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For Release: Immediately
December 12, 2012
Contact: Mark Mahoney
Associate Director, Media Services & Public Affairs
mmahoney@nysba.org
518-487-5532
GOVERNOR ACTS TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS FROM
THOSE IMPERSONATING ATTORNEYS
New York State Bar Association President Seymour W. James Jr. today
praised the state Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo for enacting
legislation to protect individuals from dishonest persons who falsely
represent themselves as lawyers.
"When New Yorkers have legal problems, they deserve a
real attorney. Unscrupulous individuals pretending to be lawyers often
prey on immigrants and the poor. The consequences of their bad advice
can be life altering for their victims, resulting in jail time, loss of
child custody, deportation and financial hardship," said James (The
Legal Aid Society in New York City).
Under existing New York law, it is a misdemeanor to
impersonate a lawyer, even if a victim is seriously harmed. In contrast,
it is a felony to impersonate a doctor, dentist, veterinarian, social
worker, accountant, landscape architect, court stenographer or many
other licensed professionals.
The new measure toughens the law to protect innocent New
Yorkers against predators who fraudulently hold themselves out to be
lawyers. It makes it a Class E felony for anyone who does this to cause
another person to suffer monetary loss exceeding $1,000 or material
damage resulting in the impairment of a legal right.
The legislation incorporated language developed by the
State Bar Association and approved by its Executive Committee earlier
this year.
The new law, signed by the Governor today, takes effect
November 1, 2013.
"The Legislature and Governor rightly recognize the
potential damage that people impersonating lawyers can cause their
victims," James said.
The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the
largest voluntary state bar association in the country. It was founded
in 1876.
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