Justice for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Inspired by Social Justice Values


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  Justice for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 


  Inspired by Social Justice Values 


Request Service

Hello, welcome to the New York Center for Law and Justice. For the past twenty years, since 2003, this organization has been proud to work with members of the Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing communities of New York.
The New York Center for Law and Justice has represented many people in a variety of issues, including the following: benefits issues, such as with Social Security benefits, Foods Stamps [SNAP], and Medicaid; consumer debt issues such as credit card debt; immigration issues such as with asylum (in which a Deaf person from a foreign country is scared in that home country due to poor conditions, comes to the U.S., and wants to stay) as well as with naturalization (the process to become a U.S. citizen); landlord-tenant housing issues; and accessibility issues, such as with interpretation needs at doctor's offices, hospitals, homeless shelters, and workplaces.
If you need help, desire representation, or have a general question, you can contact us. You can do so via this website, by clicking on the icon that says, "Request Services." Once that icon is clicked, a web page will appear with four blank text boxes in which to type your name, email address, subject matter, and description of your situation - why you contacted us. Then you can click submit.
Alternatively, if you prefer not to type in English and prefer to sign, you can call us at 212-757-2800. We have signing staff and will provide interpretation if it is requested. Thank you.

About Us


The New York Center For Law and Justice seeks to improve the lives of deaf and hard of hearing New Yorkers by representing individual deaf and hard of hearing clients in a range of civil matters, pursuing policy and practice changes within New York City institutions and raising awareness around deaf and hard of hearing causes and issues.


Learn More

About Us


The New York Center For Law and Justice seeks to improve the lives of Deaf and hard of hearing New Yorkers by representing individual deaf and hard of hearing clients in a range of civil matters, pursuing policy and practice changes within New York City institutions and raising awareness around deaf and hard of hearing causes and issues.


Learn More

About Us


The New York Center For Law and Justice seeks to improve the lives of deaf and hard of hearing New Yorkers by representing individual deaf and hard of hearing clients in a range of civil matters, pursuing policy and practice changes within New York City institutions and raising awareness around deaf and hard of hearing causes and issues.


Learn More
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Annual 2024 Irving Berelson President’s Award

Law Center Honored

We are proud to announce that the the Center for Hearing and Communication has presented the New York Center for Law and Justice with its annual Irving Berelson President's Award in recognition of our advocacy and dedication to championing the rights of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. We are grateful to the Center for Hearing and Communication for the privilege to receive this coveted award.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daisy Darvall
Katherine Durnan Taylor
Bruce Gitlin
Margery Greenberg
Paul Grobman
Jeffrey Horowitz
Rikki Kaplan

Paul Klausner
Peter Kurshan
Keven Poore
Abby Rosmarin
Jeffrey Rothman
Jillian Rothman
Matthew Weiner

Our Programs


LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM

The New York Center for Law and Justice’s flagship legal services program provides free legal services to low-income Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Leveraging more than a combined total of  70 years of legal experience, the Center represents clients across a wide spectrum of civil legal matters.



SOCIAL SERVICES PROJECT

The Law Center provides social services to the indigent deaf community, in addition to legal services. The Center approaches each client in a “holistic” manner, recognizing the interconnectedness between legal and social service challenges.



ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH

The NYCLJ’s Advocacy and Outreach Project addresses community groups and other organizations that seek informative keynote speeches, panel presentations or workshop and training sessions on issues of law involving the Deaf and hard of hearing communities.

 

DEAF RIGHTS PROJECT

The New York Center for Law and Justice began its Deaf Rights Project in 2012, and it has evolved into one of the Center’s most important endeavors. At the core of the NYCLJ’s mission is the belief in the need to advance justice to all individuals, especially populations that are routinely underserved.


HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR PROGRAM

The Holocaust Survivors Program was launched in calendar year 2019 in an effort to fill a gap in the provision of legal services directed to Holocaust survivors who reside in New York.  There are approximately 45,000 Holocaust survivors who live in the metropolitan area and many members of the population live at or below the poverty line. The law center has begun a pilot project to provide legal assistance to the Holocaust survivor community in response to a range of civil matters, including housing, benefits and issues involving guardianship.


 

Our Programs


LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM

The New York Center for Law and Justice’s flagship legal services program provides free legal services to low-income Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Leveraging more than a combined total of  70 years of legal experience, the Center represents clients across a wide spectrum of civil legal matters.



SOCIAL SERVICES PROJECT

The Law Center provides social services to the indigent deaf community, in addition to legal services. The Center approaches each client in a “holistic” manner, recognizing the interconnectedness between legal and social service challenges.



ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH

The NYCLJ’s Advocacy and Outreach Project addresses community groups and other organizations that seek informative keynote speeches, panel presentations or workshop and training sessions on issues of law involving the Deaf and hard of hearing communities.


DEAF RIGHTS PROJECT

The New York Center for Law and Justice began its Deaf Rights Project in 2012, and it has evolved into one of the Center’s most important endeavors. At the core of the NYCLJ’s mission is the belief in the need to advance justice to all individuals, especially populations that are routinely underserved.


HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR PROGRAM

The Holocaust Survivors Program was launched in calendar year 2019 in an effort to fill a gap in the provision of legal services directed to Holocaust survivors who reside in New York.  There are approximately 45,000 Holocaust survivors who live in the metropolitan area and many members of the population live at or below the poverty line. The law center has begun a pilot project to provide legal assistance to the Holocaust survivor community in response to a range of civil matters, including housing, benefits and issues involving guardianship.


Would you like a consultation with one of our attorneys?


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Blog Posts

Deaf Football Team’s Inspirational Season

If you haven’t received the news by now, California School for the Deaf’s Riverside Cubs came within one game of securing their division’s title. Emerging this year from seven seasons of consistent losses, the Riverside Cubs—an all-deaf team with deaf coaches—entered its last game with a 12-0 record ...

Featured in the NY Law Journal

Indigent Deaf Find Fierce Advocates in Husband-Wife Legal Team BY REBECCA BAKER REPRESENTING the indigent deaf poses a host of legal challenges for Bruce and Liz Gitlin, a husband-and-wife team who run a public interest law firm in Manhattan. Among them is making lawyers, judges and other officials ...

Client Stories

Leo’s Story

As we close out this year, we are thankful for the opportunity to serve the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing communities of New York. As many of you know, we champion the rights of our clients who sleep in homeless shelters, who are respondents in eviction proceedings, ...

Lila’s Story

Over the past month, many of our supporters have asked whether we are hosting an annual event this year. After consideration, we decided to postpone our annual celebration until spring. Notwithstanding our decision to wait, our law center continues in operation each day where we strive to bring ...

Tyler

It was Tyler, a funeral director from Dutchess County, who arranged for the funeral of one of the law center’s beloved Deaf clients, Herman, likely an early victim of Covid. As the days passed following Herman’s death, it became increasingly more complicated to find a funeral home. Herman’s ...

Testimonials

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