Market data
Criminal defense in New York: market data
What public records say about the market for criminal defense in New York: how much demand the courts and agencies count, how many law offices serve it, how many people need help in Spanish, and the ad rules that apply. Every number links to the record it comes from.
Demand: what courts and agencies count
Counts of filings, crashes, complaints and enforcement in the records each agency keeps. A count shows where problems were recorded, not how many people will hire a lawyer.
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 2,073 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | New York state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 546 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | New York state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 375 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | New York state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 278 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | New York state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 458 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Eastern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYE:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 91 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Eastern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYE:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 152 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Eastern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYE:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 21 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Eastern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYE:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 483 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 98 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 25 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 131 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 748 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 235 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 164 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 23 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 384 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Western District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYW:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 122 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Western District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYW:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 34 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Western District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYW:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 103 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Western District of New York federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:NYW:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Rising or falling
The change between the last two periods each source publishes. No threshold and no smoothing.
| Measure | Before | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal criminal defendants charged New York · record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 | 2,164 2025-12-31 | 2,073 2026-06-30 | falling (-4.2%) |
| Federal drug defendants New York · record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 | 612 2025-12-31 | 546 2026-06-30 | falling (-10.8%) |
| Federal fraud defendants New York · record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 | 402 2025-12-31 | 375 2026-06-30 | falling (-6.7%) |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants New York · record criminal-filings:state-NY:2026-06-30 | 290 2025-12-31 | 278 2026-06-30 | falling (-4.1%) |
Lawyer supply
How many law offices and lawyers the federal statistics count here.
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New lawyers admitted | 7,392 lawyers a year | 2025 | New York state | bar-pipeline v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721443 record ny-bar-pipeline · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Counties under 1 law office per 10,000 residents | 3 counties | 2026-Q1 | New York state | deserts v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430 record deserts-36 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Counties with no law office | 1 counties | 2026-Q1 | New York state | deserts v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430 record deserts-36 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Residents living in those low-office counties | 0.7 percent of residents | 2026-Q1 | New York state | deserts v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430 record deserts-36 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Employer law firms | 11,590 firms | 2022 | New York state | law-firm-economy v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23739997 record lfe-ny-all · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Receipts of employer law firms | 58,151,775,000 US dollars | 2022 | New York state | law-firm-economy v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23739997 record lfe-ny-all · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Law offices per 10,000 residents | 6.13 per 10,000 residents | 2026-Q1 | New York state | law-offices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415 record law-offices-36 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Self-employed lawyers (nonemployer firms) | 24,323 firms | latest Nonemployer Statistics year | New York state | law-offices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415 record law-offices-36 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Private law offices | 12,265 establishments | 2026-Q1 | New York state | law-offices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415 record law-offices-36 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Lawyers employed (wage-earning, BLS OEWS) | 91,870 jobs | May 2025 | New York state | lawyer-wages v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734840 record lawyer-wages:NY:231011:2025 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Median annual wage of employed lawyers | 207,860 US dollars a year | May 2025 | New York state | lawyer-wages v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734840 record lawyer-wages:NY:231011:2025 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Spanish-language demand
People who speak Spanish and speak English less than very well, and the lawyers who speak Spanish, from the Census Bureau survey (with margins of error).
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers who speak Spanish at home (ACS) | 5,764 ±825 lawyers | 2020-2024 | New York state | language v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758 record language:state:NY:lawyers-spanish · status P · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Spanish speakers with limited English per Spanish-speaking lawyer | 214 ±30.8 people per lawyer | 2020-2024 | New York state | language v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758 record language:state:NY:lep-per-spanish-lawyer · status P · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Spanish speakers with limited English (ACS) | 1,235,249 ±12,400 people age 5+ | 2020-2024 | New York state | language v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758 record language:state:NY:spanish-lep · status P · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Spanish speakers with limited English | 1,235,249 ±12,251 people age 5+ | 2020-2024 | New York state | legal-need v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23741886 record legal-need-ny · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Ad rules that apply
The rules a law firm's ads in New York have to meet, summarized from the official texts. The full rules, with quotes, are on the state page.
| Topic | Status | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Ad filing or review | P primary source | None. New Rule 7.1, effective June 1, 2026, replaces the old Rule 7.1 in its entirety. It has four paragraphs (a)-(d) and no filing, pre-approval or retention duty. New Rule 7.3 also has no filing or recipient-list duty. official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Required content | P primary source | Any communication must include the name and contact information of at least one lawyer or law firm responsible for its content (7.1(d)). The rules set no "Attorney Advertising" label, no set disclaimer and no required office address. official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Waiting periods for contact | P primary source | None for plaintiffs' lawyers since June 1, 2026. Rule 4.5 bars unsolicited contact with an injured person before the 30th day after the incident, but only for lawyers for actual or potential defendants (15 days if a filing is due within 30 days). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Claims and results | P primary source | New Rule 7.1 has no separate clause on past results, testimonials or comparisons. All claims answer to the ban on false or misleading communications, which covers a material misrepresentation of fact or law or an omitted fact (7.1(a)). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Paying for referrals | P primary source | A lawyer may not compensate or give anything of value to a person or organization to recommend or obtain employment by a client (7.2(a)). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Call recording | P primary source | One-party consent: eavesdropping is defined as recording a conversation, without the consent of at least one party, by a person not present (Penal Law § 250.00). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Texting | P primary source | The Secretary of State may fine up to $20,000 per violation of New York's telemarketing law (General Business Law § 399-z). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Ad filing or review | P primary source | New York: no filing or review of lawyer ads is required. official source · filing v1.2.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721409 · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Paying for referrals | P primary source | Lawyers in different firms may split a fee if the split matches the work each does, or if each lawyer takes joint responsibility by a writing given to the client, and the total fee is not excessive. official source · referral v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23747113 · checked 2026-10-27 |
Prices and pay (national)
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs in legal services (seasonally adjusted) | 1,249 thousand jobs | 2026-09 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:CES6054110001:2026-09 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| CPI-U: legal services | 230 index | 2026-09 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:CUUR0000SEGC01:2026-09 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| PPI: offices of lawyers | 338 index | 2026-09 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:PCU541110541110:2026-09 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| PPI: criminal legal services | 102 index | 2023-03 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:PCU541110541110B:2023-03 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Download and cite
The rows behind this page, with every dataset, version, DOI, record id and check date.
Cite as: Probative Growth, The new-lawyer pipeline by jurisdiction: bar exam pass rates and new admissions, 2025 v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721443); Federal criminal cases by offense and district (U.S. Courts Tables D-1, D-2 and D-3) v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206); Legal deserts: law offices and lawyers per resident in every U.S. county v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430); Spanish-speaking demand vs Spanish-speaking lawyer supply, by state and metro v1.1.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758); Law firm size, solos and receipts, by state: Census SUSB 2022, Nonemployer Statistics 2024 and Economic Census 2022 v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23739997); Law offices, jobs and pay by county, with solo-practice counts: BLS QCEW, Census CBP and Nonemployer Statistics v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415); Lawyer, paralegal and legal-staff pay by state and metro (BLS OEWS) v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734840); Legal need by county: who may need a lawyer, from the American Community Survey v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23741886); Legal-services prices and jobs, monthly (BLS CPI, PPI and CES) v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854); CC BY 4.0. https://probativegrowth.com/markets/new-york/criminal-defense/
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How this page is built
Each figure is copied from one record of the dataset named with it, joined to this state and practice through the open practice and place crosswalk. Nothing is estimated. Methods, inputs and limits.