"Mamdani didn't mince words about the current state of affairs. "There's a clear need for a few hundred additional lawyers at the Law Department, just from the beginning of it," he said, pointing to the growing need for legal services for immigrant New Yorkers. He added that the Law Department, once "on the front lines of equal rights across the country," has been "hollowed out" in recent years."
"Banks didn't quietly shuffle along when Paul, Weiss capitulated to Donald Trump, striking a deal that promised the president $40 million in pro bono services. Instead, he very publicly quit in a move that spoke volumes about his professional priorities. In a legal market that too often treats "principles" as optional when powerful interests come calling, Banks made it clear that his weren't for sale."
Zohran Mamdani appointed Steven Banks as New York City Corporation Counsel and announced plans to expand the Law Department by at least 200 lawyers to meet rising legal needs. The expansion targets increased legal services for immigrant New Yorkers and seeks to restore the department's role in civil-rights advocacy after staffing declines. Steven Banks spent three decades at the Legal Aid Society, served eight years leading NYC Social Services under Bill de Blasio, and led Paul, Weiss's pro bono program. Banks resigned from Paul, Weiss over a $40 million pro bono deal with Donald Trump, signaling a refusal to compromise on principles.
Read at Above the Law
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