Legal Aid Society marks 150th anniversary with New York Historicalphoto exhibition | amNewYork

"Founded in 1876 as Der Deutsche Rechtsschutz-Verein, New York City's largest provider of legal services for low-income litigants began as a small-but-mighty outfit concerned the rights of recent German immigrants to the U.S. The newcomers had not had the opportunity to learn our language and the methods of some of our unscrupulous gentry and were thus vulnerable to exploitation."

"Legal Aid grew from a group made up mostly merchants, importers and professional people other than lawyers that handled a few hundred cases for just one immigrant community to a necessary component of the city's legal system, annually serving some 2 million New Yorkers of all stripes."

"From its defense of incarcerated people during the Attica Uprising, to its role in the landmark Willowbrook State School litigation, to decades of advocacy for unhoused families and people detained at Rikers Island, Legal Aid's history is deeply intertwined with the defining civil rights struggles of New York City."

The Legal Aid Society originated in 1876 as Der Deutsche Rechtsschutz-Verein, addressing vulnerabilities faced by German immigrants unfamiliar with American legal systems and language. Early members included merchants, importers, and professionals who handled cases for this immigrant community. The organization expanded significantly over decades, becoming integral to New York City's legal infrastructure. Legal Aid gained prominence through defending incarcerated individuals during the Attica Uprising, participating in the Willowbrook State School litigation, and advocating for unhoused families and detainees at Rikers Island. These efforts positioned the organization at the center of major civil rights struggles. Currently serving approximately 2 million New Yorkers annually across diverse populations, Legal Aid celebrated its 150-year anniversary with exhibitions at the New York Historical Society.

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