Our Mission
Delivering Justice in Every Borough
The Legal Aid Society is built on one simple but powerful belief: that no New Yorker should be denied the right to equal justice. We seek to be a beacon of hope for New Yorkers who feel neglected—regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. From our start over 145 years ago, our growth has mirrored that of the city we serve. Today, we are proud to be the largest, most influential social justice law firm in New York City.
Our staff and attorneys deliver justice in every borough, working tirelessly to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving. As passionate advocates for individuals and families, The Legal Aid Society is an indispensable component of the legal, social, and economic fabric of our City.
Our Leadership
I am proud and honored to work at The Legal Aid Society. Our clients, staff, and attorneys inspire me every day to build on our 146 year old legacy fighting for justice and equality on behalf of low-income New Yorkers.
We put into action our understanding that it is not enough to talk about racial and economic justice — you must believe in it, stand with our community, and actively fight for it.
In courts and communities throughout New York City, complex trial and post-conviction litigation, policy and law reform and mitigation form the center of our representation and advocacy work on behalf of those we serve.
In our 60th year of serving New York City children, the Juvenile Rights Practice now leads the nation with our child-centered, interdisciplinary model of representation that sees the whole child and elevates the value of family.
Our unparalleled client advocacy is grounded in the four corners of the ethics rules, helping to ensure our lawyers provide low-income New Yorkers with the most zealous possible representation.
Volunteers are inspired by the commitment of Legal Aid staff and the resiliency of our clients. The result? Better outcomes for clients and their communities.
Data and tech are the backbone of the high-quality legal services we provided in more than 183,000 matters in 2022, defending vulnerable New Yorkers every day.
Financial management is at the heart of supporting our mission and ensuring the overall well-being of our team members as well as our partners and vendors.
Our award-winning public education campaign on parole reform not only gave New Yorkers vital information — it helped humanize incarcerated New Yorkers who have become easy targets in the rhetoric on crime.
The transformation of an organization is challenging but attainable. Our mission is not to uphold the status quo of DEI but to enact change as a collective with intentionality, effort, and grace.
The excellence of our facilities and administrative staff ensures that Legal Aid offices can be a refuge for clients planning their defense, and enable staff to deliver services and resources.
Our Impact
Every day, in every borough, The Legal Aid Society works in courtrooms and communities to deliver justice to New Yorkers. Every year, our direct representation of thousands of individuals informs our impact litigation efforts and policy advocacy, providing us with a powerful perspective from which to begin dismantling the systemic barriers that keep our clients from thriving.
183K+
Individual legal matters handled.
201K+
Hours of pro bono work by 2,737 legal volunteers.
31K+
Helpline calls answered for a range of legal issues.
Make a Meaningful Impact
Every day, The Legal Aid Society changes the lives of our clients with the help of our generous supporters. Stand with us.