How We Help People
Our work helps people by:
For more information on how you can help, click here.
Illustrative Cases
Keeping People in Their Homes
We defend clients in nonpayment and other eviction proceedings, as well as in mortgage foreclosure proceedings. We also help them pursue rent overcharge claims and actions to improve housing conditions: all of which keep them from becoming homeless. In 2007 we closed almost 8,000 housing cases, helping an estimated 30,000 people stave off eviction and possible homelessness.
Keeping Families Together
Our family law practice preserves families wherever possible, while providing our clients and their children with a sense of dignity.
We help:
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Victims of domestic violence obtain orders of protection and other relief;
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Clients prepare guardianships or adoptions for dependent children;
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Clients obtain divorces, separation agreements, annulments, child custody and child support claims; and
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Represent parents in abuse and neglect cases and at termination of parental rights proceedings.
In 2007 we helped to keep together over 300 families.
Protecting and Securing Income
Employment and Government Benefits:
We help people access and retain government benefits, ensuring they can keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Through our secure income and benefits work, we:
- Assist clients when government benefits are being wrongfully denied, inaccurately calculated, or improperly terminated; and
- Represent families and individuals for whom Unemployment Insurance, Food Stamps, Medicaid/Medicare and other public assistance and Safety Net programs are a critical lifeline.
In 2007 we helped over 8,600 families retain the benefits they were entitled to.
Consumer Matters:
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We help our clients with consumer law problems by:
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Obtaining federal bankruptcy protection where appropriate;
- Stopping unlawful debt collection practices;
- Overcoming illegal sale contracts or warranties; and
- Preventing or overcoming utility terminations.
In 2007 we helped over 1,500 families resolve their consumer problems.
Improving Communities
We represent community-based groups that are improving the quality of life in their communities. We act as counsel, helping:
- Non-profit community organizations to incorporate.
- Community development corporations to navigate the complex maze of tax laws, government subsidies, real estate laws and the like.
- Client groups assert their rights to habitable homes, decent schools and adequate health care.
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