Press

For all press inquiries, please contact Cheryl Lopez.

Press Releases
CBJC in the News

City Bar Justice Center Statement on Equal Justice Conference in Arizona

May 3, 2010

The City Bar Justice Center, which provides pro bono legal services to low-income New Yorkers, including immigrants, and advocates for enlightened reform of immigration laws, believes the new Arizona immigration law to be an unfair, unjust law that will cause great hardship to many people regardless of their immigration status.

February 1, 2010

The City Bar Justice Center (CBJC), The Legal Aid Society (LAS) and the New York Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA- NY) oppose the Department of Homeland Security’s plans to close the Varick Federal Detention Center by the end of February 2010.

January 29, 2010

The New York City Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association-NY Chapter held a free three-hour clinic on January 28th for Haitians in New York seeking Temporary Protected Status due to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Temporary Protected Status was announced by the U.S. on January 15th, allowing Haitians to remain and work in the U.S. for up to 18 months if their applications are approved.

November 20, 2009

The City Bar Justice Center, the pro bono affiliate of the New York City Bar Association, has produced a collection of essays by the current president, Patricia M. Hynes, and all living former City Bar presidents, titled “Leaders for Justice: New York City Bar Presidents on Pro Bono and Access to Justice.”

November 2, 2009

Finding that over one-third of immigrant detainees at the Varick Federal Detention Facility in New York City had reasonable claims for relief from removal, and considering the high financial and moral costs of maintaining the current detention system for immigrants, the New York City Bar urges that all immigrant detainees be provided with legal counsel.

October 23, 2009

The City Bar Justice Center, the pro bono affiliate of the New York City Bar, has announced the winners of the first annual Jeremy G. Epstein Awards for Pro Bono Service. Honoring volunteer lawyers for outstanding work on Justice Center projects, the awards will be presented at a Pro Bono Luncheon and Celebration of Service as part of the National Pro Bono Celebration.

August 26, 2009

The New York City Bar and City Bar Justice Center are pleased to announce the launch of the Deferred Associate Law Extern Support Project.

February 23, 2009

On Monday, February 23rd, in cooperation with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, the New York City Immigrant Advocacy Initiative—a collaborative effort of the City Bar Justice Center and the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Pro Bono Committee—is offering a free legal clinic at the New York City Bar for Espinal’s clients.

November 10, 2008

Libby Vazquez has been named the new Director of the City Bar Justice Center’s Legal Hotline.

September 23, 2008

Reginald Boddie has been named the new staff attorney for the Volunteer Lawyer for a Day Program co-sponsored by the City Bar Justice Center of the New York City Bar Association and the Civil Court of the City of New York.

Free legal clinic offers support for small businesses pinched by coronavirus

April 1, 2020

“A new clinic founded by the Lawyers for Good Government Foundation will provide free legal assistance to small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 shutdown. L4GG is launching its Small Business Remote Legal Clinic this week in partnership with the City Bar Justice Center to guide small businesses through dire economic straits related to the coronavirus.”

NYC Bar Association: We Are Still Here to Help

March 31, 2020

“The City Bar Justice Center and a number of law firms are joining with the Lawyers for Good Government Foundation to launch a pro bono project to help small businesses access the federal government’s COVID-19 stimulus package.”

Lawyers Across the Country Are Offering Free Legal Advice to Small Businesses Struggling With the Coronavirus Pandemic

March 30, 2020

“The pro bono service consists of free 45-minute sessions that will be held across the country in coming weeks. An initial pilot program, conducted in partnership with the City Bar Justice Center, is coming to hard hit New York in the coming days. You can sign up here to see when a clinic will come to a city near you.”

Law Firm Coalition Launches National Pro Bono Campaign to Support Small Biz

March 27, 2020

“The City Bar Justice Center in New York is a tremendous resource for New Yorkers of modest means providing all kinds of services in good times and bad. They’re the first to respond with services that are created just in time for crises like this,” Haberfeld said. The New York clinic, which is expected to open early next week, will bring together lawyers from at least 26 firms to help guide small business owners in determining what help is available through the package that passed the House earlier Friday, and also assist them in filing for grants and loans available through various federal, state, and local programs.

Elderly Brooklyn couple slapped with $44,000 city water bill

May 21, 2018

“It’s really difficult for any senior who’s trying to remain in their home in New York City to be hit with that kind of bill,” said Scott Kohanowski, a lawyer for the City Bar Justice Center.

Thomas and her husband, Cecil, are in their 70s and have lived on Avenue B in Canarsie for 40 years.

Kohanowski helped them apply for relief under a city leak forgiveness program. But to qualify, homeowners must apply within 120 days of their first high bill. The DEP said the couple missed that deadline.”

A Horrifying Path to America for Hotel Workers

March 1, 2018

Our client profiled in The Atlantic magazine.

“Four people in need of work went to the first meeting and gave the man money, but Racida Eslabon was the only one who made it to the United States. She had already worked in a factory in Japan, and when she got back to the Philippines, she wanted to leave again so she could send money home to her mother, who was sick. She had been trying to get a job through a placement agency but with no success, so it seemed like very good luck when she met Alfred Briones in June 2008.”

Protecting Senior Homeowners from Reverse Mortgage Foreclosure: A Policy Brief

August 17, 2017

In recent years, reverse mortgage defaults and foreclosures have dramatically increased both in New York and nationwide, putting many senior homeowners at risk of displacement. The Center for NYC Neighborhoods would like to thank and acknowledge the contributions of K. Scott Kohanowski of City Bar Justice Center and Jessica Scholes of New York Legal Assistance Group to this report.

Learning the Importance of Estate Planning the Hard Way

June 2, 2017

When Rodriguez’s father became ill, he hadn’t planned a will or made any arrangements to transfer his assets to others after his death. When he died unexpectedly, Rodriguez became very worried that he would lose his home, the apartment he had lived in for over 20 years. Thanks to the Planning and Estates Law Project at the City Bar Justice Center, he was able to retain a lawyer and prove in court that the apartment belonged to him under New York State Law.

Refugees From Violence and War Build New Lives In New York

May 9, 2017

“The narrative coming out of this White House is that asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants are terrorists, are fraudsters, are criminals, and that is absolutely not borne out by the clients we work with,” says Jennifer Kim, co-director of the Immigrant Justice Project at the City Bar Justice Center, a pro bono legal advocacy group.

Here’s Why Immigrant Victims May (Still) Be Afraid to Report Crime

February 21, 2017

Immigrants without legal status are often vulnerable to crime, because they’re afraid of going to law enforcement and being deported. This is why Congress authorized a special program called the U visa almost 20 years ago. It enables them to remain in the U.S. and work if they can prove they were helpful to investigators or prosecutors. “It helps create community partnerships with law enforcement and helps keep perpetrators of violence off the street,” said Suzanne Tomatore, coordinator of the Immigrant Justice Project at the City Bar Justice Center.