There are many organizations and lawyers in New York that provide free legal services to the general public, including immigrants. The services cover issues related to labor, housing, public benefits, etc. Immigration-related services include visa applications, deportation defense, green card applications, etc. Documented has compiled a list of free legal services and pro-bono lawyers in New York State who provide Chinese language services.
ActionNYC
Action NYC provides free and safe immigration legal assistance. This city-sponsored program has consultation spots in community-based organizations, hospitals, and schools. Regardless of immigration status, you can receive a free comprehensive legal screening to find out if you qualify for relevant immigration benefits. In addition, people can also get legal help and case referrals related to naturalization, green card application and renewal, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and others. The project provides multilingual services and is kept confidential throughout.
Website: https://access.nyc.gov/programs/actionnyc/
Tel: Dial 311 and say “ActionNYC.”
Asian American Bar Association of New York
The Asian American Bar Association of New York’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee (PBCS) is dedicated to providing cultural and linguistic legal assistance to the community through community education and individualized assistance at its pro bono legal clinics. The association holds monthly free legal clinics that are open to all community members in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Queens’ Flushing, and Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst. Please click this page to view the calendar for the latest legal clinic information and to make an appointment.
Website: https://www.aabany.org
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10111
Email: probono@aabany.org
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
This is a New York-based national organization founded in 1974 to protect and advance the civil rights of Asian Americans. Through a combination of litigation, advocacy, education, and mobilization, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund works with Asian American communities across the country to ensure human rights for all. The organization also provides free Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) legal advice.
Website: https://www.aaldef.org
Address: 99 Hudson St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10013
Tel: 212-966-5932
Email: info@aaldef.org
Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A
The organization advances social and economic justice and community empowerment through innovative, collaborative, neighborhood-based legal representation and advocacy. It operates three core programs – Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program. It has established partnerships with dozens of law firms and lawyers to provide legal services to low- and moderate-income residents, community-based organizations, and small businesses.
Website: https://bka.org
Address: 260 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn NY 11211; 1471 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Tel: 718-487-2300
E-mail: info@bka.org
CAMBA Legal Services
CAMBA Legal Services provides free legal assistance to low-income people in New York City. The scope of services includes adjustment of status, asylum applications, consular processing, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), employment authorization, family-based petitions, naturalization/citizenship, removal hearings, special immigration juvenile status, temporary protected status (TPS), etc.
Website: https://www.camba.org
Address: 20 Snyder Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226
Tel: 718-940-6311
E-mail: info@camba.org
City Bar Justice Center
The center’s legal hotline is manned by attorneys who will assist callers with limited income with a range of civil legal issues, including marriage and family laws, housing laws, domestic violence, bankruptcy, debt collection, and public benefits. The center’s staff includes bilingual attorneys who speak English and Spanish, and interpreter services are available to take calls in other languages.
Website: https://www.citybarjusticecenter.org
Address: 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Free Legal Hotline: 212-626-7383 9:30 am-4:30 pm Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm Friday, closed 1:00 pm-2:00 pm daily. You can also log in to this webpage to apply for legal services online.
Email: cbjc@nycbar.org
Chinese Progressive Association
Located in Manhattan’s Chinatown/Lower East Side, the Chinese Progressive Association is dedicated to helping the community achieve social and economic justice. It provides immigration legal assistance on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), family-based petitions, naturalization, etc.
Website: https://www.cpanyc.info
Address: 230 Grand Street Room 504, New York City, NY 10013
Tel: 212-274-1891
Email: cpanyc@cpanyc.org
Chinese-American Planning Council
The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) provides housing, immigration, and naturalization/citizenship-related legal services at three community centers in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. For community members who have other legal service needs, CPC can refer them to its partners. Free bilingual support will be provided for all legal services, including completion of paperwork and applications, review of documents, and individual consultations. CPC’s legal partners include the Immigrant Justice Corps, New York Legal Assistance Group, Advocates for Justice, and MFY Legal Services Inc.
Website: https://www.cpc-nyc.org
Address: Please visit its three community centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens for more details.
Tel: 212-941-0920
Email: info@cpc-nyc.org
CUNY Citizenship Now!
CUNY Citizenship Now provides free, high-quality, and confidential immigration law services to help individuals and families obtain U.S. citizenship. Its attorneys and paralegals provide one-on-one consultations to assess participants’ eligibility for legal benefits and, if eligible, assist them with their applications. The program also coordinates community, educational, and volunteer programs to help expand opportunities for New York City’s immigrant population. Services include adjustment of status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), family-based petitions, naturalization/citizenship, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), etc.
Website: https://www.cuny.edu/citizenshipnow
Address: The project has multiple service spots in the city. Please click on this page to find the address closest to you.
Tel: 646-664-9400 or 212-652-2071
Email: citizenshipnowinfo@cuny.edu
Her Justice
Her Justice (formerly inMotion) provides free legal services to low-income women in New York City who experience domestic violence, human trafficking, or other crimes. Services include adjustment of status, consular processing, employment authorization, naturalization, T visas, U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), etc.
Website: https://www.herjustice.org
Address: 100 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10005
Tel: 212-695-3800
E-mail: inquiries@herjustice.org
Immigrant Justice Corps
The Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) is an innovative fellowship program that places law school graduates in prominent New York City nonprofit organizations to serve immigrants. To schedule an appointment, please contact the agency’s main office. Services include adjustment of status, asylum application, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), employment authorization, family-based petitions, naturalization, removal hearing, special immigrant juvenile status, T Visa, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U Visa, Violence Prevention Assault on Women Act (VAWA), etc.
Website: https://justicecorps.org
Address: 17 Battery Place, Ste. 236, New York, NY 10004
Tel: 212-407-3417
Email: info@justicecorps.org
Justice For Our Neighbors
Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) provides immigrants with free legal services, education, and advocacy on a variety of immigration issues. The scope of services includes adjustment of status, asylum application, consular proceeding , Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), employment authorization, family-based petitions, naturalization, deportation hearing, special immigrant visa, etc.
Legal advice clinic address:
Manhattan’s Chinatown: Chinese United Methodist Church, 69 Madison St, New York, NY 10002
Brooklyn: John Wesley Methodist Church, 260 Quincy St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Long Island: Hicksville United Methodist Church, 130 W Old Country Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801
Flushing: moved to The First United Methodist Church in Flushing this March; 38-24 149th St, Flushing, NY 11354
Tel: to make an appointment, please call 212-870-3785
E-mail: info@camba.org
Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society is a nonprofit organization that provides representation in criminal convictions, all forms of relief, and detained and non-detained cases. The organization works with the Immigrant Children’s Advocacy Initiative (ICARE) on legal proceedings related to children under the age of 18 in removal proceedings and coordinates with the Youth Represent Legal Services.
Website: https://legalaidnyc.org
Tel: 212-577-3300
The immigration helpline 844-955-3425 is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, and legal representatives will appear at 26 Federal Plaza and Varick Street.
Address: The Legal Aid Society has several offices in the five boroughs of New York City. For details, please visit this webpage.
Legal Services NYC
Every year, Legal Services NYC has more than 2,000 public welfare legal service volunteers to help more than 7,000 low-income people. The agency’s civil legal services to individuals include immigration, family, education, employment, benefits, trusts and estates, consumer rights, LGBTQ/AIDS, veterans, and housing.
Website: https://www.legalservicesnyc.org
Address: The agency has set up several offices and judicial learning centers in the five districts of New York City. Please click this page to view the details and contact information.
Free Legal Consultation Hotline: 917-661-4500
Mobilization for Justice
This agency provides pro bono legal services on Access-A-Ride, adoption/kinship care, children’s rights/special education, low-income bankruptcy filings, Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) clinics, re-entry to the workforce, and supplemental security income hearings. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Website: https://mobilizationforjustice.org
Address: 100 William Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10038
Tel: 212-417-3700
Email: info@mfjlegal.org
New York Legal Assistance Group
The Group is an organization that provides legal advice and representation in immigration cases, labor laws, domestic violence, evictions, healthcare benefits application, public benefits (food stamps) application, and wage theft.
Website: https://www.nylag.org
Address: 100 Pearl St., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004
Tel: 212-613-5000
Email: info@nylag.org
United Jewish Council of the East Side
The UJCES supports the Lower East Side community by providing a wide range of human rights services and implementing community development programs. The scope of legal services includes adjustment of status, employment authorization, family-based visa, and naturalization/citizenship.
Website: https://www.ujceastside.org
Address: 465 Grand Street 4th floor, New York, NY 10002
Tel: 212-233-6037
Email: ujcadultlunch@gmail.com
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) – New Americans Welcome Center
YMCA is dedicated to serving newcomers/immigrants in New York City. To meet their needs, YMCA operates six welcome centers for new Americans to support newcomers and immigrants in achieving their goals of employment, education, civic engagement, naturalization, cultural competency, and upward mobility in the communities they live in. The New Americans Initiative is a safe haven for immigrants seeking support and services without questions about immigration status. The New Americans Welcome Center serves as a multilingual referral center of information and resource for newcomers/immigrants and their families with a wide range of educational, career, recreational, family support, and social services as well as legal services related to family-based petitions and naturalization.
Website: https://www.ymcanyc.org
Address: 138-46 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354
Tel: 718-551-9352
Email: mlam@ymcanyc.org
Also Read: Pro-Bono Lawyers And Free Legal Immigration Services in New York
Please note that the contact information listed above is subject to change and it is best to check the relevant organization’s website for the latest information or contact them directly. If you know of any New York-based organizations offering free Chinese legal services that are not on this list, please contact april.xu@documentedny.com and we’ll add it to this article.
