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Our History Mirrors the City We Serve

For over 140 years, it has been our privilege to protect, defend, and advocate for the rights of generations of vulnerable New Yorkers, families, and communities.

Milestones and History

2019
Major Rent Reform Comes To NYC
2019
A Victory For Young Immigrants
2018
Joe Biden Recognizes The Legal Aid Society
2018
A Temporary Restraining Order Against Family Separation
2017
Queens Celebrates 50 Years of Service
2017
Rallies for Criminal Justice System Reform
2017

New Administration Sparks Immediate Action

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2017
The Juvenile Rights Practice Receives Prestigious Congressional Award
2016
Ensuring Legal Protections under a New Administration
2016
Fighting for Continuous Reforms to Housing, Healthcare, & More
2015
Victories on Behalf of New York’s Children and Mentally Ill
2015

The Loss of Two Great Leaders

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2014
Seymour W. James Jr. Becomes Attorney-in-Chief
2013
Hurricane Sandy Response Continues & DNA Unit Launches
2013
Juvenile Rights Practice Celebrates its 50th Anniversary
2012

The Legal Aid Society Receives the City Bar’s “Diversity Champion” Award

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2012

Hurricane Sandy Creates Critical Need

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2012
Juvenile Rights Practice Helps Achieve “Close to Home” Law
2012
Criminal Practice Challenges Unlawful Marijuana Arrests
2012
Civil Practice Challenges NY City Housing Authority
2011
Prisoners’ Rights Project Celebrates 40 Years
2011

Yvonne McCain’s Legacy Honored in The New York Times

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2010
A Century of Service in the Bronx
2010
Challenging Unlawful Housing Practices & Supporting Haitian Immigrants
2009
Criminal Defense Caseload Standards Established
2009
A Proposal to Modernize Restrictive Criminal Discovery Rules
2009
The Legal Aid Society Updates Brand
2009
Juvenile Rights Challenges Unjust Treatment in OCFA Residential Centers
2009
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman Presides Over Pro Bono Awards
2008

An Enforceable Right to Shelter is Permanently Established

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2008
Children in Custody are Arraigned within 24-Hours
2008
Post-Release Supervision Additions are Struck Down
2007

Awareness Month Tradition Launches with Black History Month

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2007
New York Enacts Law Requiring Client Caseload Limits
2007
Improvements in the Treatment of Prisoners with Mental Illnesses
2006
A Landmark Settlement Benefitting Thousands of New Yorkers with Disabilities
2005
Restructuring Continues & New Practice Heads are Appointed
2005
Legislative Reform Leads to Re-Sentencing Representation
2005
Requiring Landlords to Accept Section 8 Subsidies
2005
Defending Public Assistance for Immigrants
2004

Organizational Restructuring

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2003
Progress Made in the McCain Case
2003
Filing Suit Against New York State Department of Correctional Services
2002
Major Victories for Children Across the City
2002
Challenging the Denial of Mental Healthcare to Prisoners
2002
Fighting to Remove Homeless Families from Bronx House of Detention
2001

Tragedy Sparks Togetherness

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2001
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is Keynote Speaker for Legal Aid Society Exhibition
2000
Ensuring Young Prisoners’ Access to Education
2000
Protecting the Health of Homeless Children
2000
Defending Homeless Families from Shelter Eviction
1999
Protecting Benefits and Improving Shelter Conditions
1999
Health Law Unit Challenges Denial of Benefits for Immigrants
1998
Responding to Mass Violations of Elderly Rights
1998
Ending Jail Brutality
1997
Disputing Single-Parent Workfare Assignments
1997
The Appellate Division Defends McCain Ruling
1997
The Legal Aid Society Headquarters Moves to Church Street
1996
Federal Funding Rejected
1996
Counsel to the Coalition for the Homeless
1995
Capital Defense Unit Established
1995
Fighting for the Rights of Hearing-Impaired Inmates
1995
Challenging Inadequate Medical Access
1994

Court of Appeals Issues Landmark Ruling in McCain

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1993
Commemorative Plaque Installed
1992
Public Housing Provided for Victims of Racial Discrimination
1991
Special Litigation Unit Wins 24-Hour Standard from Arrest to Arraignment
1988
Prisoners’ Rights Project Secures Health Standards for City Jails
1987
Advancing City Shelter Standards
1986
Fighting for the Rights of New York City’s Children
1985

Homeless Rights Project Launches

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1984
The Supreme Court Commends The Legal Aid Society
1984
Challenging the Denial of Social Security Benefits
1983
Yvonne McCain Contacts The Legal Aid Society
1980
Three Supreme Court Victories
1977
Defending Medicaid Nursing Home Patients
1976

The Legal Aid Society Celebrates its 100th Year

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1975

Archibald R. Murray Becomes First African American Attorney-in-Chief

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1975
Case Victories for More New Yorkers
1974
Brooklyn Office for the Aging Opens
1973
Challenging Unethical Punishment in State Facilities for Youth
1972
Parole Revocation Defense Unit Established
1972
Landmark Litigation on Behalf of Mentally Disabled
1972
Federal Rights & Standards Established for PINS Children
1971

The Prisoners’ Rights Project Launches

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1970
Successfully Challenging the NYCHA
1970
Supreme Court Victories for Due Process
1969
Association of Legal Aid Attorneys Established
1968
Civil Appeals and Law Reform Unit Launches
1968
Merged with the Community Law Office Program
1967
Bronx Neighborhood Office Opens
1967
Law Student Intern Program Established
1967
Influencing National Law Reform
1966

The Civil Practices Launches

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1965
The Primary Defender in State Criminal Courts
1964
Offices Expand to Queens and Richmond Counties
1963
Victories on Behalf of the Defenseless
1962

The Juvenile Rights Practice Launches

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1961
Distinguished Honorary Vice Presidents
1960
New Roles for a Modern Era
1959
King and Bronx County Criminal Court Offices Open
1952
Felony Court Branch Opens
1951

“Thou Shalt Not Ration Justice”

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1949
Federal Courts Branch Opens
1947
Undertaking Appeals
1938
Representation in the Court of Special Sessions
1934
Litigation Creates the Small Claims Court
1932
Services Endure During the Great Depression
1928
New York City’s Primary Provider of Public Defense Representation
1926

The Legal Aid Society Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

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1920

Our First Criminal Branch Launches

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1917
Charles Evans Hughes Becomes Our Third President
1917
The “Rockefeller Lawyers” Represent Criminal Defendants
1911
At the Forefront of a National Movement
1910
First Lawyer Assigned to Criminal Cases
1908

Our First Federal Appearance Secures Sailors’ Rights

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1907
Brooklyn Office Opens
1906
Hansel and Gretel Benefit for the Society
1905
President Theodore Roosevelt Becomes Honorary Vice President
1905
Harlem Office Opens
1902

Rosalie Loew Becomes Our First Woman Attorney in-Chief

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1902
Defending Immigrants from Loan Sharks
1901
“Honor to The Legal Aid Society”
1899
New Branches, New Missions
1899
The Seaman’s Branch Launches
1896

A New Name to Fit a New Organization

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1893
Financial Panic Spurs Action
1890
Arthur von Briesen Becomes Our President
1886
20,000+ Cases in 10 Years
1881
Expansion to Meet a Growing Need
1876

The Legal Aid Society is Founded

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Last Updated: 29 April 2019

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