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Biennial Registration FAQs

QUESTION 1: I am currently admitted to the NDNY bar. Do I have to complete the biennial registration?

ANSWER:Yes. All permanent members of the NDNY bar must complete the Biennial Registration pursuant to NDNY Local Rule 83.1(i). Attorneys who qualify for a waiver of the fee should complete the Biennial Fee Waiver event in CM/ECF. Attorneys who do not qualify for a waiver should complete the Biennial Fee Payment event in CM/ECF. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice are not required to complete the biennial registration..

 
QUESTION 2: I am employed by a federal, state or local government agency, do I have to complete the biennial registration?

ANSWER: Yes. All permanent members of the NDNY bar must complete the Biennial Registration pursuant to NDNY Local Rule 83.1(i), but attorneys employed full-time by a federal, state or local government entity will qualify for a waiver of the biennial fee. Attorneys who qualify for a waiver should complete the Biennial Fee Waiver event in CM/ECF.

 
QUESTION 3: I am employed part-time by a federal, state or local government agency, do I have to pay the biennial fee?

ANSWER:Yes. NDNY Local Rule 83.1(i) only allows for a waiver of the biennial registration fee for attorneys employed full-time with a federal, state or local government entity.

 
QUESTION 4: I did not receive an NEF via email from CM/ECF after I completed the Biennial Fee Payment or Biennial Fee Waiver event.

ANSWER:CM/ECF does not send an NEF. If an attorney paid the biennial fee, they will receive a receipt from Pay.gov for the payment. If the attorney wants to confirm that their biennial registration is complete, please wait 2 business days, and then check the Attorney Information Lookup at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-information-lookup. Under “Fee Status”, it should now show “Paid 2025” or “Waived 2025”. If more than 2 business days have passed since you completed the biennial registration and the “Fee status” has not been updated, please contact a clerk via Chat and ask for a live representative or call (315) 234-8500 to check on your registration.

 
QUESTION 5: Can I pay the biennial fee in person, by check in the mail or over the phone?

ANSWER: No. All payments must be made using the Biennial Fee Payment event in CM/ECF thru Pay.gov. The Clerk’s Office does not accept payments in person, in the mail or over the phone.

 
QUESTION 6: I was admitted to NDNY bar in 2025. Do I have to complete the biennial registration for 2025?

ANSWER: No. Attorneys admitted to the bar in 2025 are not required to complete the biennial registration for 2025.

 
QUESTION 7: I was admitted to NDNY bar in 2024. Do I have to complete the biennial registration for 2025?

ANSWER:Yes. Attorneys admitted to the bar in 2024 are required to complete the biennial registration for 2025.

 
QUESTION 8: When is the deadline to complete the biennial registration for 2025?

ANSWER:The deadline to complete the biennial registration for 2025 is September 15th, 2025.

QUESTION 9: I completed the Biennial Fee Payment or Biennial Fee Waiver event in CM/ECF, but I did not receive a confirmation page.

ANSWER: If you think you did not complete the event properly in CM/ECF, please contact the clerk’s office via Chat and ask to speak to live agent or call (315) 234-8500. Attorneys who fail to complete the event properly may be required to complete and sign an Attorney Certification. Contact the Clerk’s office.

 
QUESTION 10: I completed the Biennial Registration, how can I confirm if it is complete?

ANSWER: Please allow for 2 business days following the completion of the biennial registration, and then check the Attorney Information Lookup found on the court’s website at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-information-lookup. Under “Fee Status”, it should now state “Paid 2025” or “Waived 2025”. If more than 48 business hours have passed since you completed the biennial registration, please contact a clerk via Chat and ask for a live representative or call (315) 234-8500 to check on your registration.

 
QUESTION 11: After completing the Biennial Registration, I checked the Attorney Information Lookup, and my “Fee Status” has not been updated to “Paid 2025” or “Waived 2025”.

ANSWER: The Fee status will be updated once per day on the next business day. If more than 2 business days have passed since you completed the biennial registration, please contact a clerk via Chat and ask for a live representative or call (315) 234-8500 to check on your registration.

 
QUESTION 12: I completed the Biennial Fee Payment event, but I did not receive a receipt from Pay.gov.

ANSWER: Check your spam/junk folders. If no receipt was received, please contact a clerk via Chat and ask for a live representative or call (315) 234-8500 to check on your registration. If you did not complete the event properly, you may be required to complete an Attorney Certification.

 
QUESTION 13: I need to report a grievance filed against me, an event involving an attorney disciplinary matter, or a criminal conviction (felony or misdemeanor) that occurred within the past 2 years. How do I do that?

ANSWER: Attorney must send an email of explanation addressed to Chief Judge Brenda K. Sannes to biennial@nynd.uscourts.gov. Failure to provide an email of explanation may result in the removal from the NDNY bar. Chief Judge Sannes will review the email and approve/deny the biennial registration application.

 
QUESTION 14: I previously advised the Chief Judge of an attorney disciplinary matter or criminal conviction during the 2023 Biennial Registration; do I have to send an email of explanation again?

ANSWER: No. If you previously advised the Chief Judge of an attorney disciplinary matter or criminal conviction during the 2023 Biennial Registration, you do NOT have to report it again, even if the matter is still pending. You only must report new matters that occurred within the past 2 years.

 
QUESTION 15: I accidentally answered “yes” to an attorney disciplinary or criminal history question in error, how do I fix that?

ANSWER: Do not complete the event again. You will be required to complete and sign an attorney certification making any corrections to affirmed statements within the biennial registration event. Please contact a clerk via Chat and ask for a live representative or call (315) 234-8500 to obtain the attorney certification. Advise the clerk if you completed the Biennial Fee Payment or Biennial Fee Waiver event so you can obtain the correct Attorney Certification form.

 
QUESTION 16: I accidentally answered “No” to the question affirming that I answered the questions truthfully under the penalties of perjury. How do I fix that?

ANSWER: Do not complete the event again. You will be required to complete and sign an attorney certification making any corrections to affirmed statements. Please contact a clerk via Chat and ask for a live representative or call (315) 234-8500 to obtain the attorney certification. Advise the clerk if you completed the Biennial Fee Payment or Biennial Fee Waiver event so you can obtain the correct Attorney Certification form.

 
QUESTION 17: I completed the Biennial Fee Payment or Biennial Fee Waiver event in CM/ECF, but my colleague had to complete and sign an Attorney Certification form which I did not receive.

ANSWER: If the attorney completed the Biennial Fee Payment or Biennial Fee Waiver event correctly, they do NOT have to complete an Attorney Certification. An Attorney Certification is only required when the event was not completed correctly in CM/ECF.

 
QUESTION 18: I was removed from the NDNY bar in 2023 (or a previous biennial year) for failure to complete the biennial registration. Can I complete the Biennial Registration for 2025 to be reinstated?

ANSWER: No. Attorneys removed from the NDNY bar for failure to complete the biennial registration in any year must re-apply for admission pursuant to Local Rule 83.1. Instructions/Forms for completing the Attorney Admission can be found on the Court’s website at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-admissions.

 
QUESTION 19: I can’t log into PACER, and I don’t remember my log in username or password to PACER.

ANSWER: Unfortunately, the Clerk’s Office cannot assist you with your PACER login. You must contact PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/my-account-billing/forgot-username-or-password or call PACER at 800-676-6856.

 
QUESTION 20: I can log into PACER, but I cannot connect to NDNY CM/ECF.

ANSWER:
1. Confirm your bar status is current by checking Attorney Information Lookup at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-information-lookup. If your Fee Status is “Paid 2023/2024” or “Waived 2023/2024”, your admission is current.

2. If your bar status is current, please contact the clerk’s office via Chat and ask to speak to live representative or call (315) 234-8500 for assistance.

 
QUESTION 21: I did not receive the email blast from the Court with instructions on completing the Biennial Registration.

ANSWER:
1. Confirm your bar status is current by checking Attorney Information Lookup at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-information-lookup. If your Fee Status is “Paid 2023/2024” or “Waived 2023/2024”, your admission is current.

2. Confirm your bar record is current. Log into PACER and confirm that your email address is accurate. If not, update your bar record via PACER. Instructions to update your bar record are found at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/update%20your%20bar%20record. This Court cannot update your bar record as it must be done via PACER.

3. If your bar status is current and your email address is accurate in PACER, check your spam mail filters and email security settings, and check your spam/junk folder. Your email security must allow emails to be accepted from uscourts@updates.uscourts.gov and biennial@nynd.uscourts.gov or you will not receive emails from the Court regarding important updates, events, and announcements.

 
QUESTION 22: My law firm already paid for me for my biennial registration in the spring, why did I get an email advising to complete the biennial registration?

ANSWER:
1. If you are receiving emails directing you to complete the biennial registration, something may be wrong with your bar status.

2. First, check your bar status using Attorney Information Lookup at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-information-lookup. If your Fee Status is “Paid 2025” or “Waived 2025”, your admission is current. You can disregard the emails.

3. If your Fee Status is “Paid 2023”, “Paid 2024”, “Waived 2023” or “Waived 2024”, your bar record is not showing that you completed the 2025 Biennial Registration. Please contact the clerk’s office via Chat and ask to speak to live representative or call (315) 234-8500 for assistance.

 
QUESTION 23: The deadline to complete the biennial registration has passed. Can I still complete the Biennial Registration via CM/ECF.

ANSWER: That depends. The Court will send multiple reminder emails to the attorneys reminding them to complete the Biennial Registration on time. If the deadline has expired, but the Chief Judge has not issued an Order of Removal yet, there may still be time to complete the biennial registration. If the Biennial Fee Payment or Biennial Fee Waiver events are deactivated in CM/ECF, then it is too late to complete the biennial registration for 2025. Attorneys who fail to timely complete the biennial registration will be removed from the NDNY bar. If the Chief Judge has already issued an Order of Removal, the attorney must then reapply for admission. Instructions/forms for admission can be found at https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-admissions.