1. Statewide Legal Aid Organizations
- Legal Services NYC
- Largest provider of free civil legal services in NYC (housing, family law, benefits, immigration).
- Website: legalservicesnyc.org
- Phone: 1-917-661-4500
- Borough Offices:
- The Legal Aid Society
- Provides free criminal defense, civil, and juvenile rights services statewide.
- Website: legalaidnyc.org
- Phone: 1-844-955-3425 (NYC) | 1-888-663-6880 (Statewide)
- Empire Justice Center
- Statewide advocacy for low-income families (disability rights, housing, consumer law).
- Website: empirejustice.org
- Phone: 1-800-724-0490
2. Regional Legal Aid Providers
Upstate New York
- Legal Assistance of Western New York (LAWNY)
- Serves 14 counties (Rochester, Buffalo, Finger Lakes).
- Website: lawny.org
- Phone: 1-888-783-8190
- Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS)
- Covers 7 counties in Western NY (Buffalo, Niagara Falls).
- Website: nls.org
- Phone: 1-716-847-0650
- Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY)
- Serves 16 counties (Albany, Saratoga, Capital Region).
- Website: lasnny.org
- Phone: 1-877-746-4026
Long Island
- Nassau/Suffolk Law Services
- Website: nslawservices.org
- Phone: 1-631-232-2400
3. Directories & Search Tools
- LawHelpNY
- Search for legal aid by topic or location: lawhelpny.org.
- New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Low-cost consultations: nysba.org/lrs.
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Directory
- Federally funded programs in NY: lsc.gov/find-legal-aid.
- NY Courts Self-Help Center
- Forms, guides, and referrals: nycourts.gov/selfhelp.
4. Hotlines
- NYC Tenant Rights Hotline: 1-212-979-0611 (Met Council on Housing).
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-942-6906 (NY State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence).
- Senior Legal Helpline: 1-844-746-8905 (Legal Services for the Elderly in NYC).
- Immigration Hotline: 1-800-354-0365 (New York Immigration Coalition).
5. Additional Resources
- 211 New York: Dial 211 or visit 211nys.org for community referrals.
- Pro Bono Programs:
- Pro Bono Net NYC: probono.net/ny
- Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY: vlpsyr.org
- Immigration Legal Aid:
- Catholic Charities NY: catholiccharitiesny.org
- Safe Passage Project: safepassageproject.org (for immigrant youth).
- Veterans’ Legal Services:
- NYC Veterans Alliance: nycveteransalliance.org
- Native American Legal Aid:
- Self-Help Centers:
- NYC Housing Court Self-Help Centers: nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/housing
- Buffalo City Court Self-Help: nycourts.gov/courts/8jd
- Law School Clinics:
- Columbia Law School Clinics: law.columbia.edu/clinics
- NYU School of Law Clinics: law.nyu.edu/clinics
- CUNY Law School Clinics: law.cuny.edu/clinics
Note
- Eligibility: Most programs prioritize low-income residents (under 200% of the federal poverty level) and specific case types (e.g., eviction, domestic violence, public benefits).
- Apply Online: Many organizations (e.g., Legal Services NYC, LAWNY) offer online intake forms.
- Urgent Issues: For emergencies (evictions, restraining orders), contact hotlines or visit courthouse self-help centers.