§ 476-a. Action for unlawful practice of the law.
1.The\nattorney-general may maintain an action upon his or her own information\nor upon the complaint of a private person or of a bar association\norganized and existing under the laws of this state against any person,\npartnership, corporation, or association, and any employee, agent,\ndirector, or officer thereof who commits any act or engages in any\nconduct prohibited by law as constituting the unlawful practice of the\nlaw. The term "action" as used in this subdivision shall be construed to\ninclude both civil actions and criminal actions.\n The term "unlawful practice of the law" as used in this article shall\ninclude, but is not limited to,\n (a) any act prohibited by penal law sections two hundred seventy, two\nhundred seventy
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§ 476-a. Action for unlawful practice of the law. 1. The\nattorney-general may maintain an action upon his or her own information\nor upon the complaint of a private person or of a bar association\norganized and existing under the laws of this state against any person,\npartnership, corporation, or association, and any employee, agent,\ndirector, or officer thereof who commits any act or engages in any\nconduct prohibited by law as constituting the unlawful practice of the\nlaw. The term "action" as used in this subdivision shall be construed to\ninclude both civil actions and criminal actions.\n The term "unlawful practice of the law" as used in this article shall\ninclude, but is not limited to,\n (a) any act prohibited by penal law sections two hundred seventy, two\nhundred seventy-a, two hundred seventy-e, two hundred seventy-one, two\nhundred seventy-five, two hundred seventy-five-a, two hundred\nseventy-six, two hundred eighty or fourteen hundred fifty-two, or\n (b) any other act forbidden by law to be done by any person not\nregularly licensed and admitted to practice law in this state, or\n (c) any act punishable by the supreme court as a criminal contempt of\ncourt under section seven hundred fifty-B of this chapter.\n 2. Such a civil action may also be maintained by a bar association\norganized and existing under the laws of the state of New York, upon an\napplication to the supreme court of the state of New York, or a justice\nthereof, for leave to bring the same by such bar association on good\ncause shown therefor and proof that a written request was made upon the\nattorney-general to bring such an action and that more than twenty days\nhave elapsed since the making of such request and he or she has failed\nor refused to bring such an action.\n