LGBT Law Project Launched

Filed Under Legal | September 18th, 2008 

LGBT Law NewsNEW YORK, NY (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) has launched the LGBT Law Project, serving New York City’s low-income Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities this week.

The LGBT Law Project provides free representation and advice on a wide range of civil legal matters and offers group trainings on legal issues affecting the LGBT communities. This project has been made possible by the generous support from the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and the Chuck Goldman Family Supporting Foundation.

The LGBT Law Project provides representation in the following areas:

- Public Benefits including public assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and SSI;

- Landlord & Tenant disputes;

- Housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including public housing, homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters;

- Second Parent or Joint Adoption;

- Orders of Protection;

- Legal name change;

- Health care proxy and living will preparation assistance in conjunction with NYLAG’s Total Life Choices Program;

- Other areas on request.

NYLAG has launched this program in response to an increased need for civil legal services in the LGBT communities, as well as to create a safe and affirming space for the LGBT individuals to access legal services. The laws affecting these communities are in flux and NYLAG believes that it is essential to have a dedicated law project with an expertise in this area of the law.

About NYLAG:

Founded in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a not-for-profit law office that provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers. A full-service agency, NYLAG provides
consultations, representation and advocacy on a broad range of legal issues. Last year, NYLAG handled 17,991 cases benefiting 31,057 low-income individuals. NYLAG is a beneficiary of UJA-Federation of New York. For more information on NYLAG, please visit www.nylag.org.

Source: NYLAG