Helping New Yorkers in Times of Need
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.
Even during a pandemic, our dedicated staff continues to challenge systemic injustices and ensured the well-being of communities across the city. This work includes preventing evictions and preserving housing; demanding access to high-quality education, health care, and economic security; ensuring safety and stability for survivors of domestic violence and immigrants; and fighting for the dignity and respect of all New Yorkers, including LGBTQ communities, New Yorkers with disabilities, and people of color.
Now more than ever, New Yorkers need our help and the dedicated staff at Legal Services NYC continue to rise to meet the occassion, fighting to ensure that New Yorkers are able to access the services, benefits, and help they need to survive. We are proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to continuing to expand the scope of our work each year. With the generous support of our partners, there is no end to what we can achieve. Thank you for standing with us to demand justice.
Learn more about our practice areas here.
Share LSNYC's Flyer to Access Our Services
English, Español (Spanish), বাঙালি (Bengali), 繁体字 (Traditional Chinese), Français (French), Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole), 日本語 (Japanese), 한국어 (Korean), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi), РУССКИЙ (Russian), Tagalog, اردو (Urdu)
Read our Annual Reports