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| Monroe County Legal Services Guide
THE ADVOCACY CENTER
Services: Individual advocacy, legal information, referrals, newsletters and workshops for persons in Western NY with developmental disabilities and their families. Services are free. Concentration: Education, Finances, Legal assistance, Housing, ADA and Social programs. Intake: Appointment suggested. Eligibility : Must be a person or a family member of one with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury. Staff:
1 Attorney, 22 Advocates. EMPIRE
JUSTICE CENTER
Services: Free legal advice and representation for low-income people on civil matters listed below. Concentration: • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - eligibility for benefits. • Fair Lending (nondiscrimination in credit). • Fair Housing (on referral from MCLAC ). • Special Education. • Public Benefits Litigation (cash assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, Child care) usually on referral from another legal services provider. • Disability Rights. • Public and Subsidized Housing Litigation. • Health Law (access to health care). • Public Benefits for families effected by HIV disease. Intake: Call for screening and appointment. Eligibility: Generally income below 185% of poverty index. Some exceptions for special grants. Staff: 7 Attorneys, 5 Paralegals, 2 Secretaries. FARMWORKER
LEGAL SERVICES OF NEW YORK, INC. Services: Legal representation, education and litigation only for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Services are free. Concentration: Labor Law and Civil Rights. Intake: Outreach to migrant labor camps and referrals. Eligibility: Indigent farmworkers. Staff:
2 Attorneys, 2 Advocates. LEGAL
AID SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK Services: Civil Legal Services in Monroe County and several surrounding counties, including: legal information and/or referral; technical assistance; and representation in court. Concentration:
Intake: Telephone intake during office hours. Intake screener determines financial and service eligibility. Eligibility: Applicants must meet residency, income eligibility and program requirements. Each program has individual guidelines. Staff:
23 Attorneys, 3 Social Workers, 7 Legal Assistants and 5 Advocates.
MENTAL
HYGIENE LEGAL SERVICE Hours: M-F, 9-5 Services: Representation without charge to persons in OMH and OMRDD certified inpatient and community residence beds who need legal advice or assistance concerning their care, treatment, institutionalization and/or placement. Some specific areas of MHLS advocacy include: rights concerning commitment and administration of medication; investigation of reports of abuse and neglect; and guardianship (MHL Article 81 and SCPA articles 17 and 17A). Concentration: Mental Hygiene Law; pertinent sections of Criminal Procedure Law and Corrections Law. Intake: By call or letter. Eligibility: Persons residing in OMH and OMRDD certified inpatient and community residence beds; Information calls from the community. Staff:
5 Attorneys, 3 Information Officer Advocates. MONROE
COUNTY LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER Services: Legal advice, representation, brief service, community outreach and education, referrals in civil matters. Representation in local, state and federal courts and agencies. Services are free. Concentration: Public benefits; public assistance; food stamps; Medicaid; housing including utility shut-offs; elder law issues; fair housing enforcement. Intake: Call for screening and appointment. Eligibility: Monroe County residents with income less than 125% of poverty guidelines (some exceptions when large bills or expenses). Staff:
5 Attorneys, 5 Advocates, 3 AmeriCorps Attorneys. Bilingual
staff. NEW
YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION Services: Legal advice and representation in selected cases by a panel of volunteer lawyers. Services are free. Advocacy & referral by office staff & volunteers. Concentration: Civil liberty issues. Intake: Telephone screening or appointment when appropriate. Eligibility: No income limits. Staff:
1 Director and 1 Office Manager. PUBLIC
DEFENDER'S OFFICE Services: Court-appointed lawyers represent defendants in criminal cases and on appeal in NYS courts. Representation of respondents in certain Family Court matters, such as neglect, child abuse and paternity cases. Concentration: Criminal law, Family law, Appeals in Criminal and Family Court matters. Intake: Referrals through the courts or at request of defendant/respondent. Eligibility: Persons unable to afford private representation according to Monroe County Bar Association eligibility guidelines. Staff: 50 Attorneys.
VOLUNTEER
LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT OF MONROE COUNTY Services: Representation, advice & brief service for low income clients in civil matters by volunteer private attorneys. No criminal, traffic, workers's compensation or fee-generating cases. Debt collection advice clinic, clinic to assist petitioners fill out Family Court petitions, and clinic to help people prepare divorce paperwork. Services are free but clients expected to pay costs and fees related to their cases. Concentration: Family Law, Social Security/SSI, Landlord-tenant, Consumer, Bankruptcy, Tort defense, Real property, Unemployment insurance benefits, Probate & Estate administration, Employment, Tax and other miscellaneous cases. Intake: Call for income screening and appointment. If case is accepted, then referred toa volunteer attorney. Eligibility: Income limits based on federal poverty index. Assets guidelines are applied. Staff:
3 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal, 800 volunteer Attorneys. Bilingual
staff available. NY
DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Services: Investigation and sanction of certain discriminatory actions involving housing, employment, credit, and public accommodations. Investigators write up complaint, investigate, negotiate resolutions or send case to administrative law judge who can order monetary or equitable relief. Concentration: Age discrimination in housing, employment or credit. Discrimination on the basis of religion, marital status, race, national origin, or sex. Discrimination based on disability in housing, employment, credit or public accommodations. Intake: Call for appointment with Intake Specialist. Eligibility: Alleged act must have taken place in NYS within last twelve months. Staff:
Human Rights Investigators. Counseling & Referral Services AIDS
ROCHESTER, INC. Services: Referrals to legal services, agencies and private attorneys for legal problems of people with HIV. Also provide referrals to other non-legal services, case management and prevention. Intake: Telephone for appointment. Eligibility:
No income limits. ALTERNATIVES
FOR BATTERED WOMEN, INC. Services: Services are for victims of domestic violence and their children. Residential programs consist of emergency shelter for women and children. Non-residential programs include: 24 hour hotline. Information and referral, including legal agency/attorney referrals, Sana y Salva bicultural/bilingual program, court advocacy, support groups and individual counseling, children's programming, teen dating violence prevention program, and Speaker's Bureau. Intake: Confidential, call 24 hour Hotline at 232-5373 to speak to a counselor. Spanish speaking staff available. Eligibility:
No income limits. Must have been physically or sexually abused
or in danger to enter shelter. All other non-residential support services
are available to victims and their children who have been emotionally,
physically or sexually abused. CONSUMER
CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE OF ROCHESTER Services: Review of income, budget methods and payment plans by a certified counselor to enable clients to relieve debt burdens through prescribed course of action. Services related to development of a spending plan are free but a $5 donation is requested. Fee for debt management plan which includes negotiation with creditors and forwarding monthly payments is $12/month. Intake: Appointment necessary. Counseling sessions available face-to-face or by telephone. Evening and Saturday appointments available. Eligibility:
No income limits. GREATER
ROCHESTER ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM Services: In cases of suspected and actual elder abuse: assessment; case management; home visits; emergency transportation; respite care; aide service and ongoing counseling. Intake: Telephone, letter, walk-in or referral. Eligibility:
1 person in family must be over age 60. THE
HOUSING COUNCIL Services: Comprehensive housing counseling including mortgage default, property tax delinquency, home improvement, prepurchase and rental problems; Information and referral Housing Hotline for landlords, tenants and homeowners. Housing Resources Program includes apartment registry, public and subsidized housing list, and publications for landlords and tenants. Landlord Assistance provides information on housing, rehabilitation programs, and tenant selection, etc. Seminars and information packets are available. Homeless Prevention Assistance; Landlord/Tenant Training and Fair Housing Education programs. Services are free. Concentration: HUD and VA mortgage regulations; city and county housing programs; property tax and mortgage foreclosure; landlord-tenant problems; eviction procedures, including handbooks for landlords and tenants; fair housing laws and discrimination complaints. Intake: Counseling by appointment. Housing Hotline hours M-F, 10-4. Eligibility: No income limits; target low to moderate income. Staff:
13 Counselors. LIFESPAN
Services: Advocates on behalf or residents of long term care facilities with facility personnel and/or regulatory agencies regarding patient care, environmental problems, placement, financial and legal issues. Primarily for persons age 65 and older. Eligibility: No income limits. Staff:
1 Consultant Attorney, 38 Ombudsmen. Arbitration & Conciliation Services CENTER
FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT Services: Mediation, conciliation, arbitration and facilitation services as third party neutrals for groups and individuals for such dispute areas as neighborhood, landlord/tenant, minor criminal and civil matters, juvenile, schools, contractor/homeowner or other interpersonal and community disputes; election administration for organizations; divorce and separation mediation/arbitration; victim offender mediation; Juvenile and P.I.N.S. Mediation; Special Education; NYS New and Used car lemon law arbitration; Rochester Police Department/Citizens Conciliation; custody and visitation mediation; training, workshops and seminars in conflict resolution techniques and skills. $10 processing fee for minor criminal, civil and juvenile type disputes. Hourly fee for other mediation and arbitration services. Intake: By telephone or walk-in. Completion of “Submission to Mediation or Arbitration” form; appointments appreciated. Eligibility: Minor criminal matters that are not drug related or civil matters involving a dispute of no more than $3,000. Staff:
3 Directors. Monroe County Bar Association Services MCBA
LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE Hours: M-F, 9 - 5 Services: Provides referrals to lawyers in private practice. A $40 fee includes the first half hour of consultation at no charge with the lawyer with additional consultation and fees arranged between the client and attorney. Free consultation for all types of personal injury (negligence) and workers compensation matters. Intake: Services available by phone only. Eligibility: No income limits.
MCBA
MODEST MEANS PANEL Services: To provide legal services to persons of modest means who do not qualify for other forms of legal assistance or other no cost services, but who cannot afford to pay attorneys fees at rates which would ordinarily be charged. The areas of law in which referrals are currently being made include: family law, consumer law, bankruptcy, and drafting of simple wills. Intake: Call the The MCBA Lawyer Referral Service at 546-2130 for eligibility screening and referral. Eligibility: Based on a sliding percentage over and above guidelines specified in the federal poverty index.
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