English
EspañolCatholic Charities Community Services provides legal consultations, representation, and assistance to documented and undocumented newcomers regarding most immigration matters, including citizenship applications, family petitions, cases involving domestic violence, and cases that are in immigration court. Services are provided in English, Spanish, French, Romanian, Polish, Albanian, Japanese, and Arabic. Clients are charged nominal fees. Generally, our consultation fee is $50 ($85.00 for consultations with an attorney.) Fees for other services vary. Fees may be reduced or waived according to need. Note: There are additional office locations in Manhattan at Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Community Center, 34 W 134th St. New York, NY 10037 and Cardinal Spellman, 137 E 2nd St. New York, NY 10009
New York City Legal Assistance
Included in this list are organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services to victims of abuse and others who qualify. Even if the organization does not have a lawyer available to represent you in court, you may want to ask if there is a lawyer who you can consult with to get advice. Please note that we list the organizations in the borough where the office is located – however, many offices may likely serve multiple boroughs. We indicate the “counties served” whenever possible. You can click “View All” to look through the complete list of organizations. You can also check out the NYC Hope website to search for legal services by borough or by legal issue.
New York
Catholic Charities Community Services (Manhattan offices)
City Bar Justice Center Legal Hotline
The City Bar Justice Center Legal Hotline offers legal information, advice and referrals to low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford a private attorney or do not have access to legal representation. The Hotline assists on a range of civil legal issues, including matrimonial and family law, housing law, domestic violence, bankruptcy, and debt collection and benefits. The service is bilingual, in English and Spanish, and can handle calls in any language through interpreting services. To apply for help online, go to https://cbjcoi.legalserver.org/modules/matter/extern_intake.php?pid=125&…
Day One
Day One provides provides free and confidential counseling, case management as well as legal advice, information and direct representation to young people aged 24 and under related to dating abuse. They provide additional services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender non-conforming, queer and questioning youth who are struggling with intimate partner abuse. Their legal programs include assistance obtaining orders of protection, full representation at Family Court hearings for orders of protection, paternity, custody, visitation and child support, filing for domestic violence-based immigration relief such as VAWA petitions, Battered Spouse Waivers and U Visas, advocacy and support navigating the criminal justice system with the goal of obtaining a order of protection, assistance in obtaining a school safety transfer, advocacy and representation in administrative proceedings for public assistance, housing and other benefits and assistance with emancipation for young adults in need of public benefits and/or shelter due to intimate partner abuse. They also offer non-legal programs such as group counseling. They serve New York City. They provide services in English and in Spanish.
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
HIAS is dedicated to ensuring that refugees know their rights, have access to legal aid, and that their host countries recognize their right to security. This includes preserving family unity in refuge, as well as the right to work, to medical attention, and for children to attend school – all the things that help them maintain their human dignity. They help refugees apply to countries around the world for resettlement. However, due to the small number of available slots, resettlement is typically approved only for the most vulnerable: women who are heads of households from cultures where men traditionally serve as protectors, orphaned or separated children, persecuted LGBT people, or survivors of torture. Additionally, we provide free legal representation for artists, scientists, scholars, and other professionals and their families who have been persecuted in their native country and who seek asylum in the United States through our Prins Program. Languages spoken: English, Russian, Spanish.
Her Justice (Manhattan locations)
Her Justice provides free legal help in family law, divorce and immigration to low-income women living in New York City. Most of our clients are survivors of domestic violence, though this is not a requirement. Services may include: Legal information, advice and referrals; Brief services (for example, drafting petitions and answers); Attorney representation.
Immigration Defense Project
The Immigrant Defense Project promotes fundamental fairness for immigrants accused or convicted of crimes by working to transform unjust deportation laws and policies and educating and advising immigrants, their criminal defenders, and other advocates. IDP provides the only free criminal immigration hotline in the country. They offer criminal immigration analyses to criminal defenders, immigration advocates, and immigrants and their loved ones. They also provide information for immigrants related to criminal convictions on their website here: http://immigrantdefenseproject.org/resources/legal-resources They serve all boroughs.
Legal Aid Society (Manhattan offices)
Legal Aid Society provides assistance with civil cases including: Divorce and related issues, custody, child and spousal support, domestic violence related immigration relief, guardianships and adoptions; Prevention of eviction, denial of access to public or government-subsidized housing or shelter, representation of tenant groups, illegal foreclosure and housing code violations; Public assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, Social Security disability and non-disability issues, foster care benefits, unemployment insurance benefits. Intake is done over the phone. They serve Manhattan. For more information about the Harlem Community Office services, go to http://www.legal-aid.org/en/las/findus/locations/manhattan/harlemcommuni… For more information about the Lower Manhattan Office services, go to: http://www.legal-aid.org/en/las/findus/locations/manhattan/lowermanhatta…
Legal Services NYC - Legal Support Unit
Legal Services NYC has various offices. This office, the Legal Support Unit, has the following Practice Areas and Projects for low-income NYC residents: the New York City Bankruptcy Assistance Project (NYC BAP) provides free bankruptcy assistance; the Disability Advocacy Project (DAP) helps disabled children and adults get Social Security disability benefits and move off welfare; the education unit advocates for/represents special education students; Family law: representation to victims of domestic violence in obtaining divorces, orders of protection, custody, child support, and child neglect and abuse; the Foreclosure Prevention Project provides legal advice and representation to homeowners; Government benefits: provides legal advice, representation and training in matters relating to Public Assistance, Food Stamp and Medicaid benefits; help for HIV-positive individuals with issues related to housing, public benefits and more; Housing: representing tenants faced with eviction; Immigration issues such as Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), U visas (for crime victims) and more. See http://www.legalservicesnyc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&i… for more information.
LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL)
LeGaL sponsors a lawyer referral service directing clients to private attorneys in NYC who are sensitive to LGBT issues. They also offer several pro bono legal clinics devoted to serving the LGBTQ community.
Manhattan Legal Services
Manhattan Legal Services represents and advises low-income residents of Manhattan who need help with civil legal problems in the areas of housing law, government benefits, Supplemental Security Income/Social Security, unemployment, family law (including domestic violence), employment law, immigration law, consumer and education law. In addition to these core civil legal services, Manhattan Legal Services’ special projects include the East Side SRO (Single Room Occupancy) Law Project, the Disability Advocacy Project, a general litigation HIV Unit, and a nationally recognized Domestic Violence Unit.
New York City Family Justice Center - Manhattan
The FJCs provide many criminal justice, civil legal, and social services in one location to victims/survivors of domestic violence, trafficking and elder abuse. Services include safety planning and risk assessment, counseling for victims and their children, civil legal assistance on immigration and family court matters, meeting with a prosecutor, accessing shelter, applying for housing and financial assistance, filing police reports, language interpretation, and a wide-range of self-sufficiency services including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, financial literacy and counseling, computer skills classes, and many other services. Each FJC has a Children’s Room where children ages 3 and up can play in a safe and supervised space while their parents receive services. Appointments are not needed - you may just walk in to the FJC Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. To see a list of agencies that are housed at the FJC, see here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/ocdv/downloads/pdf/NYCFJC_List_Services.pdf
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
NYLAG helps victims of domestic violence in NYC with holistic representation in cases of divorce, custody, adoption, visitation, and spousal and child support. NYLAG also provides help on general civil legal issues including consumer credit, elder law, employment law, foreclosure prevention, housing, and public benefits cases, including disability, food stamps, home care, Medicaid/Medicare. NYLAG helps immigrants with citizenship, legal residency, work authorizations, visas, removal defense, public benefits and community outreach. There are additional legal services provided in additional areas of law. To see all of the services provided, go to http://nylag.org/units
New York Legal Assistance Group – Project Eden
NYLAG’s Project Eden works with the Orthodox Jewish community to raise awareness of domestic violence and make resources available to victims. Project Eden helps Orthodox Jewish women who are victims of domestic violence. Services include legal representation on divorces, child/spousal support, and orders of protection etc. They also provide information on safety planning.
Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights
They provide family-based immigration services including one-on-one legal consultations and application assistance on issues such as: adjustment of legal status, filing for citizenship and naturalization and family-based petitions. Provides services in English and Spanish.
Sanctuary For Families, Inc. - Manhattan Family Justice Center office
Sanctuary for Families provides domestic violence victims, sex trafficking victims, and their children with a range of comprehensive services. These services are provided in four boroughs; Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. Some of the services that are offered are clinical services, legal services (including family law, matrimonial law, and immigration law and more), shelter services and children’s programs, etc. Services are also provided in Spanish.
Sanctuary For Families, Inc. - Manhattan office
Sanctuary for Families provides domestic violence victims, sex trafficking victims, and their children with a range of comprehensive services. These services are provided in four boroughs; Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. Some of the services that are offered are clinical services, legal services (including family law, matrimonial law, and immigration law and more), shelter services and children’s programs, etc. Services are also provided in Spanish. This office is in a confidential location.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Sylvia Rivera Law Project provides direct representation for low-income transgender people and transgender people of color in three main areas. Survival & Self Determination Project: Name Changes, Assistance Obtaining and Updating ID Documents, Health Care Advocacy, Criminal History/Fingerprinting; Immigrant Rights Project: Name Changes, Assistance Updating Immigration Documents, Adjustment of Status, Naturalization, Removal Defense, Asylum; and a Prisoner Rights Project. They serve the five boroughs of New York City. They provide services in English and in Spanish.
The Door
Provides services to NYC youth, aged 12 to 21. They help to provide legal services to the following people: recent immigrants, undocumented immigrants (living in the United States without the proper paperwork), those currently in deportation proceedings; people in foster care; pregnant or caring for a child; homeless and/or living without your parents, or people having issues with their landlord; in need of public benefits, such as Section 8 housing, food stamps, Medicaid or welfare, Social Security, etc. They also help people in need of help with family law issues such as paternity, child support, domestic violence, child custody and visitation rights; people being victimized or stalked; those in need of proper forms of personal identification, such as a birth certificate, passport, non-driver’s license, etc. To see a list of other (non-legal) services provided, see here: http://www.door.org/programs-services
The New Start Project, Inc.
The New Start Project prepares paperwork for Uncontested Divorces as well as Separation Agreements for residents of the 5 boroughs of NYC and parts of Long Island and Westchester as well. They also assist with the preparation of limited Contested Divorce Paperwork such as Notice of Appearances and Answers. They do not provide representation. Their fees are based on a sliding scale ranging from $100 to $500 for the entire service from start to finish. No client will be turned away for inability to pay.
Urban Justice Center - Domestic Violence Project
Provides legal and social services for victims of domestic violence. Services include representation and legal advocacy, including for immigration cases for DV victims in all 5 boroughs on U-Visa, VAWA and SIJS matters; crisis counseling; and empowerment groups. The Urban Justice Center also has 9 other projects, which you can read about here: http://www.urbanjustice.org/node/497
Volunteers of Legal Service
Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) provides pro bono civil legal assistance to low-income New Yorkers. VOLS’ has many projects designed to serve low-income individuals and families based on their legal needs. The School-based Children’s Project helps low-income families resolve legal problems that interfere with their children’s ability to learn. The Hospital-based Children’s Project lawyers, doctors, nurses, and social workers work together to identify and resolve legal issues that may affect outcomes of children from low-income families. The Elderly Project’s staff and lawyers provide free legal advice, information, document drafting, and other brief services to low-income Manhattan residents aged 60 and over, and to the social workers and advocates who assist them. The Immigration Project works to resolve immigration issues for New York City public high school students so that they can work, attend college and have an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Incarcerated Mothers Law Project provides legal advice, information, and advocacy to women in jail or prison. Microenterprise Project serves small business owners with legal issues such as entity selection and formation, commercial leasing, intellectual property, and contracts. Unemployment Insurance Advocacy Project serves New Yorkers who have been denied unemployment benefits at administrative hearings.
