NLS in the Community

At NLS, we think it is important to go beyond meeting clients at our offices.  We strive to work in the community as well.  NLS places lawyers at community locations.  We meet with clients at remote locations via our Justice Bus.  NLS conducts community education and training events.  We team with other organizations to help our clients.  Some of our activities are briefly described below.

Medical Legal Partnerships – NLS, through our Medical Legal Partnership (MLP), provides a cutting-edge model of legal service delivery spanning all of NLS’ substantive practice areas through a lens of individual and public health to address the social determinants of health. NLS collaborates with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Evergreen Health and Catholic Health to deliver wraparound civil legal services to underserved communities. The goals of our MLP work are improving health outcomes, stabilizing low‐income individuals and families, and reducing the negative impacts of poverty.  Our work also includes advocating on behalf of victims of crime.  For two information letters on services available to crime victims, please click here for the first and click here for the second.

Justice Bus – The Justice Bus takes the NLS office “on the road” helping our clients who have a difficult time of making it into one of our offices.  The Justice Bus will make its way through Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming Counties with pro bono, law students and NLS attorneys on board.  During the COVID 19 pandemic, the Justice Bus will conduct its events “virtually.”  To request a virtual Justice Bus event with your organization, email:  [email protected].

Community Education and Outreach – NLS regularly participates in community events, training workshops and outreach. During the COVID 19 pandemic, the NLS will conduct its community events and training “virtually.” These include quarterly trainings for the WNY Work Incentives Coalition. During the pandemic, these trainings will be announced on the NLS website.    To request a community event or training, click here.

Attorney of the Morning Program (AMP) – NLS attorneys are present in city courts in Buffalo, Lackawanna and Niagara Falls to represent clients who are threatened with eviction.  Through the AMP effort, NLS helps prevent homelessness and makes sure that tenants are living in safe, habitable housing.

Family Justice Center – As part of their regular duties, NLS attorneys and advocates work at the Family Justice Center to help the victims of domestic violence.  Through this advocacy at the FJC, NLS helps those in need to find a safe living situation and obtain the benefits that may be necessary to live independently.

Crime Victims Legal Network – During 2020, NLS became a part of the Crime Victims Legal Network, connecting with numerous other legal services agencies throughout New York State to better identify issues impacting the communities we serve.   This network is intended to simplify connecting clients with resources in other counties, and in practice areas not within the current priorities handled by NLS.   NLS Family Unit attorney meet monthly with the group.  For more information on the Network, click here.

The Crime Victims Justice Project – NLS also partners with the Center for Resolution & Justice and Center for Elder Law & Justice in The Crime Victims Justice Project, which provides free legal assistance, advocacy and conflict resolution for victims of crime in Erie, Niagara, and Genesee Counties.  The Project can be reached at 716.362.2323 or [email protected].  For more information on the project, click here.

Hope Center – NLS works out of the Hope Center to help persons who have been the victims of discrimination.  NLS brings lawsuit to end discrimination and conducts community education for housing providers, attorneys, community advocates and tenants.

Student Loan Clinic– NLS provides information and legal assistance to those with defaulted student loans through a monthly clinic held at its offices on the first Tuesday of every month.  During the pandemic, individuals may obtain services by calling the NLS number and requesting assistance for student loans.