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290 Main Street
4th Floor Buffalo, NY 14202
legalaidbuffalo.org
Main Phone
716-853-9555 x200
Fax
716-853-3219
Automated Intake
716-853-9555 x400
Primary Services
Alimony Assistance, Bankruptcy Assistance, Child Custody/Visitation Assistance, Child Support Assistance/Enforcement, Child Support Wage Assignment Assistance, Comprehensive Family Law Services, Consumer Law, Criminal Law, Divorce Assistance, Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services, Employment Discrimination Assistance, Ex-Offender Legal Assistance, General Legal Aid, GI Rights Counseling, Housing Discrimination Assistance, Immigration/Naturalization Legal Services, Labor and Employment Law, Landlord Rights Information/Counseling, Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution, Mortgage Delinquency and Default Counseling, Name/Personal Information Modification Assistance, Public Defender, Real Estate Law, Tenant Rights Information/Counseling, Unemployment Insurance Benefits Assistance
Description
The Civil Legal Services Unit provides legal assistance in housing matters, divorce, mortgage foreclosures, unemployment insurance, bankruptcy, and re-entry, as detailed in the following categories below.
- Family Justice: Provides divorce representation with priority given to cases involving contested custody, domestic violence, mental health issues, or client vulnerability. Also handles some Family Court matters including child or spousal support, custody, visitation, and family-offense petitions.
- Housing: Can help homeowners set priorities to maintain home ownership and neighborhood stability while under financial constrictions. Represents homeowners, landlords, and tenants in court, and may represent them to other not-for-profit agencies and funding resources for assistance. Can also handle related legal issues as title, finances, and tax benefits.
- Unemployment/Discrimination/Wage Theft: Provides advice, counsel, and direct representation to low-income workers facing denial of unemployment insurance benefits; wage theft in the form of minimum-wage and overtime violations; and workplace discrimination or retaliation, including discrimination based on past criminal convictions. Will also advise regarding other employment-related matters such as family and medical leave.
- Veterans: Provides advice to service members about their rights under the Federal Service Members Civil Relief Act, as well as the laws of the State of New York regarding divorce, child support, custody, visitation, family offense (order of protection), and spousal support. Assists veterans and active service members with housing, homelessness, and employment discrimination. Participates in the Erie County Veterans Court, a single venue whose aim is in to achieve successful reintegration into civilian culture.
- LGBTQ: Staff is fully familiar with marriage-equality rights and the impact of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act on same-sex marriages in New York. Handles cases of child support; divorce; parental rights; employment discrimination; domestic violence; name changes; transgender-specific issues in employment and health care; housing; educational discrimination; and youth issues related to school and other services.
- Re-Entry: Provides the following services for clients returning to the community from a correctional facility: aids clients in preparing applications for relief of civil disabilities; assists clients in obtaining, reviewing, verifying, correcting, and sealing criminal records; assists with restoring licenses suspended on conviction; assists with child support modification; and refers clients to appropriate re-entry partners in Erie and surrounding counties regarding counseling, training, employment, and housing opportunities.
- Immigrants & Refugees: Serves as the lead agency of the Coordinated Refugee/Asylee Legal Services Project, which aims to assist immigrants and refugees with legal concerns such as housing, matrimonial matters, domestic violence, and child custody. Also assists with education-related issues within the City of Buffalo School system.
The Criminal Legal Services Unit represents indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in the City of Buffalo, including misdemeanors under both the New York State Penal Law and the Vehicle & Traffic Law, as well as D and E Felonies.
##Veteran##
- Family Justice: Provides divorce representation with priority given to cases involving contested custody, domestic violence, mental health issues, or client vulnerability. Also handles some Family Court matters including child or spousal support, custody, visitation, and family-offense petitions.
- Housing: Can help homeowners set priorities to maintain home ownership and neighborhood stability while under financial constrictions. Represents homeowners, landlords, and tenants in court, and may represent them to other not-for-profit agencies and funding resources for assistance. Can also handle related legal issues as title, finances, and tax benefits.
- Unemployment/Discrimination/Wage Theft: Provides advice, counsel, and direct representation to low-income workers facing denial of unemployment insurance benefits; wage theft in the form of minimum-wage and overtime violations; and workplace discrimination or retaliation, including discrimination based on past criminal convictions. Will also advise regarding other employment-related matters such as family and medical leave.
- Veterans: Provides advice to service members about their rights under the Federal Service Members Civil Relief Act, as well as the laws of the State of New York regarding divorce, child support, custody, visitation, family offense (order of protection), and spousal support. Assists veterans and active service members with housing, homelessness, and employment discrimination. Participates in the Erie County Veterans Court, a single venue whose aim is in to achieve successful reintegration into civilian culture.
- LGBTQ: Staff is fully familiar with marriage-equality rights and the impact of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act on same-sex marriages in New York. Handles cases of child support; divorce; parental rights; employment discrimination; domestic violence; name changes; transgender-specific issues in employment and health care; housing; educational discrimination; and youth issues related to school and other services.
- Re-Entry: Provides the following services for clients returning to the community from a correctional facility: aids clients in preparing applications for relief of civil disabilities; assists clients in obtaining, reviewing, verifying, correcting, and sealing criminal records; assists with restoring licenses suspended on conviction; assists with child support modification; and refers clients to appropriate re-entry partners in Erie and surrounding counties regarding counseling, training, employment, and housing opportunities.
- Immigrants & Refugees: Serves as the lead agency of the Coordinated Refugee/Asylee Legal Services Project, which aims to assist immigrants and refugees with legal concerns such as housing, matrimonial matters, domestic violence, and child custody. Also assists with education-related issues within the City of Buffalo School system.
The Criminal Legal Services Unit represents indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in the City of Buffalo, including misdemeanors under both the New York State Penal Law and the Vehicle & Traffic Law, as well as D and E Felonies.
##Veteran##
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
Eligibility
Income must be within 200% of federal poverty level.
Service Area: WNY.
Service Area: WNY.
Intake Process
Walk in, email cls@legalaidbuffalo.org, go to legalaidbuffalo.org to do an online application, or call 716-853-9555 ext. 200 (or ext. 400 for automated intake).
Program Fees
Free. Applicant is responsible for any third party costs.
Languages
On-site speakers of several languages available, as well as access to Language Line.
Handicap Accessible?
Yes
Accessibility
Accessible building and restrooms. Additional accessibility accommodations can be made with advance notice.
Date of Official Change
Jan 16, 2023
Contacts
Contact Email (Primary)
cls@legalaidbuffalo.org
Jennifer Kimura
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Services
jkimura@legalaidbuffalo.org
716-853-9555 x465
Nadine Patterson
Chief Attorney, Civil Legal Services
npatterson@legalaidbuffalo.org
716-853-9555 x551
