The New York City Mayor's Office will establish a new office to connect residents with free legal services, addressing a growing public defender crisis. This office, not providing direct legal representation, will serve as an information hub linking clients with pro bono resources from various sectors. Following the Fiscal Year 2026 budget increase for immigrant legal assistance to over $120 million, the new office's funding will be administered separately by the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, responding to rising fears among immigrants amid increasing ICE arrests.
"In the United States, everyone is entitled to legal representation, but too often, the cost of legal fees places effective counsel out of reach for too many."
"The office is intended to streamline the process of finding affordable representation, and will send clients to law school clinics, not-for-profit legal services organizations and other government-sponsored programs."
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