Mission
THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY IS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION, THE OLDEST AND LARGEST IN THE NATION, DEDICATED SINCE 1876 TO PROVIDING QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS. (MISSION CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IT IS DEDICATED TO ONE SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL BELIEF: THAT NO NEW YORKER SHOULD BE DENIED ACCESS TO JUSTICE BECAUSE OF POVERTY. DURING THE YEAR, THE SOCIETY HANDLED MORE THAN 208,607 INDIVIDUAL CASES AND MATTERS AND PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES IN THREE AREAS: THE CIVIL, CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE RIGHTS PRACTICES. UNLIKE THE SOCIETY'S CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE RIGHTS PRACTICES, WHICH ARE LEGALLY MANDATED AND SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE CIVIL PRACTICE RELIES HEAVILY ON PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.