What's happening
This bill allows attorneys to make limited scope appearances in civil cases, clarifying procedures for their engagement and withdrawal.
Why it matters
Expands access to legal help. by allowing people to hire attorneys for specific parts of a civil case, which can make legal services more affordable and tailored to individual needs.
Clarifies attorney-client relationships. in court by requiring attorneys to file a notice that clearly defines the limited purpose of their appearance, helping prevent confusion for judges, opposing parties, and self-represented litigants.
Simplifies attorney withdrawal. after their specific tasks are complete, reducing administrative hurdles and ensuring smoother transitions back to self-representation or to other attorneys if needed.
Provides judicial oversight. by allowing courts to intervene and deny withdrawal only in extraordinary circumstances, balancing client autonomy with the need for court control in complex cases.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Limited Court Appearances
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8439
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 8, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BUCHWALD -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to limited scope appearances
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 321 of the civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new subdivision (d) to read as follows:
(d) Limited scope appearance. 1. An attorney may appear on behalf of a party in a civil action or proceeding for limited purposes. Whenever an attorney appears for limited purposes, a notice of limited scope appearance shall be filed in addition to any self-represented appearance that the party may have already filed with the court. The notice of limited scope appearance shall be signed by the attorney entering the limited scope appearance and shall define the purposes for which the attorney is appearing. Upon such filing, and unless otherwise directed by the court, the attorney shall be entitled to appear for the defined purposes.
2. Unless otherwise directed by the court upon a finding of extraordinary circumstances and for good cause shown, upon completion of the purposes for which the attorney has filed a limited scope appearance, the attorney shall file a notice of completion of limited scope appearance which shall constitute the attorney's withdrawal from the action or proceeding.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11719-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.