The Immigrant Women and Children Project recruits and trains volunteer attorneys to help immigrant victims of domestic violence seek freedom from their abusers and attain legal status in the United States. Founded in 1996, the Project was developed to assist women and children prepare self-petitions to regularize their immigration status without relying on the sponsorship of an abusive spouse or parent. Through this process our staff and volunteer attorneys seek to remedy a historically coercive circumstance that perpetuates violence in the home. Volunteer attorneys assist clients with the preparation of immigration applications, including those needed to obtain work authorization. In 2002, our Trafficking in Persons component was added to the Project. We train law enforcement, community-based organizations, and NGOs about the legal remedies available to victims of human trafficking. In addition, we represent victims of trafficking in obtaining legal immigration status and public benefits, as well as provide counseling on civil, criminal and other legal issues.

The Pro Bono Consumer Bankruptcy Project was established to meet the ever-increasing requests for assistance from debt burdened low-income New York City residents in order to provide high quality legal assistance to this underserved group.
The Project recruits, trains and mentors volunteer attorneys to advise low–income consumers of their rights and responsibilities regarding outstanding debts. Where appropriate, the volunteers will prepare the forms and schedules necessary for the debtor to file a pro se Chapter 7 case and advise them on the steps needed to successfully obtain a Discharge. This Project allows clients who would otherwise be unable to proceed, due to an inability to retain counsel, to reorder their finances and obtain an economic “fresh start.” The Project serves eligible clients from all five boroughs.

The Legal Clinic for the Homeless has been providing free legal assistance to the homeless and those threatened with homelessness since 1991. This Community Outreach program reaches out to individuals and families through legal clinics and presentations at community centers, drop-in centers, shelters and soup kitchens. Staff and volunteer attorneys offer advice, advocacy and representation on issues such as accessing public benefits, challenging pending evictions, and challenging denials of public housing and housing subsidies. The Legal Clinic for the Homeless currently operates four clinics each month and offers volunteer attorneys the opportunity to assist clients with advocacy and direct representation at administrative hearings.

The Women and Children's Self-Sufficiency Project helps women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness access benefits to transition off of public assistance. In addition to serving clients at clinics, the Project holds community presentations to educate homeless women and children about their rights to public assistance, childcare benefits, and public housing.

The Jiggetts Modification Clinic assists families on public assistance prepare and submit Jiggetts modification applications to keep their rent subsidies current and to avoid accumulating rent arrears and facing possible eviction. Clients are referred to the Clinic through other legal services agencies only.

The Housing Court Guardian Ad Litem Project trains volunteers for court appointment in housing cases where tenants cannot protect their own rights because of physical or mental impairment. In response to the alarming number of elderly and mentally disabled New Yorkers being evicted from their apartments and becoming homeless, Community Outreach launched this program in 1992. Lawyers and non-lawyers are trained to serve as guardians ad litem in Housing Court for individuals incapable of asserting their tenancy rights who are at risk of eviction. This program is co-sponsored by the Association's Housing Court Public Service Projects Committee.

The Housing Court Summer Assistance Project provides information to unrepresented parties with housing disputes about their legal rights through law students who spend a week volunteering at Housing Court. Summer associates from New York City law firms and corporations are recruited each year to assist unrepresented tenants in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens Housing Courts.