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Lifting the Voices of Children & Adolescents
We fight in New York courthouses and communities to empower children, youth and families. Multi-disciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers, paralegals and investigators represent children and adolescents in Family Court matters.
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Every day, in courthouses and communities across the city, we advocate for the rights of young New Yorkers. Learn more about the services we provide.
A Day in the Life
Creating Brighter Futures in the Juvenile Rights Practice
As Staff Attorneys in our Juvenile Rights Practice, Israel T. Appel, Angela Hines, and Mikila Thompson all bring a personal perspective to their dedicated work on behalf of young clients throughout New York City.
Israel T. Appel Juvenile Rights Practice
Our Work with Partners
Dismissing School Suspensions for Students with Behavioral Disabilities
We partnered with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP on an innovative project that quickly pairs volunteer attorneys with students facing School Suspension. In some matters, volunteers participate in meetings to determine whether the student’s behavior was actually a manifestation of their disability. Students with representation at hearings are ensured due process, experience reduced time spent out of class, and frequently achieve a dismissal of the suspension.
By the Numbers
The backbone of New York’s communities are the individuals and families who live in them. We empower the voice of children involved in Family Court and fight for children and individuals of all ages who have faced violence, abuse, and trafficking, as well as those fighting for access to an education, seeking a divorce, or freedom from an abusive partner.
90%
90% of children in Family Court are represented by The Legal Aid Society.
70,000+
Juvenile Rights interdisciplinary teams of Attorneys, Social Workers, Paralegals, and Investigators amplified the voice of children in 70,000+ appearances in Family Court in 2018.
3,700
During the last year, our Family/Domestic Violence staff handled over 1,700 cases benefiting over 3,700 New Yorkers.
Justice in Every Borough
Make a Meaningful Impact
Every day, The Legal Aid Society changes the lives of our clients with the help of our generous supporters. Stand with us.