The Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection

The  Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection is a State agency established in 1982 to provide reimbursement to law clients who have lost money or property as a result of a lawyer's dishonest conduct in the practice of law.  Typical losses reimbursed by the Fund include the theft of escrow deposits in real property transactions, stolen estate and trust assets, failure to distribute settlements in personal injury litigation, theft of debt collection receipts, money embezzled in investment transactions within an attorney-client relationship and the practice of law, and unearned fees paid in advance to lawyers who falsely promise to perform their legal services.

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Top FAQs

Who Finances the Lawyers’ Fund?
New York’s legal profession financially supports the Lawyers’ Fund.  The biennial registration fee required of every practicing attorney in the State is the primary source of revenue for the…
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What losses are covered by the Lawyers’ Fund?
The Trustees may reimburse losses caused by the dishonest conduct of lawyers admitted to the practice of law in New York State, up to a maximum of $400,000 for each client loss. Dishonest conduct…
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How do I file a claim?
A completed application for reimbursement along with supporting documentation must be filed with the Fund in order for a law client to be considered for an award of reimbursement. There is no…
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The Fund's Mission

To protect legal consumers from dishonest conduct in the practice of law, to preserve the integrity of the bar, to safeguard the good name of lawyers for their honesty in handling client money, to promote public confidence in the administration of justice in the Empire State.

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Claim Forms

A completed application for reimbursement along with supporting documentation must be filed with the Fund in order for a law client to be considered for an award of reimbursement. There is no application fee, and clients are not required to be represented by counsel.

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Escrow and Ethics Materials

Resources and guidelines specifically designed for lawyers regarding the proper handling of client funds held in escrow accounts, which are essentially neutral third-party accounts used to temporarily hold money during a transaction until all conditions are met, while adhering to ethical standards set by the legal profession

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