The Legal Aid Society

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The Legal Aid Society, the nation's oldest and largest not-for-profit legal services organization.

The Legal Aid Society, the nation’s oldest and largest not-for-profit legal services organization, is more than a law firm for the poor. It is an indispensable component of the legal, social, and economic fabric of New York City- passionately advocating for low-income individuals and families across a variety of civil, criminal, and juvenile rights matters, while also fighting for legal reform. The Legal Aid Society has performed this role in the City, State, and federal courts since 1876. It does so by capitalizing on the diverse expertise, experience, and capabilities of more than 1,000 of the brightest legal minds. These 1,100 Legal Aid Society lawyers work with more than 700 social workers, investigators, paralegals and support and administrative staff. Through a network of borough, neighborhood, and courthouse offices in 26 locations in New York City, the Society provides comprehensive legal services in all five boroughs of New York City for clients who cannot afford to pay for private counsel. The Society’s legal program operates three major practices- Civil, Criminal and Juvenile rights- and receives volunteer help from law firms, corporate law departments and expert consultants that is coordinated by the Society’s Pro Bono program. Annually, the Society handles more than 300,000 cases and legal matters for clients with civil, criminal, and juvenile rights problems. The Legal Aid Society takes on more cases for more clients than any other legal services organization in the United States. And it brings a depth and breadth of perspective that is unmatched in the legal profession. The Legal Aid Society’s unique value is an ability to go beyond any one case to create more equitable outcomes for individuals and broader, more powerful systemic change for society as a whole. In addition to the annual caseload of 300,000 individual cases and legal matters, the Society’s law reform work benefits some two million low-income families and individuals in New York City and the landmark rulings in many of these cases have a Statewide and national impact.

10/08/2026

The Legal Aid Society recently welcomed more than 75 new attorneys and law graduates, paralegals, social workers, and client advocates as part of our Fall 2026 New Hire Class.

Our leadership team kicked things off with a breakfast, to officially welcome them to the Legal Aid team. They’ve already begun training, building connections, and preparing to serve the people and communities who rely on us. We’re excited to see the great work they do!

10/07/2026

Mayor Mamdani promised New Yorkers a fundamentally different approach to public safety. It's time to deliver. https://politi.co/4zGmiv9

10/06/2026

A major victory for immigrant communities nationwide!

A court has granted preliminary relief to immigrants challenging the Trump Administration’s unprecedented civil penalty scheme, which sought to impose fines of up to $998 per day, often totaling nearly $1.8 million per person, against immigrants pursuing lawful immigration relief. This ruling is an important step toward protecting immigrants from these unlawful and devastating penalties.

The decision is a result of a lawsuit brought by Legal Aid and its partners challenging a policy affecting more than 100,000 people nationwide.

10/02/2026

Since 1989, hundreds of people across the state have been exonerated after spending years in prison for crimes they did not commit. Yet New York’s laws continue to create barriers that can prevent people with credible innocence claims from getting meaningful review in court.

New York must pass the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act. The legislation would overhaul Article 440 to strengthen the ability to challenge wrongful convictions, including convictions following guilty pleas, improve access to post-conviction discovery, strengthen the right to a hearing, clarify when counsel should be assigned, and allow people to seek vacatur when the conduct underlying their conviction has been decriminalized.

10/01/2026

At its heart, Cupertino is a story about using the law to stand up to powerful interests, a theme that resonates with our work every day. We're proud that CBS is supporting The Legal Aid Society with a donation to celebrate the launch of this series and help us continue our fight for justice for the real-life underdog.

09/30/2026

“Your ability to be free should not be based on what you can afford.”

Our Attorney-in-Chief and CEO, Twyla Carter, recently joined Somil Trivedi on the Legal AF podcast to talk about the real-world impact of cash bail and our fight against a two-tier justice system. Watch the full conversation here:

Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief and CEO of the Legal Aid Society of...

09/29/2026

Alongside the Legal Defense Fund, we’re condemning the NYPD following a new report from the Independent Monitor finding that officers failed to properly document nearly 10,000 stops in 2025.

Terry stops allow police to briefly detain someone based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Under a federal court order, NYPD officers are required to document every one. When thousands of stops go unreported, there’s no way to know the full scope of these encounters or ensure officers are held accountable. This is a fundamental accountability failure. New Yorkers deserve transparency and policing that respects their constitutional rights. More: https://legalaidnyc.org/news/nypd-fails-to-report-10k-stops/

09/23/2026

As a young trans woman from a Jamaican immigrant family, Carey’s transition was not supported. At 16, she left home. She struggled to stay in school and had no way to support herself. Someone Carey thought she could trust told her she would never be able to get a regular job. At the time, teenage Carey believed them.

Years later, after experiencing trafficking, incarceration, and housing instability, Carey connected with The Legal Aid Society. To read more of Carey’s story and how Legal Aid’s attorneys across multiple teams helped her build toward the future she once thought was out of reach, click here: https://legalaidnyc.org/stay-connected/

09/22/2026

Imagine that!

09/22/2026

Join us in congratulating Dawne Mitchell, Chief Attorney of our Juvenile Rights Practice (JRP), on receiving the Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare from the New York State Bar Association.

Dawne was honored for her longstanding commitment to advancing the rights, dignity, and voices of children and young people. At Legal Aid, she leads more than 300 attorneys and staff who represent 90 percent of children and youth involved in New York City's Family Courts. This award is just as much a recognition of our JRP staff members as it is of Dawne's extraordinary leadership. More: https://nysba.org/nysba-honors-two-family-court-reformers-with-howard-levine-award/

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New York, NY

Telephone

+12125773300

Website

http://www.legalaidnyc.org/

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