Our Leadership

The people who make up The Legal Aid Society proved again this year their stalwart commitment to the clients we serve. Our attorneys, paralegals, investigators, social workers, support, and administrative staff rose to meet the challenges of the communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are an organization driven by the simple but powerful belief that no person should be denied the right to equal justice.

Our direct representation of thousands of people informs our litigation efforts and policy advocacy. This year, we saw that advocacy in action and made significant steps towards removing the systemic barriers that have long stifled opportunity for the communities we serve.

The pandemic proved, in many areas, to be a catalyst for meaningful change for those we serve. With our guidance, New York State enacted historic parole reforms through the Less is More Act and legalized marijuana with careful consideration for sealing past criminal convictions. We fought to decarcerate Rikers Island, where a humanitarian crisis has claimed the lives of at least sixteen New Yorkers this year. We secured new, stronger eviction protections that will allow families to stay in their homes. Our advocacy and litigation helped turn the tide on harmful immigration policies from the previous administration. And the settlement of our class-action suit against the City of New York brought working WiFi to thousands of students living in homeless shelters. Because of our work New York City is a more humane place for our children, with new laws that center the humanity of our youngest clients as they navigate the foster and juvenile rights systems.

As we look to the future, The Legal Aid Society is excited to welcome Zachary W. Carter as our new Chair of the Board of Directors. Zachary brings years of public service to this position, most recently serving as Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. His vast legal knowledge and leadership experience will serve us well at this pivotal moment. I also want to acknowledge the significant contributions of Richard J. Davis, our outgoing Chair. Rich Davis has devoted extraordinary time and passion to Legal Aid for the past twelve years, always concerned about our staff and focused on our mission. He has been an unrelenting champion for Legal Aid.

After returning to Legal Aid three years ago, I will step down in the spring of 2022. I am incredibly proud of what our staff achieves every day in pursuit of justice for our clients and the communities we serve. It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve as Attorney-in-Chief of this organization that means so much to me and to all New Yorkers.

Despite its challenges and hardships, this year illustrated that by centering our clients and their core issues, transformative change is possible. Through our legal work, our fiercely passionate staff showed every day what can be achieved through leadership, compassion and a deep commitment to justice. Yet again they proved how vital Legal Aid is to the fight for equity and justice in New York City.