At The Legal Aid Society our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of the courtroom to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City. We seek to be a beacon of hope for those who feel neglected —regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. Our experienced teams provide comprehensive services, support, and advocacy that protect rights, keep families and communities together, and in many cases, saves lives. We have an intrinsic connection to the daily lives of New Yorkers. Here are a few of the places we made a difference, provided context or added valuable perspective this week:

LAS files challenge to Trump Administration’s “public charge” rule

NYLJ: Challenge to ‘Public Charge’ Immigration Rule Says It ‘Weaponizes’ Social Safety Net
Jackson Heights Post: Community Organizations File Lawsuit Against Trump’s Public Charge Rule
Queens Daily Eagle: NYC immigrants rights sue Trump administration to stop ‘public charge’ rule
AMNY: Trump administration’s ‘public charge’ immigration rule changes are illegal, lawsuit says
Pix 11: Community groups sue over green card rule blocking immigrants that use public assistance
Law360: Litigation Over ‘Public Charge’ Rule Mounts With 6th Suit
El Diario: Organizaciones comunitarias de NYC inician ofensiva legal contra la ‘carga pública’
Manhattan Times: “I don’t know what I would have done” Lawsuit filed over public charge rule

NYPD Officer padding overtime with bogus DWI arrests

NY Daily News: Drivers suing city say NYPD cop is padding overtime pay with bogus DWI arrests
NY Daily News: NYPD cop accused of bogus DWI arrests has troubling disciplinary history
Gothamist: NYPD Detective Who Allegedly Made Bogus DWI Arrests Has Misconduct Record
NY Daily News: Legal Aid calls for DAs to review cases involving cop blasted for faulty DWI arrest
NY Daily News: Legal Aid blasts NYPD for returning cop sued for false DWI arrests to full duty
WOR: Several Drivers Charged With DWIs Sue Bronx Cop

NYS decriminalizes marijuana

Gothamist: NY Officially Decriminalized Marijuana Today. Here’s What You Should Know
Newsweek: New York Decriminalized Marijuana. Does The New Law Go Far Enough?
NNY306: What New York’s new marijuana law changes

More LAS in the news

Gothamist: ICE Accused Of Freezing Out Hotline For Detained Immigrants 
Gothamist: ‘Separation Status’ Now Replacing Solitary Confinement For Teens On Rikers
NY1 Noticias: Familias inmigrantes detenidas indefinidamente
Law 360: Sealing Marijuana Convictions Is A Win For Justice System
NY Daily News: While overall NYC jail population drops, technical parole violators are on the rise
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Locking up parolees for minor infractions costs city $190 million per year
Queens Daily Eagle: Locking up parolees for minor infractions costs city $190 million per year
Black Star News: Eric Garner’s Family And Advocates Slam de Blasio for Cover-Up in Garner’s Killing