Legal Services & Information
Helping all NYS incl LI - Correct Criminal Records and Seal them CSS: Next Door Project
Hotline: (212) 614-5441
George Harrison Direct Line: 212-614-5405
At Legal Hand Call-In center, volunteers provide free information, assistance and referrals to help on issues such as housing, immigration, domestic violence, and public benefits to all who contact their services.
Email:
nassausuffolkhelp@legalhand.org
Nassau County
Call or text 516-550-4551
Suffolk County
Call or text 631-366-7096
The Empire Justice Center provides remote services for low income families. They can provide full representation, brief advice, and self-help materials for housing, social security benefits, domestic violence, immigration, and other issues.
Fill out the form on their website or call 631-650-2306 for help.
The Senior Citizens Law Program at Touro Law Center provides services free of charge to Suffolk County residents 60 years or older. This includes legal help with income or benefits, health care, housing, guardianship, and other issues that help seniors.
Contact at 631-761-7470
Nassau Suffolk Law Services provides a range of services free of charge to low income families, including legal representation in eviction cases, appeals public benefit denials, assistance with consumer debt issues, and more.
The Public Benefits Unit provides legal assistance to persons who experience problems with public benefits programs which are administered by the local Departments of Social Services, including: Welfare (TANF and Safety Net); Medicaid; Food Stamps (SNAP); Child Care Assistance; HEAP; Emergency shelter for the homeless; and other emergency assistance programs.
Assistance to low-income households in establishing Supplemental Needs Trusts to eliminate the Medicaid spend-down and assist homeless families to obtain Rent Supplements from DSS which enable families to leave the shelters or retain permanent housing is also available.
Hempstead office: 516-292-8100
Islandia office: 631-232-2400
Riverhead office: 631-369-1112
The LIAC assists families in learning how to access and obtain for their children the educational services to which they are legally entitled.
Legal Hand Call Center
The Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County provides pro-bono criminal defense and representation in some family court matters. The Social Work Bureau also provides a variety of services.
The Legal Aid Society of Nassau County provides pro-bono criminal defense and representation in some family court matters. The Social Work Bureau also provides a variety of services.
Incarceration Prevention Resources
Launched in 2016, this program helps people avoid pre-trial detention if their bail is set at $2000 or less on a misdimeanor charge. For more information on accessing this program, call:
NYS Driver's License Suspension Reform Act
What is the Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act (DLSRA)? The DLSRA:
● Ends driver’s license suspensions for unpaid traffic fines and fees;
● Reinstates driver’s licenses that were suspended for unpaid traffic fines and fees;
● Establishes installment payment plans for all traffic fines, fees, and mandatory surcharges;
● Allows drivers to petition the court to waive or reduce the total amount of fines, fees, and surcharges that you owe at any time.
● Requires additional notice for drivers before suspending a driver’s license for unanswered traffic summons/appearance tickets or missed traffic hearings; and
● Allows drivers to terminate their driver’s license suspensions for unanswered traffic summons/appearance tickets or missed traffic hearings by appearing in traffic court or by entering into a payment plan. The DLSRA does not end driver’s license suspensions for not answering a traffic summons or an appearance ticket or not appearing in traffic court.