New York Ethical Rules & Resources
Official rules, opinions, and practical guidance for New York attorneys
We’ve curated key New York ethics resources for attorneys and law firms—covering the Rules of Professional Conduct, trust accounting (Rule 1.15), ethics opinions, attorney discipline, and fee disputes. Links below point to official or authoritative sources.
Core Rules & Official Text
Rules of Professional Conduct (Part 1200)
- 22 NYCRR Part 1200 (PDF) — NY Rules of Professional Conduct
- Joint Appellate Rules index — Part 1200 downloads & updates
Trust Accounts & Recordkeeping (Rule 1.15)
- Rule 1.15 (PDF) — Preserving identity of funds; fiduciary responsibility; recordkeeping
- Trust accounting CLE guide (PDF) — Practical recordkeeping/trust-account guidance
Attorney Discipline Rules (Part 1240)
- 22 NYCRR Part 1240 (PDF) — Uniform Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters
- Attorney Grievance Committees (NY Courts) — Overview, contacts, and related resources
Fee Disputes (Part 137)
- 22 NYCRR Part 137 — Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program
Practice note: The rules control; comments and secondary materials may be persuasive, but aren’t themselves binding.
Trust Accounts, IOLA & Client Funds
IOLA Program
- IOLA Laws & program background
- Escrow accounts, IOLA & ethics (NYSBA) — practical overview
Client Protection
- Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection — claims, publications, and guidance
Discipline & Complaints
- How to file a complaint (NY Courts)
- First Department AGC — Manhattan/Bronx
- Second Department grievance committees — Downstate counties
Ethics Opinions & Guidance
NYSBA Ethics Opinions
- Search NYSBA Ethics Opinions — current and archived opinions
- Committee on Professional Ethics — how opinions work & scope limits
NYC Bar Ethics Resources
- Ethics Panel overview (hotline & guidance)
- Informal Ethics Opinions
- Generative AI ethics resources — curated opinions & reports
Research Tools & Practice Support
How to Research NY Legal Ethics
- NY Courts law library guide (PDF) — finding rules, opinions, and cases
Common Practice Areas
- Rule 1.15 (Trust Accounting) — Law Ledgers ethics resources (internal)
- Trust-account compliance support — reconciliations, ledgers, audit readiness (internal)
Need Help With NY Ethics or Trust-Account Compliance?
Law Ledgers helps New York law firms keep clean books and strong internal controls—especially around client funds, escrow/IOLA accounting, and audit-ready recordkeeping. If you have a specific workflow question (e.g., settlements, retainers, third-party funds, special accounts), we can help you implement a compliant process.
Contact us to discuss your compliance needs.
We provide year-round support so you can reduce risk and avoid surprises.
Note: This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Linked materials are provided as a courtesy. Law Ledgers is not affiliated with New York State/City agencies, the NY Courts, NYSBA, NYC Bar, IOLA, or the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection.