Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) is committed to providing free legal aid to individuals facing civil legal issues. Their services are designed to assist those dealing with non-criminal legal matters, offering help and advice to ensure access to justice for everyone, especially those with low income and few assets.

LawNY commonly addresses legal problems such as:

• Threats of eviction by landlords

• Denial of Unemployment Insurance benefits

• Denial of Public Assistance

• Foreclosure on homes

To determine eligibility for assistance, individuals should contact their nearest LawNY office. All personal information is kept private and will not be shared without permission.

While LawNY strives to assist as many people as possible, resources are limited, and LawNY may not be able to represent everyone. In such cases, they provide general information and refer individuals to other agencies that might be able to help. LawNY does not offer advice on criminal law matters.

LawNY services are made possible through the support and generosity of funders, including the United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties. 

Access to free civil legal services is an essential community asset. Unlike in criminal court cases, individuals who find themselves involved in civil court cases are not entitled to a lawyer. This exacerbates inequality and is why civil legal aid is so vital to the community.

For 54 years, LawNY has provided quality legal representation to the most vulnerable and underserved subpopulations including veterans, seniors, formerly incarcerated individuals reentering society, refugees, victims of crime, survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence, members of the LBGTQ+ community, and those living with HIV/AIDS.

For more information or to seek assistance, visit their website at www.lawny.org.