Volunteer Lawyer Project - Housing |  Volunteer Lawyer Project - Civil | Volunteer Lawyer for the Day Project - Housing | Guardian Ad Litem - Housing | Resolution Assistance Program - Housing | Small Claims Arbitrator

The Appellate Divisions have issued a joint order amending the New York Code of Professional Responsibility to dispense with compliance with conflict of interest requirements in limited legal services programs where the attorney has no actual knowledge at the time of commencement of the representation that the representation of the client involves a conflict of interest.

The Civil Court needs you to V O L U N T E E R ! Read about the Pro Bono Programs listed below to see which opportunities interest you most.

Help landlords or tenants with housing cases by providing advice. Attorneys commit to volunteering in any of the Civil Court’s Resource Centers throughout the city for a minimum of 12 hours over the course of 1 year. Free 9 hour CLE training offered.

Contact: Marcelle Brandes, Esq., Director of the Housing Court’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, at (646) 386-5412, or e-mail VLPhousing@courts.state.ny.us.

VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT - Civil

Help self-represented litigants with their civil and small claims cases by providing advice. Attorneys commit to volunteering in the New York County Civil Court Resource Center for a minimum of 12 hours over the course of 1 year. Free 8 hour CLE training.

Contact: Laurie B. Milder, Special Counsel, Civil Court Volunteer Lawyers Project, at (646) 386-5850, or email VLPCivil@courts.state.ny.us.

VOLUNTEER LAWYER FOR THE DAY PROJECT - Housing

Help landlords or tenants with their nonpayment cases in the courtroom by negotiating settlements. Attorneys commit to volunteering a minimum of 2 days over the course of 1 year in a Civil Court Housing Part. Free CLE training.

Contact: Emily Morales, Esq., Special Counsel for Housing Court Initiatives, at (646) 386-3769 or email VLFDHousing@courts.state.ny.us.

GUARDIAN AD LITEM - Housing

Advocate on behalf of mentally or physically impaired litigants facing eviction in landlord-tenant cases. Volunteer attorneys and non-attorneys commit to taking on a minimum of 3 pro bono appointments over the course of 1 year in any of the Civil Court's Housing Parts throughout the city. Free CLE training provided.

To learn more about how to apply to become a GAL and register for the next training, please go to Prospective Guardian Ad Litem Application Process.
or contact: Denise Colon-Greenaway, Esq., LMSW, Special Counsel for Court Based Interdisciplinary Programs, at (646) 386-5408.

THE RESOLUTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (RAP)- Housing

Accompany self-represented tenants and owners during their court appearances in Housing Court and provide non-legal support and assistance. Student volunteers commit to volunteering a minimum of 6 hours over the course of one year in any of the Civil Court's Housing Parts throughout the city. Volunteers must take the Civil Court's 1.5 hour training course.

Contact: Emily Morales, Esq., Special Counsel to Hon. Fern A. Fisher, Housing Court Initiatives, at 646-386-3769 or email RAP@courts.state.ny.us.

SMALL CLAIMS ARBITRATOR - Small Claims

Hear and decide small claims disputes. Attorneys choose which evenings, and how often they want to sit in any of the Civil Court’s Small Claims Parts throughout the city. Free 2 hour CLE training.

Contact: Chief Clerk Small Claims Court Joseph Gebbia at (646) 386-5420 or email jgebbia@courts.state.ny.us.