith can also help you stand out.
 

How can I expand my professional network in NYC?

Attend relevant events and workshops, join professional organizations and networks, and build relationships with colleagues and mentors. Networking is key in NYC, so stay connected and reach out to people you want to get to know.
 

What are some of the best places for attorneys to unwind after work in NYC?

Popular bars and clubs include Hudson Bar, Underbar, and Centro-Fly. Craft and Town restaurants are also great spots to meet with friends or colleagues.

After September 11, doubters predicted that scores of residents and businesses would flee New York in fear. But this city isn't the proving ground for the best and the brightest for nothing. Witness Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, the World Trade Center Tower 1 law firm that was up and running on September 12, even as clients and opponents offered to put matters on hold and allow the firm time to regroup. Yes, things have changed immeasurably in the past year-term limits have sent Sir Rudy into the private sector, an awful scar remains at Ground Zero, and the decade-long party known as the nineties is a distant memory. But the fact is the city is well on its way toward rebuilding, and a stubborn sense of optimism is reemerging. The economy-including law firm work-is picking up. Restaurants and clubs are hopping. And Mayor Bloomberg takes weekends off he's so confident things are chill. In other words, this most urbane of cities remains the undisputed legal capital of America-and one of the world's most exciting places to live.

HOT JOBS
Despite notable layoffs at other big firms in 2001, Sullivan & Cromwell, a world leader in M&A deals, and Schulte Roth & Zabel, with its highbrow trusts-and-estates practice, grew significantly. New York-centric Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which serves top-shelf Wall Street clients, is unrivaled in prestige. Shearman & Sterling handles some of the world's most challenging international work. And mega-megafirm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom offers diversified practice areas, unsurpassed name recognition, and a tidy starting salary of $140,000 per year.

Don't forget about in-house positions. New York is home to dozens of Fortune 500 companies- AOL Time Warner alone employs more than 400 lawyers companywide, many in its various New York City enterprises.

Billing hours not your idea of a good time? Crack down on terrorists, wiseguys, and other ne'er-do-wells as a special agent with the FBI-the New York office will likely add scores of JDs in 2002. If you prefer your pay in karma points, the Legal Aid Society employs some 900 attorneys who represent indigents and other clients in need. Still in law school? Try an internship with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office-you might get to second-chair an ADA on a trial.

HOT TICKETS
For those keeping score, the Nets and Mets are in, the Knicks and Yankees are out; get your season tickets before the rest of the tristate area catches on. On Broadway, try Urinetown (a smart, funny satire disguised as a postapocalyptic musical about public toilets) or Topdog/Underdog (the rapper Mos Def and Ali's Jeffrey Wright star as a pair of down-and-out dysfunctional brothers). If fine art's your thing, hit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Splendid Isolation: Art of Easter Island" runs through August 4.

HOT NEIGHBORHOODS
It still ain't cheap to live in Manhattan, but areas near Ground Zero, such as Battery Park City and TriBeCa, are seeing real bargains (some people are uncomfortable living there; others see it as patriotic). Hip, happening Chelsea and the "edge neighborhoods" east and west of midtown (Turtle Bay, Hell's Kitchen) are relatively affordable. Get the most bang for your buck by voting yourself off the island to booming Fort Greene, Brooklyn, or Astoria, Queens.

HOT SHOPPING
When in New York, go to Barneys-the country's best all-around spot for men's and women's business threads. If money's tight, wait for the legendary warehouse sales (August and February). The fiscally fit hit the new Rem Koolhaas-designed Prada flagship store, in SoHo, or Jeffrey, in the meatpacking district, for daring designer finds-especially shoes. Edgy boutique-firm types can distinguish themselves with accessories from Paul Smith-maybe a polka-dot wallet?

HOT RESTAURANTS
With all due respect to Paris, New York is still the finest place on the planet to chow down. Two hot spots of the moment are Craft (the latest offering from Gramercy Tavern chef and foodie god Tom Colicchio) and Town (New American cuisine in one of the city's chicest dining rooms). Nothing will impress a client like lunch at midtown's renowned Four Seasons restaurant-try the sautéed bison, and don't forget the company AmEx. If you can get a table at Rao's, Martin Scorsese's sometime hangout in Harlem, order pasta and forget practicing law 'cause you've already made it.

HOT BARS
NYC sets the lubrication trends, so pay attention if you want to know what they'll be downing in Des Moines two years from now. If Salvador Dalí were alive and drinking, he'd be at Hudson Bar-the latest A-lister hangout (Gwyneth, Matt, et al.) with such surrealist design touches as a log bench next to Louis XV chairs. A plush, private booth at Underbar (below the W Hotel Union Square) is a prime place for canoodling. Later, if you must get jiggy, the massive dance floor at Centro-Fly will obscure your "developing" moves.