everything you might want to know before you pick up the phone.
Talk to Counsel is a public-facing legal intake line. When you call the number on this website, you speak directly with a licensed attorney who listens to your situation, helps you understand what kind of legal matter you have, and helps you decide the next step.
It is built on a simple idea: the person on the other end of a lawyer's phone should actually be a lawyer.
Talk to Counsel is owned and operated by Kevin Finkelstein, Principal Attorney at Finkelstein Criminal Defense PLLC. Kevin is a BigLaw-trained attorney, a graduate of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, a Navy veteran, and a 2025 recipient of an Empire State Counsel Justice For All Award from the New York State Bar Association.
Talk to Counsel is not a separate law firm. It is a brand and intake service operated by Finkelstein Criminal Defense PLLC, a New York professional limited liability company.
No. Talk to Counsel is the intake line of a licensed New York law firm. The firm directly represents clients in criminal matters and, as part of its service to callers, will refer matters outside its practice areas to other attorneys where appropriate. It is not a marketplace or a paid-lead referral platform.
The Talk to Counsel line is (914) 481-3764. The same number accepts calls and text messages.
Yes. The same number, (914) 481-3764, accepts text messages. For many callers, texting first is easier, especially in situations where a phone call is not private or practical.
Please do not include confidential or privileged information in an initial text, because no attorney-client relationship exists until the firm and the client sign a written engagement agreement.
You will still be heard. If your matter falls outside the firm's core practice, the attorney on the line will help you understand what kind of case it is and, where possible, refer you to an attorney the firm knows and trusts.
Any referral or fee arrangement with another lawyer is made in conformity with the New York Rules of Professional Conduct.
A typical first call is a direct conversation with an attorney. The attorney will listen to what happened, ask clarifying questions, identify the type of matter, explain the relevant process at a high level, and discuss the next step.
The next step may be a formal engagement, a referral, or practical guidance so you can make an informed decision on your own.
Call Talk to Counsel as soon as possible. Do not wait until the day before. An attorney needs time to review the charging documents, identify the issues, and prepare an appearance. Even if the date is close, calling is almost always better than not calling.
The initial call is a consultation, not formal legal representation. The attorney can explain general legal concepts, help you understand what type of matter you have, and help you decide what to do next.
Specific legal advice tailored to your situation requires a written engagement agreement and a review of the facts and documents.
The firm handles cases before the courts of the State of New York. The firm's criminal defense practice is focused on state courts in Westchester County and the surrounding region of New York.
Finkelstein Criminal Defense PLLC does not provide legal services in jurisdictions in which its attorneys are not licensed.
For matters arising in other states, the firm will, where possible, refer the caller to independent counsel licensed in the appropriate jurisdiction. Any such referral is made in conformity with the New York Rules of Professional Conduct and the rules of the destination jurisdiction.
Yes, subject to conflict checks and the firm's capacity. The firm is a small, independent practice by design. Every matter is handled directly by the attorney, and the firm prioritizes quality of representation over volume.
If the firm cannot take on a matter, the caller is told so directly and, where possible, referred to another attorney.
An attorney-client relationship with the firm is formed only upon the execution of a written engagement agreement signed by both the client and the firm.
Visiting this website, leaving a voicemail, sending a text message, sending an email, or speaking with the attorney on an initial call does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.
Communications with a lawyer during an initial consultation are generally treated as confidential under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, even if no representation is ultimately undertaken.
That said, callers are asked not to transmit highly sensitive or privileged information through this website, by unsecured email, or in a first text message, because those channels may not be fully secure and because the firm must first perform a conflict check before a formal relationship can begin.
No. There is no charge to call Talk to Counsel. The initial conversation is a consultation to understand your situation and help you decide the right next step.
A fee arrangement is only discussed if the firm agrees to represent you in a specific matter, and any engagement is memorialized in a written agreement.
Fees are determined case by case, based on the nature, complexity, and anticipated scope of the matter. All fee arrangements are disclosed in writing before representation begins and are governed by the New York Rules of Professional Conduct. The initial call carries no obligation and no fee.
Yes, the attorney on the line will speak with you regardless of your ability to pay and will help you understand your options.
For callers who cannot afford private counsel, the attorney may explain the public defender process, refer you to legal aid organizations, or suggest other resources that can help. No one is turned away without an honest conversation.
The principal law office of Finkelstein Criminal Defense PLLC is located at 75 South Broadway, 4th Floor, Suite 3012, White Plains, New York 10601. Meetings are by appointment.
Finkelstein Criminal Defense PLLC is a registered professional limited liability company in New York. Kevin Finkelstein's admission to practice law in the State of New York can be confirmed through the Office of Court Administration attorney registration database.
The firm's principal law office address, telephone number, and principal attorney are listed on every page of this website in compliance with New York attorney advertising rules.