LSNYC Streamlines and Improves Delivery of Legal Services in Brooklyn

August 21, 2012, New York, NY—Last week, the Board of Directors of Legal Services NYC approved a historic plan to improve the delivery of services to Brooklyn families by transforming LSNYC’s operations in the borough. The new structure will enable the organization to expand key services and eliminate redundant management positions by consolidating the organization on the borough level, as it is organized in the rest of the city.

“We are committed to providing high-quality legal representation for every needy family in Brooklyn, and throughout the city,” said Legal Services NYC Executive Director Raun Rasmussen. “This transformation in the way we deliver services to Brooklyn will build upon Legal Services NYC’s deep local roots and enable us to not only provide better services throughout the borough, but to do so at reduced cost.”

Legal Services currently operates five separate projects in Brooklyn, compared to one in each of the other four boroughs. By consolidating three of those projects—LSNYC Brooklyn Branch, South Brooklyn Legal Services, and Bedford-Stuyvesant Community Legal Services— into a new project called Brooklyn Legal Services, the organization will eliminate duplicative management, costly excess office space, and a lopsided distribution of services that prevents critical legal help from reaching vast sections of the borough. The Board of Directors of Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A voted last week to exercise their right to disassociate from LSNYC rather than joining the new program. The fifth project, the Brooklyn Family Defense Project, provides only family litigation services, and is not part of the redesign.

“By shedding costly overhead and eliminating management positions, Legal Services NYC is making the hard decisions that will allow you to survive and preserve services to our communities in these tough economic times,” said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery in a statement of support that was signed by numerous elected officials throughout Brooklyn. “We are especially grateful that you have decided to locate the central office for the new Brooklyn Program in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the historic “center” of Brooklyn. We note with confidence your leadership team of retired Judge Betty Staton, who is highly respected in our communities, at the helm as President, working with Meghan Faux as Acting Director and Celeste Morris and board chair. We trust that this team will help to ensure a dynamic new program that delivers services to all low income Brooklyn residents.”

“Despite, devastating losses in funding, we must stand up for the thousands in local communities who cannot afford legal services in landlord-tenant matters, immigration, foreclosure and a myriad of other areas,” said Celeste Morris. “Under the new plan we can still keep offices in neighborhoods, attorneys in the trenches, and talented and dedicated leaders running our operation. Our board members are committed to ensuring that the program successfully serves those who are most in need.”

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