The Legal Aid Society is the nation’s largest public defense and civil legal services provider. The largest law firm in New York City is home to over 2000 attorneys, paralegals, social workers, investigators, and more. Each brings their unique perspective to the fight for justice in every borough.

What inspired you to work at Legal Aid?
My commitment to social justice began at 12 years old when I first started volunteering for a non-profit organization. Since then, I have been dedicated to advancing the interests of historically marginalized communities, including extensive advocacy work for people with disabilities. Over the past decade, my focus has shifted to housing justice. I was inspired to join The Legal Aid Society because the organization is at the forefront of movement lawyering—representing individuals within our communities while also creating systematic change. The Legal Aid Society is the oldest and largest public interest law firm in the country, and I am inspired by the work that we do and the impact that we have.

What’s a recent project or piece of work you’re proud of, and why?
I am incredibly proud of a recent ERT (Emergency Response Team) post-eviction case that I took on. When the case was referred to us, the tenant had already been evicted and was sleeping on the streets. Upon analyzing the case it became apparent that there were major defenses including the possibility that nothing was even owed when the lawsuit was originally commenced. Working tirelessly alongside my colleague, Emma Salas, we drafted and filed a complex motion under immense time constraints. We won the motion and successfully restored the tenant to his apartment. While case is ongoing, the tenant is back home where he belongs while we litigate the case. This case perfectly illustrates the vital role of our Emergency Response Team in catching and protecting vulnerable clients who have unfortunately fallen through the cracks of the Right to Counsel system.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?
One challenge is confronting the sheer volume of cases, and that our unit can’t take them all on. Unlike the Tenant Defense Unit, ERT accepts referral-based emergency cases. Because our unit is small, we are forced to make decisions about which cases we can accept for full representation, knowing that we simply cannot represent every New Yorker who needs our help.

What’s something about your work that most people misunderstand?
People often misunderstand the scope and timing of eviction defense. There is a common belief that once a marshal executes an eviction, not much can be done. In reality, much of our work involves complicated post-eviction litigation where we can still raise legal defenses and return families to their homes even after they have been displaced.

What is the impact of your work on the lives of New Yorkers?
Providing legal defense for tenants facing eviction does more than just keep an individual family housed; it stabilizes entire communities. By limiting displacement, we mitigate the city’s homelessness crisis, reduce expenses in providing shelter services, preserve neighborhood continuity, and ensure that all New Yorkers—regardless of income—can live with dignity and security. Every New Yorker benefits.

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Sarah Simon is a Supervising Attorney with The Legal Aid Society’s Citywide Housing Practice, Emergency Response Team.