The Lawyers Foreclosure Intervention Network (LFIN), co-sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is a response to the recent dramatic increase in home foreclosures related to the subprime lending market. The project provides legal assistance to low-income homeowners facing foreclosure, with the goal of keeping people in their homes. Volunteer lawyers negotiate workout arrangements with lenders and, where appropriate, represent the homeowner in litigation.

The Veterans Assistance Project provides pro bono assistance to veterans in connection with the filing of disability benefit claims before the New York City Regional Office of the Department of Veteran Affairs. Veterans who have legal assistance filling out their initial benefits claims upon discharge are more likely to receive the benefits to which they are entitled, and are less likely to need to appeal in the future.

The Reentry Law Project provides legal services to victims of the hidden and collateral consequences of having a criminal record, including reviewing and cleaning up rap sheets, assisting with filing for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities (CRD) or Certificates of Good Conduct (CGC), and representing clients at hearings challenging denials of public housing applications based on past criminal convictions.

The Pro Bono Consumer Bankruptcy Project was established in 2004 to meet the ever-increasing requests for assistance from debt burdened low-income New York City residents. The Project recruits, trains and mentors volunteer attorneys to advise low-income consumers of their rights and responsibilities regarding outstanding debts. Where appropriate, volunteers prepare the forms and schedules necessary for debtors to file pro se Chapter 7 cases and advise them on the steps needed to successfully obtain discharge. This Project allows clients who would otherwise be unable to file, due to an inability to retain counsel, to reorder their finances and obtain an economic “fresh start.”

The Elderlaw Project maintains the dignity and independence of elderly people by training volunteer attorneys to counsel and represent elderly New Yorkers in a variety of areas. At legal clinics held at the Association and at senior centers, staff and volunteer attorneys provide seniors with advice and representation regarding wills, living wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, government benefits and consumer issues, and more. Staff and volunteer attorneys also provide training and public education on legal issues of interest to the elderly at senior centers throughout the City.

The Housing Court Summer Assistance Project recruits summers associates from New York City law firms and corporations to assist unrepresented tenants in the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens Housing Courts. The students spend a week volunteering in the Pro Se Offfice of the Housing Court, providing information to unrepresented parties about their legal rights.

The Legal Clinic for the Homeless has been providing free legal assistance to the homeless since 1991. This program reaches out to individuals and families through legal clinics held at homeless shelters and drop-in centers and through presentations to community groups and to staff and residents of shelters. Staff and volunteer attorneys offer advice, advocacy and representation on issues such as accessing and challenging denials of public benefits, including public assistance, Medicaid, food stamps, public housing and public housing subsidies.

The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project provides free legal assistance to low-income micro-entrepreneurs within New York City. The project matches microentrepreneurs who are in the initial stages of structuring a company or hoping to strengthen an existing business with a volunteer attorney who has expertise in the relevant areas of law. Project volunteers handle issues related to business structure, tax law, commercial lease negotiations, employment contracts as well as trademark and copyright law. The Project also offers presentations and legal clinics on issues of concern to microentrepreneurs at community-based organizations.

The Cancer Advocacy Project, established in 1994, provides cancer patients, cancer survivors and their families with legal information and pro bono legal assistance on issues relating to discrimination in the workplace, health law, insurance issues, access to public benefits and wills.

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The Uncontested Divorce Project assists self-represented divorce seekers with completing the necessary court paperwork to obtain an uncontested divorce in New York City.

The Contested Divorce Clinic provides free consultations with experienced volunteer matrimonial practitioners for self-represented litigants embroiled in contested divorce cases.

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The Legal Hotline, created in 1997, offers legal information, advice and referrals to low-income New Yorkers who could not afford a private attorney or have access to legal representation. The Hotline assists nearly 1,000 callers a month on a range of civil legal issues, including matrimonial and family law, housing law, domestic violence, bankruptcy and debt collection and benefits. The Hotline is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m to.1:00 p.m. at (212)626-7383.

Starting on September 9th, every Tuesday and Thursday the Hotline will also be open from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hotline staff rely on LawHelp.org/NY, a website designed to improve access to legal resources for low-income New Yorkers, for up-to-date referral information and educational materials for callers. The site combines a comprehensive database of legal services providers with customized search engines for quick, accurate referrals and easy-to-understand legal information. The Project is a collaborative effort of the City Bar Justice Center, Legal Services for New York City, The Legal Aid Society of New York City, the Empire Justice Center, The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Probono.Net, the New York State Bar Association, Volunteers of Legal Service, and Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.

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