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.

Speakers Bureau

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:
Jo-Ann Carey
Community Outreach Coordinator
(646) 386-5410
outreachcivil@courts.state.ny.us

Court Tours

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:
Jo-Ann Carey
Community Outreach Coordinator
(646) 386-5410
outreachcivil@courts.state.ny.us

Community Seminars

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

Community Law Day

The Civil Court 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.

Mediation Settlement Day

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.

Community Outreach Brochure

For more information, go to the New York State Unified Court System's Office of Public Affairs.