Lawyers in Buffalo, NY

Finding a lawyer in Buffalo

Buffalo is the seat of Erie County in western New York, near the Canadian border and Niagara Falls. Most civil and criminal cases arising in the city are heard in the Erie County courts, and the city is also home to a federal courthouse for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. As the largest city in upstate New York, Buffalo's legal market includes firms handling personal injury, family law and business matters for the wider western New York region.

This page lists Buffalo law firms by practice area. Open a listing to see contact details and confirm the attorney's registration status before reaching out.

Practice areas people search for in Buffalo

• Personal Injury — car accidents, falls and other injuries caused by negligence, filed in Erie County courts.
• Family & Divorce — divorce, custody and support matters heard in New York's Supreme and Family Courts for Erie County.
• Criminal Defense — representation in Erie County's local and county courts, from arraignment through trial.
• Workers' Compensation — on-the-job injury benefits through the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.
• Real Estate — residential and commercial closings, leases and disputes across the Buffalo area.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts and estate administration filed in Erie County's Surrogate's Court.
• Business — company formation and contract disputes for western New York employers.

How to choose a lawyer in Buffalo

Confirm the attorney is currently registered through the New York State Unified Court System public attorney search, which shows registration status, admission year and any public discipline. New York has no mandatory state bar, so this registration check is the key first step.

Ask whether the firm regularly appears in Erie County courts, or federal court if your matter involves a federal issue, and who will handle your file. Clarify billing before signing — contingency fees are typical for personal injury cases, while family and business matters tend to be hourly or flat fee — and get any agreement in writing.

Free and low-cost help

Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo provides free civil legal help to low-income residents in housing, family and benefits matters. The Bar Association of Erie County runs a lawyer referral service for a reduced-cost consultation, and the University at Buffalo School of Law operates clinics that take on supervised cases. Anyone facing criminal charges who cannot afford a lawyer is entitled to a court-appointed attorney.

For specific help, see personal injury lawyers in Buffalo, or compare with lawyers in Rochester.

See also Lawyers in New York for the rest of the state.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed New York attorney about your situation.