Community Outreach
Speakers Bureau | Court Tours | Community Seminars | Community Law Day | Mediation Settlement Day | More Info
The
Civil Court of the City of New York assists everyday New Yorkers
with resolving their everyday legal problems. The Civil Court
is where landlords can sue to collect their rent, where tenants
can come to make landlords do repairs, where a consumer can
sue a local merchant, or where any New Yorker can sue to resolve
most cases involving amounts below $25,000. The Civil Court
is a court for the people of New York. As such, the Civil
Court seeks to be a vital part of New York City life through
various community outreach programs designed to inform and
serve New Yorkers.
The Civil Court offers speakers to schools, community and governmental agencies to provide information on the Court and legal information. Speakers are unable to provide advice or information on specific cases, but will be able to provide general information. Both non-judicial personnel and Judges participate. Most requests can be accommodated, however, availability is based on the demand at the time of the request.
For
Additional Information Contact:
JoAnn Low Torres
Community Outreach Coordinator
646-386-5405
outreachcivil@courts.state.ny.us
The Civil Court Community Outreach program also offers court tours for school groups which provide an opportunity to learn about the court, observe a trial, view an educational video about the courts and explore career paths in the court system.
For
More Information Contact:
JoAnn Low Torres
Community Outreach Coordinator
646-386-5405
outreachcivil@courts.state.ny.us
The Civil Court offers free seminars in our courthouses once a month during the lunch hour. These seminars are taught by court personnel, lawyers from legal services or representatives from various governmental agencies. Previous seminar topics have included defenses to non-payment proceedings, defenses to nuisance holdovers, how to obtain repairs, how to obtain public benefits, the problem with mold in apartments, and public housing rights.
Community seminars are publicized within each courthouse, through New York City Community Boards, community organizations, in local newspapers, and on the News and Announcements page of the Civil Court's website.
If you wish to suggest a topic for a future community seminar,
please send an email to outreachcivil@courts.state.ny.us.
The New York State Courts Access to Justice Program sponsors Community Law Days with various organizations designed to provide social and legal information to segments of the community. In the past, our law days have reached out to the Asian and Pacific American, the East Harlem, and South Bronx communities. Food and activities have been offered to community residents. Numerous social and legal agencies set up tables to distribute information at each event which attracted hundreds of participants. Check the News and Announcements page for future dates.
Each year, the Civil Court of the City of New York participates
in Mediation Settlement Day,* and invites members of the
public to learn about the mediation process
from an experienced panel of judges, mediators, and attorneys.
Check the News and Announcements page
for future dates.
*Mediation Settlement Day is an annual event sponsored by
The New York State Unified Court System, The Association
of the Bar of the City of New York in association with NASD
Dispute Resolution, and a coalition of over ninety alternative
dispute resolution programs, bar associations, community
based programs, schools, public and non-profit organizations.
For more information, go to the New York State Unified Court System's Office of Public Affairs.
