Legal Services

"Legal Services NYC was founded in 1968 as part of the War on Poverty. What started as a loose confederation of neighborhood-based legal services programs has grown into the nation's largest civil legal services provider. Our citywide force of over 500 staff helps more than 110,000 low-income New Yorkers annually.

For low-income New Yorkers facing a life crisis, legal help is often the most effective tool in resolving it. The need for free legal services is tremendous. Roughly 1.7 million city residents are currently living below the poverty line—a mere $25,000 for a family of four. They are often made more vulnerable by discrimination, immigration status, age, or disabilities. Our work makes tangible improvements in the lives of hundreds of thousands of these New Yorkers in need.
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