Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc.

The Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (LASMNY) is a not-for-profit law office which was formed in 1952. It was created by the Oneida County Bar Association and local attorneys to provide civil (non-criminal) legal services to low-income people in Oneida County. Throughout the years it has expanded to include thirteen counties in the Central New York region: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and Otsego.

LASMNY provides legal information, advice and representation to low-income clients in civil cases involving public benefits, healthcare, consumer and debt problems, housing, education, employment, family matters and other legal problems. They also provide community legal education programs for clients, community agencies and the general public regarding legal rights and responsibilities.

This summer, Ruben Leavitt, '08, will work with LASMNY to increase its ability to provide bankruptcy representation to low-income clients, particularly victims of domestic violence, clients with mental health issues, clients struggling with medical debt as a result of being uninsured, and working families. Consumer bankruptcy gives the working poor who have incurred substantial debt an opportunity to reorder their finances and obtain a fresh start, but many individuals filing for bankruptcy are unable to afford a lawyer and typically cannot accurately complete the lengthy and confusing legal documents necessary to represent themselves in court. By the end of the summer, Ruben will complete the legal forms and supporting documentation necessary for at least five of the cases to be referred to a pro bono attorney.

In the summer of 2007, Ruben assisted the organization as they provided assistance to the community with funds awarded through a Violence Against Women Act grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Under the grant, LASMNY will provide legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking as they face legal problems involving family matters such as orders of protection, divorces, separations, child custody and child support. They will also handle legal problems that keep victims from becoming independent from their abusers, such as financial problems, housing, public benefits, access to healthcare and immigration. In order to help the organization increase affordable housing opportunities for women leaving abusive relationships, Ruben made contact with government housing programs and reviewed local low-income housing plans throughout the service area. He compiled copies of these preference policies to use as models for other programs, then worked with other housing programs in the area that do not yet have a domestic violence victim preference. He also assisted the lawyers at LASMNY as they represent victims, research legal issues, and attend court hearings.

In the summer of 2006, Carolyn Theis, '08, worked with the Syracuse office of LASMNY. She assisted an attorney who develops Social Security Income cases for disabled adults by organizing legal files, drafting medical request letters, scheduling client appointments, meetings with clients, observing hearing preparations, and attending several hearings.