A law firm that promised to help New Yorkers fight eviction is now being pushed out of the legal business itself.
Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday that her office has secured an agreement to shut down Tenants Counsel Network (TCN), a for-profit law firm the state says preyed on renters facing eviction. Under the deal, the company will be dissolved, more than $172,000 will be returned to former clients, and the firm's founding partner is barred from practicing law in New York. The move follows an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General that found widespread deceptive marketing and failures to provide the legal representation tenants were promised.
Per the Office of the Attorney General, the firm "trapped vulnerable tenants in legal agreements and forced them to pay monthly fees for services not rendered," and the probe began after complaints in May 2024. James added, "When tenants seek legal counsel, they should be able to trust that their lawyers are going to help them." The office said it will oversee refunds to ensure clients are contacted and reimbursed.
How the firm targeted tenants
According to the Brooklyn Eagle, Tenants Counsel Network leaned on aggressive outreach and misleading claims to sign up renters. The firm used nonprofit-style language and promises of subsidized services that, in reality, hid a for-profit subscription model. Staff allegedly called tenants repeatedly and mailed more than 35,000 solicitation letters, sometimes reaching tenants before they even received official court papers.
The Brooklyn Eagle also reports that TCN used fake testimonials and more than 1,100 letters that appeared to be signed by attorneys who do not actually exist.
Refunds, penalties and closure plan
Under the settlement, TCN must stop representing clients by July 31, 2026, and provide at least 60 days' written notice to all active clients, according to the Office of the Attorney General. The firm is required to pay $172,257 in refunds and $25,000 in penalties, while its president, Aryeh Weber, must pay $10,000, close his law office, and resign from practicing law in New York.
The Office of the Attorney General said some tenants will receive more than $3,000 in refunds. The agency will supervise distribution to make sure the money actually reaches the renters who were harmed.
Why this matters for tenants
Tenant advocates say the case shows how private, for-profit operations can undercut efforts to guarantee real legal help for renters. New York City's Right to Counsel program, the first of its kind in the country, has significantly improved tenants' chances of keeping their homes. Watchdog groups warn that outfits like TCN can lure vulnerable tenants away from free, high-quality legal services by using official-sounding branding and urgent pitches, according to the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition.
Advocates say this settlement should serve as a reminder: when facing eviction, tenants should turn first to nonprofit legal aid organizations or official city programs rather than unfamiliar for-profit operators.
Legal consequences for the founder
Local reporting notes that the agreement forces Aryeh Weber to shut down his private practice and give up his license to practice law in New York, steps intended to prevent future harm, according to the Brooklyn Eagle. The firm will pay state penalties and return fees to affected clients, while the Attorney General's Housing Protection Unit will monitor the process.
The agreement is civil rather than criminal, but it carries professional and financial penalties that executives and small-firm owners are likely to notice.
Where tenants can turn
Tenants who believe they were misled by Tenants Counsel Network can connect with trained advocates and legal services through the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, which publishes a citywide guide and runs a hotline at 718-557-1379.
Advocacy groups also urge tenants to keep copies of any agreements they sign, to be cautious about contracts from unknown for-profit legal providers, and to seek help from nonprofit tenant legal programs based in their own boroughs.
