What You Need to Know About Finding a Lawyer

• If you can afford an attorney: You may call the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Legal Referral Service at 212-626-7373 (English) 212-626-7374 (Spanish). You can also speak with friends or neighbors who may know an attorney, or search online for  “criminal defense attorney nyc.”
• If you cannot afford an attorney: The court will appoint a lawyer for you at your arraignment from a defense organization like The Legal Aid Society.
• If the police are looking for you: If the police are looking to arrest you, or have asked that you come to the precinct for some reason and you cannot afford an attorney, call the Criminal Defense office in the county of the precinct of arrest. An attorney will advise you and may accompany you to the precinct.

If you know what office your attorney is from but forget the attorney’s name, call that office in the county where your case is. If you know the name of your attorney, but don’t know his or her location, you can try the Attorney Inquiry website.

If you don’t know which defender organization was assigned to your matter, you can call The Legal Aid Society Criminal Defense office in the borough you were arrested and someone will help you.

New York County (Manhattan)

• The Legal Aid Society: 212-298-5000
• New York County Defender Services: 212-803-5100
• Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem: 212-876-5500
• 18-b Panel Attorneys 212-676-0063
• 0060 Angelina Morcelo: 212-676-0081
• 0082 Lorraine Turner

Bronx County

• The Legal Aid Society 718-579-3000
• Bronx Defenders 718-838-7878
• 18-b Panel Attorneys 212-676-0063 (Angelina Morcelo)
• 18-b Panel Attorneys 212-676-0081 (Lorraine Turner)

Kings County (Brooklyn)

• The Legal Aid Society 718-237-2000
• Brooklyn Defender Services 718-254-0700
• 18-b Panel Attorneys 212-676-0099 (Jennifer James)

Queens County

• The Legal Aid Society: 718-286-2000
• Queens Law Associates: 718-261-3047
• 18-b Panel Attorneys: 212-676-0099 (Jennifer James)

Richmond County (Staten Island)

• The Legal Aid Society: 347-422-5333
• 18-b Panel Attorneys: 212-676-0061 (Jeanette Descheers)

• Attorney Search Tool

The information in this document has been prepared by The Legal Aid Society for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. You should not act upon any information without retaining professional legal counsel.