Janet Sabel, Attorney-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of The Legal Aid Society, has been named to City and State’s annual Law Power 100 list for her unwavering commitment to equal justice for all New Yorkers.

Under Janet’s leadership, Legal Aid was able to rise to the enormous challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, harnessing the crisis as a catalyst for transformative change for the clients and communities the organization serves.

The pandemic underscored the need for housing protections for New York tenants and Legal Aid fought tirelessly for a federal emergency rent relief program with strong eviction protections. As families continue to struggle to stay in their homes, our attorneys are at the forefront of creating long-term housing solutions.

In a victory for New York’s children, our class-action suit against the City of New York brought working WiFi to thousands of students living in homeless shelters. We also secured new laws that center the humanity of our youngest clients as they navigate the foster and juvenile rights systems.

Legal Aid successfully lobbied Governor Hochul to sign the Less is More Act, which comprehensively reforms New York’s draconian parole laws and provided relief on an overcrowded and dangerous Rikers Island. Our attorneys were also instrumental in drafting The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, a national model for legalization combining criminal record expungement and investment in communities of color that have borne the brunt of prohibition. Both of these bills are part of Janet’s legacy of bringing substantive and long-term progress to New York.

After returning to Legal Aid three years ago, Janet has announced her intention to step down in the spring of 2022. While her leadership in navigating the pandemic will justly be remembered, she has also laid the groundwork for Legal Aid’s success moving forward. Her accomplishments include expanding the organization’s client services, securing staff pay parity with City prosecutorial offices, modernizing the organization’s operations, and building an affirming workplace that draws on and celebrates Legal Aid’s diversity, equity, and inclusion values.

See the full list here.