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 optimistic after President Biden’s first executive orders

Brooklyn Paper: ‘Our City Will Have a Partner’: Brooklyn Politicos Toast Biden’s Inauguration
Bronx News 12: President Biden signs executive order to reverse travel ban from 7 Muslim countries
Marketplace: Immigration overhaul among first legislative action for Biden
AMNY: Brooklyn politicians toast Biden’s inauguration and celebrate a new era
Gothamist: With DACA Restored, Thousands Of Immigrants Wait For Applications To Be Processed

LAS wins vaccination for incarcerated client, pushes for more action to protect the vulnerable

Gothamist: Court Orders State To Vaccinate Older Inmate In Cuomo’s “Prison Nursing Home”
WNYC: Court Orders State To Vaccinate Older Inmate – Advocates Hope It Will Lead To Others
NY1: Shut Out of Vaccine Eligibility, Advocacy Groups Scramble To Make Sure They’re Next In Line
NNY360: Three Adirondack prison inmates sue state over COVID conditions
USA Today: ‘They’re not forgotten souls’: New York prisons see spike in COVID cases, deaths
The City: State Prison COVID-19 Wave Grows as Inmates Wait for Vaccines
Huffington Post: Delaying Vaccines For America’s Prison Population Will Make The Pandemic Worse

NYPD clashes with protesters; LAS, NYCLU, NY AG have pending lawsuits 

NYDN: Policing the police, finally: The NYPD has treated protesters brutally for decades
Blackstar News: NYCLU, LAS Applaud AG James’ Lawsuit Against NYPD
NBC4: NYPD Arrests 28 Protesters at MLK Day Demonstration
Daily Mail: Thirty people arrested, ten officers injured in clashes between BLM protesters and NYPD

SI district attorney used controversial facial recognition technology

Input: Staten Island’s DA caught paying for Clearview AI technology
SI Advance: Does face-recognition tech infringe on privacy? D.A.’s use sparks Legal Aid outcry
Gothamist: Staten Island DA Quietly Purchased Controversial Facial Recognition Software

More LAS in the news

Capital Pressroom: Legal Aid to Lawmakers on Rent Relief: Don’t Make the Same Mistake Twice
NYDN: New York Democrats finally ready to repeal ‘walking while trans’ loitering law