NY State Comptroller: Providing civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers boosts the economy

Providing legal services for low-income New Yorkers in civil cases
boosts the economy by speeding court dockets, keeping people in their
homes and ensuring they get the federal benefits they’re due, state
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said Tuesday.

From the New York Post:

At a hearing called by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, the comptroller
cited “plentiful” evidence of the monetary return that includes federal
Social Security, Medicaid, unemployment and disability payments, tax
credits and veterans’ benefits. Much of that “represents a return of our
fair share of the federal taxes we pay,” he said.

“The reality is that a vast number of low-income New Yorkers cannot afford a lawyer,” DiNapoli said.

He noted that Lippman put $55 million in this year’s judiciary budget
to help support legal services while judicial officials have taken
steps to increase pro bono work by lawyers.

Lippman plans to hold a series of hearings this year and report to
the Legislature about funding that’s available and what’s needed. He’s
held similar hearings before and established a task force to examine it,
cited a previous estimate that only 20 percent of the need was being
met but added that progress has been made.

“I think we’ve narrowed the gap,” Lippman said after Tuesday’s
hearing. “We have at the very least kept up with a miserable economy.”

Read the full article at NYPost.com.