About Us
We are community-centered legal advocates.
Legal Services NYC’s (LSNYC) mission is to fight poverty and seek racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. We help New Yorkers obtain the basic necessities of life, including housing, economic security, family and immigration stability, education, health care. We challenge systemic injustices that trap people in poverty.
At LSNYC, we pride ourselves on our deep community roots, a holistic, trauma-informed approach to advocacy, and our ability to work creatively and strategically with our clients.
And our help is FREE. We will never ask you to pay for our services.
Our Clients
Our clients are not defined by their legal struggles.
Our clients are our partners – they bring solutions to some of the hardest legal and social obstacles, and our role is to listen, engage, and advocate for the solutions they need. We endeavor to treat each client with the compassion, dignity and respect they deserve. We also build and leverage relationships with community based organizations and advocates to achieve better outcomes.
Our Staff
We are committed to our staff.
Our dedicated staff come from many backgrounds, cultures, and experiences and represent the communities we serve, from our executive leadership to our support staff. Our goal is to foster belonging and promote an inclusive environment in which all employees are able to perform at their best; feel valued, respected, and motivated; share views and ideas for continuous improvement; access professional development, leadership, and learning opportunities; and work collaboratively to cultivate a supportive, client-centered culture.
Our Leadership
Shaping a dynamic force for change.
Legal Services NYC’s dedicated leadership are among the sharpest in New York’s legal community, offering guidance, supervision, and support to ensure we are leveraging every tool available to uplift and empower clients. With decades of experience, our leadership continues to cultivate a dynamic and diverse workforce that is rising to meet the ever-changing needs of New York City communities.
Our History
A long history of serving New Yorkers in 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 serving more than 108,000 low-income New Yorkers annually.
Financial Information
Learn more about our impact and finances
Legal Services NYC is funded through a series of government grants and generous donations from supporters and pro bono partners. Each year, we lift up and empower thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers and their families. Learn more about our impact and our finances.
Annual Reports
(2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018)
Financial Statements
(2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018)
Donate
Giving to Legal Services NYC
When you donate to LSNYC, you become a vital partner in our fight for justice for all New Yorkers and a champion for change in the systems and institutions that keep people poor. At every level, your donation makes a difference in the lives of the communities we serve, making their lives safer and more stable. Please consider making a gift today.