Report of the Attorney-in-Chief

No one has a deeper understanding or greater empathy for our client communities than the individuals who make up The Legal Aid Society. We are over two thousand attorneys, paralegals, investigators, social workers, support, and administrative staff united by the simple but powerful belief that no person should be denied the right to equal justice.

This year that determination and commitment was tested under extraordinary circumstances. As New York City became the epicenter of a global pandemic and once again a visible force in exposing the scourge of racial inequity, our staff stood up for the City’s most vulnerable on multiple critical fronts.

With little notice, our team built a remote office, outfitted our staff to work from home, and created virtual intake and remote hotlines, ensuring that The Legal Aid Society was open, every day, to serve our clients. As courts shifted to virtual proceedings, schools closed, jobs were lost, and families stood in fear of being evicted, our staff adapted and innovated to protect our clients’ rights and safety. We advocated to make the courts safer for our communities and virtual proceedings more protective of clients’ rights. We fought to free vulnerable clients from incarceration. As we have always done in times of crisis, The Legal Aid Society defended, advocated for, and stood up as allies for the people of New York.

Racial justice has always been an intrinsic element of our work at The Legal Aid Society, and this year was no exception as we stood with advocates and allies around the country and filed suit against the New York City Police Department for their brutal response to local demonstrations. Now and always, we remain committed to being a check on systems that continue to suppress opportunity and foster inequality, and to look internally to create a stronger, more inclusive workplace.

We know there is much work still to be done. As we look forward, we are mindful of the shifts in the government, social and economic landscapes, which, taken together, will drive opportunity for those we serve. It is our sincerest hope that our government leaders will take immediate action to tackle the multitude of unprecedented challenges that we currently face: racial, economic, health, housing, education, employment – and especially to address the injustices that have so long characterized our criminal legal system.

COVID-19 hit Legal Aid very hard this year as many staff members and their families battled with the virus. We pay special tribute to George DowningJr. who lost his life. George, a paralegal with the Criminal Defense Practice in Brooklyn, was a much-loved member of the Legal Aid family, along with his partner of many years, Charlene Abney, a paralegal in the Bronx Criminal Defense office. We desperately hope that the next phase of this pandemic spares our staff and our communities.

Despite the challenges of the past year, we have never wavered in our commitment to our communities. Though the crisis has not passed, we will continue to rise to meet the moment. As we prepare for the work in the year ahead, we remain vigilant in our commitment to justice.