N.Y. Judiciary Law § 476-a: Action for unlawful practice of the law

§ 476-a. Action for unlawful practice of the law. 1. The

attorney-general may maintain an action upon his or her own information

or upon the complaint of a private person or of a bar association

organized and existing under the laws of this state against any person,

partnership, corporation, or association, and any employee, agent,

director, or officer thereof who commits any act or engages in any

conduct prohibited by law as constituting the unlawful practice of the

law. The term "action" as used in this subdivision shall be construed to

include both civil actions and criminal actions.

The term "unlawful practice of the law" as used in this article shall

include, but is not limited to,

(a) any act prohibited by penal law sections two hundred seventy, two

hundred seventy-a, two hundred seventy-e, two hundred seventy-one, two

hundred seventy-five, two hundred seventy-five-a, two hundred

seventy-six, two hundred eighty or fourteen hundred fifty-two, or

(b) any other act forbidden by law to be done by any person not

regularly licensed and admitted to practice law in this state, or

(c) any act punishable by the supreme court as a criminal contempt of

court under section seven hundred fifty-B of this chapter.

2. Such a civil action may also be maintained by a bar association

organized and existing under the laws of the state of New York, upon an

application to the supreme court of the state of New York, or a justice

thereof, for leave to bring the same by such bar association on good

cause shown therefor and proof that a written request was made upon the

attorney-general to bring such an action and that more than twenty days

have elapsed since the making of such request and he or she has failed

or refused to bring such an action.