New York Legal Assistance Group Federal Legal Clinic

Practice Area Workers` Rights The role of the Working Group on Labour Rights is to ensure that labour and anti-discrimination laws are enforced and that workers can live a life of strength and dignity. We represent low-wage workers in the recovery of stolen wages and fight violations such as unpaid minimum wages and overtime, theft of tips, discrimination, sexual harassment, human trafficking and retaliation against workers who assert their rights under labor law. We also offer community education workshops on workers` rights and engage with legislation and policy. We believe that workers who defend their rights in the workplace are transformed and empowered in all areas of their lives. The Pro Bono Fellow will assist lawyers in various aspects of their work on individual and group cases. The pro bono fellow will have client contacts and work on cases, including those before government agencies and federal courts. The Pro Bono Fellow also assists lawyers in: preparing letters of claim; calculation of damage tables; file claims with the Ministry of Labour, prepare court records; political and advocacy campaigns; hospitalization in workers` centres; participation in judicial and administrative hearings; and conducting cutting-edge legal research. In addition, there will be activities in the area of public advocacy and social engagement. Our clinic assists litigants in most types of federal civil cases, including issues relating to civil rights, workplace discrimination, labor law, social security benefits, foreclosure, and taxes. We offer a range of services to litigators, including: The New York Legal Assistance Group is also home to LegalHealth, a division whose mission is to provide free legal assistance to low-income New Yorkers with serious health problems in hospitals and community health organizations in the five counties. In addition to free on-site legal clinics, LegalHealth trains healthcare professionals to identify legal issues that may negatively impact medical outcomes. Development match options are numerous, although the program can only support a few of these placements in a given year, as development planning and monitoring demands more from the program.

Many organizations in New York that provide legal services to low-income or disenfranchised clients are already accustomed to accepting pro bono fellows and have a process for doing so. A candidate should inquire early on to ensure compliance with that organization`s process, which can be competitive. Students must submit an application, resume and transcript online through CAMS. Applicants must submit a supplement to the application through CAMS assessing their preferences for all possible field placements mentioned in this PBSP Day School Description. Applicants will be contacted for an interview during the application phase of the clinic, where the topic of fieldwork and planned training will be discussed in more detail. After the interview, candidates can rank their preferences for fieldwork options no later than Tuesday 12. April, by email to Professor Galowitz. Pro Bono Scholars will assist LFC lawyers in their front-line litigation and provide legal representation in New York family courts in matters of foster care, abuse, neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, custody, guardianship and visitation.

Typically, this involves legal research and writing, including movement practice; appear in court on a supervised record; monitor cases to ensure compliance with court orders; reception assistance; preparation of the study; and customer contact. The Bronx Defenders` Family Defense Practice (“FDP”) provides legal representation and social support to parents accused of child abuse and neglect who are at risk of losing custody of their children. Family advocates at The Bronx Defenders are at the forefront of a movement to provide holistic institutional representation to parents in the Bronx County Family Court who are fighting allegations of child abuse and/or neglect. They pledged to fight for parents whose parental rights are threatened, while creating long-term solutions for family reunification and stability. Family advocates will primarily litigate abuse and neglect cases, but occasionally appear in concurrent cases such as custody, access, and deprivation of parental rights. 7. Queens Legal Services – Homeowner & Consumer Rights Project Founded in 1967, QLS seeks equal access to justice for all low-income Queens residents through a range of legal advocacy, education and community partnerships. We provide free legal advice and representation in civil matters, including housing, public and disability benefits, immigration, domestic violence prevention, consumer and homeowner protection, family law, access to education, and labour rights for eligible low-income individuals and families.

We work with our clients and partners to identify and address the root causes of systemic inequalities in Queens and New York City. We provide civil law services from our community office in Jamaica and are able to serve clients remotely through our city-wide legal access line. We are part of a network of local programs that make up Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), the largest provider of free civil law services in the United States. The pro bono fellow will be placed in our Homeowner & Consumer Rights (“HCRP”) project. HCRP helps landlords facing foreclosures and consumer debtors challenge and eliminate abusive lending practices through litigation, non-contentious advocacy, and community building. We represent property owners in foreclosure proceedings and in dealing with abusive loans, tax privileges and reverse mortgage issues. We also assist consumers with a range of collection issues, including student loans, nursing home debts and loan collection lawsuits. Under the supervision of a lawyer, the Pro Bono Fellow is involved in all aspects of our practice, including client interviews, legal research, preparation of briefs and motions, and representing clients at court-supervised settlement conferences. 6. New York Legal Assistance Group Founded in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a leading non-profit public service organization that advocates for adults, children, and families affected by poverty or low-income.

We address legal challenges and systematic barriers that threaten the economic stability, well-being and security of our clients. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we are constantly improving how we respond to systemic issues of racism that affect our clients in their pursuit of justice. We respond to emerging and urgent needs with comprehensive and free civil law services, direct representation, impact litigation, political advocacy, financial advice, medical-legal partnerships, as well as community education and partnerships. Last year, we impacted the lives of 90,800 people. Civil Litigation Practice Our civil litigation practice provides comprehensive legal services to our clients and their families by fully integrating civil representation into our criminal and family defence practice. Our goal is to minimize the serious and often unintended consequences of criminal and family proceedings, while facilitating our clients` reintegration into their communities. Our attorneys and civil litigation attorneys represent our clients in all New York City forums – governmental, state, and federal – to resolve these issues. Lawyers and civil lawyers provide comprehensive advocacy to assist our clients in resolving civil law issues related to barriers to employment, utilities and housing (including eviction efforts); police misconduct and criminal record errors; and civil forfeiture. Pro bono fellows will help DRNY provide pro bono legal representation to people with disabilities in New York City. The student will gain diverse experience, including the opportunity to interact with and advocate directly with clients, conduct legal research on case-specific legal issues, participate in abuse and neglect investigations, engage in the community, and assist in the drafting of complaints, motions, petitions, and briefs. Students are supervised by a practicing lawyer and participate in both individual representation and systemic defense. The Criminal Defense Practice (CDP) at The Bronx Defenders consists of more than 150 lawyers, investigators, social workers, practice staff, and administrators who provide comprehensive criminal defense representation to individuals in the Bronx facing police and criminal implications.

They appear in a variety of proceedings, including, but not limited to, criminal court charges, hearings and trials, as well as concurrent proceedings such as the Superintendent`s suspension and Ministry of Motor Vehicles refusal hearings. CDP lawyers work with lawyers and administrators in holistic, interdisciplinary teams to identify and resolve issues that contribute to our clients` involvement in the criminal justice system and the interrelated consequences of their contact with the system.