The internet is essential for students returning to school this semester, with the majority of learning happening remotely. But without Wi-Fi access, New York City students living in homeless shelters are falling behind their peers. In a recent episode, “No Wifi + No Service = No School”, reporter Megan Burney of Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, speaks with the City Bar Justice Center’s Director of the Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Lisa Pearlstein, affected families, and advocates leading a campaign for free public Wi-Fi in shelters.

https://www.audiofilespodcast.com/2020/10/12/feature-no-wifi-no-service-no-school/

The Gala has been transformed into a Virtual Celebration!

We invite you to join

City Bar President Sheila S. Boston
and
City Bar Fund Chair David Levine

as we recognize our honorees,

MetLife
and
Venable LLP,

and celebrate the crucial pro bono work
of the City Bar Justice Center.

El 17 de septiembre de 2020, la abogada del City Bar Justice Center y representante de Fragomen, Cecilia Lopez Santiesteban, hablo sobre (1) el aumento general de las tarifas de inmigración, específicamente cómo se verán afectados los solicitantes de asilo y los solicitantes de residencia, (2) los cambios en la disponibilidad de exenciones de tarifas, y (3) cuándo entrarán en vigor los cambios.

The webinar focuses on the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that was funded in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this presentation, attorneys from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP will specifically discuss the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and provide guidance on key issues relevant to small businesses.

The webinar provides an overview of certain noteworthy commercial lease considerations targeted to assist small business owners in navigating risk identification, rent relief, and strategic options in the COVID-19 environment. The City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) hosted the presentation in partnership with the Brooklyn Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Kirkland & Ellis.

La abogada del City Bar Justice Center y representante de Fragomen, Cecilia Lopez Santiesteban, presentara informacion en vivo atravez de Facebook. La abogada responderá a las preguntas frecuentes sobre asuntos que actualmente afectan a la comunidad inmigrante en relacion de COVID-19. Los temas de la presentación serán: (1) acceso a la atención médica, (2) beneficios por desempleo, (3) asistencia financiera, y (4) la nueva regla de carga pública.

The City Bar Justice Center, South East Queens (SEQ) and partners discuss free legal resources for local residents and small businesses in the era of COVID-19.

In the wake of the global health crisis, many small businesses may find that performing on their contracts is impossible or extremely burdensome, or that their counterparty is no longer willing or able to deliver on its obligations. In an effort to ensure that small business owners are aware of the full scope of their options under the current circumstances, attorneys from Cleary Gottlieb, in collaboration with the City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP), will provide: (1) a brief overview of contract basics, including breach, remedies, and limitations on damages, (2) an examination of key contractual provisions and concepts related to excusing performance, including force majeure, impossibility and frustration of purpose, (3) practical guidance for small business owners, including how to protect your rights and how to focus on practical results in negotiations with counterparties.

The 2018 City Bar Justice Center Gala video showcases our work providing free legal services to immigrants in New York City.

2017 Annual City Bar Justice Center Gala: Veterans Assistance Project

Assisting Victims of Hate Crimes and Bias and Representing Peaceful Protesters

This program is for pro bono attorneys seeking to assist victims of hate crimes or bias and to represent people arrested while peacefully protesting. Experienced attorneys and New York officials will explain the process and what you need to know to do this kind of pro bono work.

Welcome:
John S. Kiernan, President, New York City Bar Association

Moderator:
Lynn M. Kelly, Executive Director, City Bar Justice Center

Panelists:
Jeanne Olivo, Chief, Hate Crimes Unit, New York County District Attorney

Hollis V. Pfitsch, Deputy Commissioner, Law Enforcement Bureau, New York City Commission on Human Rights

Virginia M. Goggin, Director of Legal Services, New York City Anti-Violence Project

Sania Khan, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau, NYS Attorney General’s Office

Insha Rahman, Senior Planner, Vera Institute for Justice (appearing in personal capacity)

Bina Ahmad, The Legal Aid Society, Staff Attorney, Criminal Defense Practice

Sponsored by:
City Bar Justice Center
Volunteers of Legal Service
Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee, Alison McKinnell King, Chair
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY)

Student Loan Information

If you would like more information about filing for personal bankruptcy, please see the City Bar Justice Center Publication, “Personal Bankruptcy: Is it Right for You?”.

The U.S. Department of Education has additional information about private and federal loans at:https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/federal-vs-private.

The online database listing for Federal Student loans is the National Student Loan Data System,https://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/.

For information about bankruptcy procedure and forms, and to find the website for your local Bankruptcy Court, you can go tohttp://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms.

The City Bar Justice Center’s Legal Hotline offers brief legal advice for low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford an attorney: http://www2.nycbar.org/citybarjusticecenter/legal-hotline

To find an attorney in New York state, visit the Legal Referral Service.

To find an attorney in other states, visit the National Association of Consumer Attorneys.

To get a free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus, go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com.

Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy

If you would like more information about filing for personal bankruptcy, please see the City Bar Justice Center Publication, “Personal Bankruptcy: Is it Right for You?”.

The U.S. Department of Education has additional information about private and federal loans at:https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/federal-vs-private.

The online database listing for Federal Student loans is the National Student Loan Data System,https://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/.

For information about bankruptcy procedure and forms, and to find the website for your local Bankruptcy Court, you can go tohttp://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms.

The City Bar Justice Center’s Legal Hotline offers brief legal advice for low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford an attorney: http://www2.nycbar.org/citybarjusticecenter/legal-hotline

To find an attorney in New York state, visit the Legal Referral Service.

To find an attorney in other states, visit the National Association of Consumer Attorneys.

To get a free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus, go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com.

The Impact of Pro Bono Legal Services in Immigration

City Bar Justice Center Pro Bono Helps Homeless Families

Journeys to Justice