On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department suspended attorney Lionel Jay Yu from the practice of law for one year. The suspension follows a disciplinary proceeding initiated by the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, which alleged professional misconduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Lionel Jay Yu,” with case number 2024-00001.
Yu faced a single charge of misconduct stemming from an incident that occurred on March 4, 2021. On that date, Yu accompanied his friend, William Duncan, to the Virginia General District Court for a traffic matter. Despite not being licensed to practice law in Virginia, Yu participated in the court proceedings.
During the hearing, Judge Rupen R. Shah inquired twice whether Yu was licensed to practice law in Virginia, to which Yu responded affirmatively both times. When asked if he had an office in Virginia, Yu again answered in the affirmative, and when prompted for his Virginia bar identification number, he claimed not to have it but stated that he possessed a Virginia attorney identification card.
As the proceedings continued, Yu cross-examined a police officer until it was later revealed that he was not authorized to practice law in Virginia. Following this discovery, Judge Shah found Yu guilty of summary contempt, imposing a fine of $250 and suspending a 10-day jail sentence.
The grievance committee subsequently charged Yu with engaging in conduct involving dishonesty and misrepresentation, violating New York’s Rules of Professional Conduct. A hearing was held on June 3, 2024, during which Yu testified about his actions. He acknowledged his misconduct and explained that he had no intention of representing his friend but felt compelled to assist him during the court appearance.
Yu later admitted to providing false information to the court regarding his licensure and office. He also stated that he did not report his misconduct to the Grievance Committee until December 2022, after completing required continuing legal education classes related to his case.
The Special Referee assigned to the matter sustained the grievance committee’s charge, noting that while Yu expressed remorse, it was unclear whether he fully grasped the seriousness of his actions. The report highlighted Yu’s cooperation during the investigation but emphasized that his conduct involved deliberate dishonesty.
In its decision, the court granted the grievance committee’s motion to confirm the Special Referee’s report. The court determined that Yu’s actions warranted a suspension, emphasizing the importance of truthfulness in legal practice.
The suspension will commence on August 29, 2025, and will last for one year, with Yu eligible to apply for reinstatement no earlier than May 29, 2026. In his application for reinstatement, Yu must provide evidence of compliance with the court’s order and adherence to legal conduct rules during his suspension. The court also ordered Yu to cease practicing law in any capacity and return any secure court passes issued to him.
According to the filing, Mr. Yu was admitted to the New York Bar on January 15, 2020.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
