Attorneys – Ethics Hotline

 

 

 

NYCLA Ethics Hotline

The NYCLA Committee on Professional Ethics accepts telephone inquiries on ethics matters through its NYCLA Ethics Hotline (“Hotline”) . For telephone assistance please contact the appropriate member listed below. Members are encouraged to review The Rules of Professional Conduct first.

Nature of Service and Non-Reliance. The Hotline provides informal, pro bono guidance regarding an inquiring attorney’s own ethical conduct. This service is for educational purposes and is NOT a substitute for your own independent legal research. By using this service, you agree to exercise your non-delegable duty to provide competent representation and will not rely on this Hotline as binding legal authority.

No Attorney-Client Relationship. Calls to the Hotline do not create an attorney-client relationship. Hotline volunteers are not acting as your counsel. You acknowledge the following:

The volunteer has not reviewed the full factual record of your matter;
The volunteer has not performed a conflict check to ensure neutrality;
Guidance is provided in a short-call context where relevant facts cannot be comprehensively provided.

Scope of Guidance. Questions are strictly limited to an inquiring attorney’s own future conduct under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct. Permitted Hotline callers are limited to New York licensed attorneys only.

The Hotline will not address answer questions regarding the following: The conduct of another attorney or opposing counsel; Pending legal proceedings or matters currently being litigated; Matters currently before a grievance committee; Hypothetical or general ethical questions not derived from an actual fact pattern; Questions of law outside of the NY Rules of Professional Conduct; Past conduct, unless relating to a continuing obligation.

Confidentiality vs. Privilege. Calls are confidential for the purpose of the caller’s identity and factual issues. However, because no attorney-client relationship exists, these communications are NOT privileged. They may be subject to discovery, subpoena, or disclosure under applicable law.

Express Waiver of Liability. As a condition of using this service, the caller expressly agrees that any guidance provided does not create any liability on the part of the volunteer attorney, the Ethics Committee, or NYCLA since you expressly agree to exercise your non-delegable duty to provide competent representation.  You hereby waive any and all claims arising out of this consultation.

No obligation to issue Formal Opinions. Feedback is provided orally and does not constitute a forum for requesting or receiving formal legal opinions.  Calling the Hotline does not create any obligation, contractual or otherwise, for the Professional Ethics Committee to issue a formal written opinion to the caller or regarding the caller’s specific matter.

Our Hotline is staffed by attorney volunteers, so we ask your patience if you are not able to reach someone immediately. We aim to return all calls within 24 hours.

Please Note: Assignments are subject to change.

---

 

Hotline Schedule – 2026