In April 2010, Justice Speaks, a New York State based initiative comprised of attorneys, advocates, and interpreters aimed at ensuring language access in the justice system, conducted a survey of Clerks’ Offices in courthouses around New York City to assess compliance with language access mandates.  Although the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA)’s language access policies serve as a model around the country, the Justice Speaks survey results demonstrate that there are still many improvements to be made to ensure that OCA routinely provides language services outside of the courtroom when limited English proficient (LEP) litigants seek services.  

Today, St. John's School of Law and Legal Services NYC (LS-NYC) announced the creation of the Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic, through which St. John's law students will learn about bankruptcy law while providing bankruptcy assistance to low-income New Yorkers.

August 17, 2010, Brooklyn, NY:  Today, plaintiffs RueZalia Watkins, Anthony Trocchia, and Clara Reiss, all people who are unable to travel long distances on their own or make use of the subway system because of their mobility impairments, along with Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York and The Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled Inc., both non-profit agencies that advocate on behalf of disabled New Yorkers, filed suit against the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and New York City Transit (NYCT). They are challenging cuts to the City's bus system and its complementary paratransit system that leave them without public transportation service comparable to that provided to non-disabled people, in violation of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  The plaintiffs are represented by South Brooklyn Legal Services (SBLS) (a program of Legal Services NYC), the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and Emery, Celli, Brinckerhoff and Abady.  Plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction reversing the MTA and NYCT service cuts and restoring paratransit services.

In May 2010, Legal Services NYC-Bronx filed a motion on behalf of tenants living in a portfolio of ten distressed apartment buildings arguing that once a foreclosure action is initiated, and a court-appointed receiver is in place, the mortgage holder can be held liable for maintaining building conditions. A decision on the case is currently on hold because the buildings’ special servicer, LNR Properties, recently announced that a deal in the works to transfer the buildings and reinstate the loan. However, the companies have refused to reveal the identity of the potential buyer, or any details of the deal.

The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program is the New York City Bar’s primary pipeline program for increasing Diversity in the legal profession. In addition to placing students in summer jobs with corporate law firms, legal non-profits, and judges for the summer, the program offers instruction in networking, resume-building, and office etiquette, as well as SAT prep courses, mock trial programs, a Constitutional Symposium, and mentorship programs. Chaired by LS-NYC’s Director of Communications and Government Relations, Edwina Frances Martin, the program this year had more attorney volunteers and participating employers than ever before.

During its two days of debate at its 2010 Annual Meeting, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates approved fundamental requirements for effectively providing representation to persons who cannot afford a lawyer in adversarial civil proceedings involving such basic human needs as shelter, sustenance, safety, health and child custody, that are embodied in ABA Basic Principles of a Right to Counsel in Civil Legal Proceedings. The policy was brought to the House by the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants with support from 12 other ABA entities and bar associations.  In a companion proposal, the House of Delegates adopted the ABA Model Access Act, a model statute for use by implementing jurisdictions to establish and administer a civil right to counsel.