The Legal Aid Society exists for one simple yet powerful reason: to ensure that no New Yorker is denied the right to equal justice because of poverty.

For over 140 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those that have struggled in silence for far too long – working on the front-lines and behind-the-scenes to offer our clients the exceptional legal services they deserve.

Through our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices, we offer an unmatched depth and breadth of legal expertise to vulnerable New Yorkers in over 300,000 legal matters each and every year. 

Every day, in every borough, The Legal Aid Society changes the lives of our clients with the help of our supporters.

For immediate help, call 212-577-3300

OUR THREE PRACTICES

 

WHAT WE DO

Deborah's Story

Mia's Story

Wilmer's Story

BREAKING: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed a new rule that seeks to restrict access to public housing for undocumented immigrants and their families. #KeepFamiliesTogether Read LAS' statement.
It’s #FundNYIFUPFriday! Before NYIFUP, only 3% of detained, unrepresented immigrants avoided deportation. NYC must keep its promise to protect immigrant New Yorkers from being deported away from their families, by funding this watershed deportation defense program.
@nycmayor and the NYPD have aggressively cracked down on e-bike delivery workers—predominantly immigrants—citing alleged safety concerns. We know otherwise and now there is new data to prove it...“The data don’t show that e-bikes are especially dangerous, and that the enforcement against the predominantly immigrant food delivery workers seem intended to placate some community residents who are frightened or annoyed by e-bikes,” - #SteveWasserman, Staff Attorney with Legal Aid’s Special Litigation Unit. Via @streetsblog. Link in bio.
BREAKING: The Office of Court Administration (OCA) announced a new court rule today, prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from arresting immigrants in New York State courthouses WITHOUT a judicial warrant or order! This is a huge victory, as advocates have been pushing for #ICEfreecourts in NY for 2+ years! Read LAS' statement.

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