Reginald Bedell, Esq.,
Supervising Attorney

Leah Burke,
Assigned Counsel Administrator

Mailing Address:
Essex County Assigned Counsel Office
PO Box 217
Elizabethtown, New York 12932

Phone: (518) 873-3511

Fax: (518) 873-3516

Email: assignedcounsel@essexcountyny.gov

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

About the Essex County Assigned Counsel Office

This office provides legal counsel to the indigent under County Law 18B in both Criminal and Family Court Matters. The office does not provide legal advice nor legal counsel for civil matters including divorces, evictions, real estate, judgments etc.

If you are in need of an attorney, contact the office to request an application for assigned counsel or you can complete or download the application online.

Any questions regarding court appearances, dates, or rescheduling should be directed to the court. If you are represented by an attorney direct all questions to your attorney.

We recommend that you apply for counsel as early as possible. This will ensure that we have time to find an attorney to assist you with your matter.

Apply for an Assigned Counsel Attorney

Complete and Submit Part 1 of the Assigned Counsel Application
  • If the form is not completely filled out, it will be returned to you for completion. This will delay the assignment of an attorney.
  • Include a good mailing and/or email address on your application. We will mail/email you a letter with your assigned attorney’s name and contact information.
**Part 2 of Application to be Completed ONLY if requested by the Assigned Counsel Office**
Downloadable Assigned Counsel Application

You may also Download/View the Application for Assigned Counsel or pick up an application at the Essex County Court House or at the Assigned Counsel Office.  Note that this version of the form must be emailed, mailed, faxed, or brought to the Assigned Counsel Office.

Have Questions About the Application? 

Applicants may contact our office at assignedcounsel@essexcounty.ny.gov or 518-873-3511 with any questions regarding applications.

Financial Eligibility

Eligibility for assigned counsel is based on the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines

What do I need to provide along with my application for assigned counsel?

Along with your application, you are encouraged to provide the following information to assist us in determining your eligibility for assignment of counsel:

  • Charges
  • Complaints
  • Summonses
  • Tickets
  • Supporting Depositions and/or Statements
  • Identification
    • Driver’s License
    • DMV I.D.
    • Social Security Card
    • Military I.D.
    • Learner’s Permit
    • Medicaid Card
    • Passport
    • Green Card
    • Government Issued I.D.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following cases are eligible for representation by an Assigned Counsel Attorney:
  • Criminal matters or any case that has a possible jail sentence
  • Parole Revocation Hearing
  • Extradition
  • Child Support Violation (Respondent only)
  • Paternity Establishment (Respondent only)
  • Parents in Custody/Visitation Proceedings
  • Child Abuse/Neglect Proceedings
  • Family Offense
Cases that are not eligible for assigned counsel:
  • Traffic Violations (speeding, cell phone, seat belt, etc.)
  • Initial Child Support and Child Support Modifications
  • Person in Need of Supervision (PINS)
  • Filing for custody of a child that you do not have custody of
  • Juvenile Delinquent/PINS – Parents are eligible only if the government wishes to remove the child(ren) from the home or keep the child(ren) from returning home. Parents in other JD cases are not eligible for an assigned counsel attorney.

*If you are unsure whether your case is eligible for assigned counsel, we recommend that you still submit an application.

No initial support or support modification petitioners or respondents are eligible for assigned counsel.  Support violations and paternity establishment (respondents only) are the only matters that assigned counsel may be provided for.

Our office always reaches out to the attorney who represented you in previous matters first, in an attempt to ensure that you will have an attorney familiar with your case.  However, there are times when an attorney may no longer be available to represent you and another attorney may be assigned.

You can submit a letter to the judge, cc’d to all parties, including your current counsel and the Assigned Counsel Office with the reasons you are requesting new counsel.

You can make the request on the record for a new attorney at the next court appearance.

You can choose retain your own attorney.

Assigned Counsel Attorney Panel

If you are an attorney and would like to join our 18b Assigned Counsel Panel to provide either criminal and/or family court representation, please contact our office for an application or with any questions.

The Assigned Counsel Office maintains a Shared Folder for the exclusive use of its panel members.

Any training materials and resources that are gathered by the Assigned Counsel Office are maintained in the Shared Folder.  This includes all of the necessary forms and assigned counsel vouchers.  All requests for payment must be submitted to the Assigned Counsel Office using these forms.

If you are a panel attorney who needs access, please contact us at 518-873-3511 or email assignedcounsel@essexcountyny.gov to receive access to the shared folder.

Helpful Links

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Disclaimer & Terms of Use

The information contained in this web site is provided as a service to the internet community, and does not constitute legal advice. We try to provide quality information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this web site and its associated sites. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

Therefore, Essex County and the Assigned Counsel Program expressly denies liability and undertakes no responsibility for the reliance on, or consequences of, using information or services found in this web site.