The Legal Aid Society today announced the appointment of Zachary Carter to Chair of the Board of Directors, succeeding Richard Davis who served in this position for 11 years, as reported by the New York Law Journal.

Carter brings years of public service to this position, most recently serving as Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. He’s also served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and as a State judge.

“The Legal Aid Society is a New York City institution, serving our most vulnerable neighbors on a myriad of issues each and every day,” said Carter.  “I’m very much looking forward to this new role and challenge, using my experience in public service to ensure that Legal Aid clients have the best possible representation on legal matters citywide.”

Janet Sabel, who has served as CEO and Attorney-In-Chief of The Legal Aid Society for the past two and a half years, also informed Legal Aid’s Board that she plans to depart the organization in the spring of 2022. Sabel took over the leadership of the organization in 2019 with the understanding that she would play a transitional role in positioning the Society for the future. Sabel guided Legal Aid through the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded the organization’s client services; secured Legal Aid staff pay parity with City prosecutorial offices; modernized the organization’s operations; and prioritized time and resources towards building an affirming workplace that draws on and celebrates Legal Aid’s diversity, equity and inclusion values – all steps with lasting impact on the Society.

“I’m extremely proud of my tenure at The Legal Aid Society and what our amazing staff are able to achieve each and every day in the pursuit of justice for our clients and the communities we serve,” said Sabel. “I welcome Zachary Carter as our next Chair of the Board of Directors, and thank Richard Davis, who worked tirelessly in that role for over a decade. Legal Aid is very much a part of New York City’s societal fabric, and it’s been an absolute pleasure and privilege to have served as chief since January, 2019. It’s now time for the Legal Aid to have a long term leader at the helm.”

“I have been extremely honored to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors at The Legal Aid Society, and to have had the opportunity to work with so many extraordinary people whose commitment to the cause of justice should make us all proud. I’m confident that Zachary Carter will usher the organization into a new era, building on the many successes we have achieved over the last decade,” said Richard Davis. “Our next CEO will be well positioned to lead the Society forward thanks in large measure to Janet’s work, and all of us on the Board and staff are so grateful to her for her passionate and compassionate leadership.”