Our Mission
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest is a nonprofit, civil rights law firm that strives for social justice. In partnership with member law firms, corporate law departments and other organizations, NYLPI helps underrepresented people develop legal strategies to serve their vision for themselves and their communities.
The Community Lawyering model drives much of our work. Through our legal services, advocacy and organizing, we seek to be a resource to communities, both geographic and ideological. At the heart of this model is the belief that the community knows its own needs and challenges best. Through our partnerships, we work to provide community members with the resources and training to one day serve as their own representatives, advocates and organizers.
NYLPI was founded in 1976 to serve the legal needs of underserved, underrepresented New Yorkers and their communities. What began as a small-scale staff working to link low income clients and organizations with attorneys willing to volunteer pro bono legal services has grown into an unparalleled resource for low income, community-driven legal representation.
Our Four Main Project Areas
- NYLPI’s Pro Bono Clearinghouse maintains a network of over 80 law firms and corporate legal departments willing to volunteer their time to address the legal needs of New York’s underrepresented communities
- The Disability Law Center is New York’s primary federally designated Protection and Advocacy Agency, charged with protecting the rights of people with disabilities. The DLC encompasses three main program areas:
- The Deinstitutionalization Program addresses the needs of adults who are or have been institutionalized, as well as those of children in foster care
- The Education Program represents parents and children with disabilities trying to secure appropriate, integrated special educational opportunities
- The Opportunity and Access Program fights for equal access for people with disabilities to a range of municipal services and activities including public transportation, housing, businesses, voting, police protection, and medical care and equipment
- The Health Justice Program works with community coalitions to ensure access to quality health care for people in medically underserved neighborhoods as well as those who face barriers due to limited English proficiency, or racial and ethnic discrimination
- The Environmental Justice Program provides community organizing and legal assistance to low-income neighborhoods and communities of color that bear an unfair burden of environmental threats
In addition to our in-house program areas, NYLPI fosters and assists the National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights (NCRCR). The Campaign is a non-partisan movement, housed at NYLPI, working to ensure that our courts protect and preserve equal justice, fairness, and opportunity.
Our Community Partners
- Parents for Inclusive Education (PIE)
An organization of parents, educators and advocates working together to ensure that students with disabilities have the same opportunities to participate in the classes and activities as their non-disabled peers.
- The Organization of Waterfront Neighborhoods (OWN)
A citywide community-based coalition formed to address the common threat to NYC neighborhoods presented by waste transfer stations.
- Southeast Queens United in Support of Healthcare (SQUISH)
The mission of the SQUISH is to strengthen existing healthcare services in the community by raising community awareness about issues that affect the delivery of services and advocating against the reduction and removal of critical health services in Southeast Queens.
|
 |
|
|
Useful Links
|
