IN RE: Lindsey Ann SPINELLI (2026)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON MOTION

Lindsey Ann Spinelli was admitted to practice by this Court in 2013.  However, she was granted leave to resign from the New York bar by July 2021 order (196 A.D.3d 829, 146 N.Y.S.3d 860 [3d Dept 2021] ), citing her out-of-state residence and her belief that she would not need her license to practice in New York for her current or future employment.  Pointing to, among other things, staffing reductions at the federal level, Spinelli now moves for her reinstatement in New York, and the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department (hereinafter AGC) advises that it does not oppose her application.

An attorney seeking reinstatement following his or her nondisciplinary resignation must submit an application consistent with the form affidavit as provided in appendix F to Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters (22 NYCRR) § 1240.22(b) (see Matter of Boujaoude, 241 A.D.3d 1699, 1699, 242 N.Y.S.3d 131 [3d Dept 2025];  see also Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.22[b][1] ).  Additionally, any applicant who has been resigned for an actual duration of more than two years must establish that, within two years preceding such an application, he or she successfully has completed a minimum of eight credit hours of continuing legal education (hereinafter CLE) accreditation (see Matter of Boden, 232 A.D.3d 1194, 1195, 222 N.Y.S.3d 245 [3d Dept 2024];  Matter of Saul, 226 A.D.3d 1144, 1145, 208 N.Y.S.3d 379 [3d Dept 2024] ).  Specifically, the applicant must demonstrate that he or she has earned six credit hours of Skills and/or Law Practice Management that specifically relate to the practice of law in New York;  one credit in Ethics and Professionalism;  and one credit in either Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias or Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection (see Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.22[b][2];  see also Rules of App.Div., All Depts [22 NYCRR] § 1500.2[c], [d], [e], [g], [h] ).  Substantively, the applicant must establish that he or she possesses both the legal education or experience, as well as the necessary character and fitness as would be required of an applicant for admission in the first instance (see Matter of Boden, 232 A.D.3d at 1195, 222 N.Y.S.3d 245;  Matter of Nwakudu, 227 A.D.3d 1369, 1369–1370, 212 N.Y.S.3d 250 [3d Dept 2024];  Matter of Saul, 226 A.D.3d at 1144, 208 N.Y.S.3d 379).

Here, Spinelli has properly submitted the required form affidavit (see Rules for Atty Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR], part 1240, appendix F), and she has provided proof that, in July 2026, she earned 11 CLE credits in the requisite categories, and those credits earned in the category of Skills demonstrate that she remains current in developments in New York law (see Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.22[b][2];  see also Rules of App.Div., All Depts [22 NYCRR] § 1500.2[c], [d], [e], [g], [h] ), which provide the necessary assurances regarding her legal education.  Further, those CLE credits would partially satisfy the attorney registration requirements in this jurisdiction upon her reinstatement (see Rules of App.Div., All Depts [22 NYCRR] § 1500.22[a];  Matter of Boujaoude, 241 A.D.3d at 1700, 242 N.Y.S.3d 131).  Otherwise, Spinelli's reinstatement materials do not raise any character and fitness issues respecting her resumption of practice in this state (see Matter of Boden, 232 A.D.3d at 1195, 222 N.Y.S.3d 245;  Matter of Nwakudu, 227 A.D.3d at 1369–1370, 212 N.Y.S.3d 250;  Matter of Saul, 226 A.D.3d at 1144, 208 N.Y.S.3d 379).  In this vein she attests that she not been the subject of professional misconduct complaints or discipline, in this state or other jurisdictions that she is presently admitted to practice,¹ and she likewise denies that she has been the subject of any criminal matters since her nondisciplinary resignation or that she has any impairments which may limit her ability to practice law.  Having determined that Spinelli possesses the required legal training and character and fitness, and absent any objection from AGC, we grant her application and restore her name to the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law effective immediately.

ORDERED that Lindsey Ann Spinelli's application for reinstatement is granted; and it is further

ORDERED that Lindsey Ann Spinelli's name is hereby restored to the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law of the State of New York, effective immediately; and it is further

ORDERED that Lindsey Ann Spinelli shall, within 30 days of the date of this decision, file an attorney registration statement with the Chief Administrator of the Courts pursuant to Judiciary Law § 468–a and Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts (22 NYCRR) § 118.1.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Spinelli has registered as inactive in the state of Illinois and in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts;  she remains active and in good standing in Massachusetts and in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.  A letter from the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois also confirms that Spinelli was never disciplined or the subject of a disciplinary proceeding or investigation in that state.  The District Court for the District of Massachusetts does not issue certificates of good standing to inactive attorneys.

Per Curiam.

Reynolds Fitzgerald, J.P., Ceresia, Mackey, Corcoran and Ryba, JJ., concur.