Legal Assistance

Offers immigration legal services.

They provide help with filing and processing Immigrant Visa Applications, assistance with renewing employment authorization cards, green cards, and temporary protected status, assistance with filing naturalization and citizenship applications, assistance with processing deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) applications, legal representation before U.S. citizenship and immigration Services and the immigration court, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes, civics classes, counseling on resources for housing, financial, and health needs. Languages spoken: English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese dialects, French, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Garifuna, and Ibo. There are many other office locations in the Bronx, which you can find here: http://www.bronxworks.org/office-listings

The Legal Aid Society's Bronx Neighborhood Office 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 the Bronx.

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

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.

The Legal Aid Society's Brooklyn Neighborhood Office provides legal assistance and representation for residents of Brooklyn. They assist with a variety of 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. Additional office for people over age 60:(718) 645-3111, http://www.legal-aid.org/en/las/findus/locations/brooklyn/brooklynofficefortheaging.aspx

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

Safe Horizon's Domestic Violence Law Project (DVLP) provides free representation to thousands of low-income and indigent victims of violence throughout NYC in orders of protection, custody, support, and divorce proceedings. DVLP attorneys also advocate for clients within the criminal justice system.

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.

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. They also offer an online application for assistance on their website.

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.

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 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&id=418&Itemid=158 for more information.

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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

Provides general legal services in the areas of housing, benefits and family law, including domestic violence to low-income Staten Island residents.

The Legal Aid Society of Rockland County, Inc. provides legal advice and representation to victims of domestic abuse in Rockland County.

Legal Services of Long Island, formerly Nassau Suffolk Law Services, provides free legal services in a range of civil cases. Their Domestic Violence Project helps Suffolk County survivors of domestic violence in family law matters, including obtaining orders of protection and custody. To obtain legal representation from Legal Services, you will need to go through one of their advocacy agencies: Brighter Tomorrows at (631) 395-1800 or The Retreat at (631) 329-2200.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley provides civil legal services to low-income people in all seven counties of the Hudson Valley including Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. This office serves Westchester County. Domestic violence services they provide include advocacy and representation for survivors including orders of protection, child/spousal support, child custody and visitation, and referrals for other issues related to safety and support.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley provides civil legal services to low-income people in all seven counties of the Hudson Valley including Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. This office serves Westchester County. Domestic violence services they provide include advocacy and representation for survivors including orders of protection, child/spousal support, child custody and visitation, and referrals for other issues related to safety and support.

Through direct services, we support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and human trafficking, in seeking safety, self-determination, and justice. We offer: Residential Services; Support Services; Counseling Services; Community Counseling and Advocacy; Children’s Counseling; Child Care Services; MSP/Child Protective Services Collaboration. We also provide the legal services and representation for family law matters (orders of protection, custody and visitation rights, child and spousal support, and abuse and neglect matters) in all Westchester County family courts. Immigration law attorneys assist clients with green cards, work permits, and other immigration benefits that will allow them to stay in the United States legally, including the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions, Petitions for U (U visa) and T (T Visa) Nonimmigrant Status, Battered Spouse Waivers, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and Asylum cases.

Pace Women’s Justice Center provides services primarily for domestic violence clients in Westchester and Putnam Counties. Services include direct legal representation in family law and domestic violence-related civil matters for domestic victims/survivors and elder abuse victims. This office is a walk-in office in the Yonkers Family Courts for domestic violence victims seeking orders of protection, custody and child support. In addition, there is a Legal Helpline (listed above) where callers can receive legal information and referrals.