Our Intake Process

You can call Legal Services NYC’s Access Line at 917-661-4500 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. We speak your language.

#1 for English
#2 for Español/Spanish
#3 русский/Russian
#4 简化字/Mandarin
#5 Kreyòl Ayisyen/Haitian Creole
#6 Français/ French
#7 عربى/Arabic
#8 বাঙালি /Bengali
#9 اردو/Hindi/Urdu
#10 한국어/Korean

Please note, if you already have a LSNYC advocate, please call or email them directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “legal services” mean?

“Legal services” means free help with civil (not criminal) legal issues. Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) assists eligible New Yorkers with a range of civil legal issues – see the “Practice Areas & Projects” section of our website for an overview. LSNYC is a nonprofit organization that receives funding through the government, philanthropic foundations, and private donations; we do not collect any fees from our clients. Because the need for legal services is very high and funding is limited, legal services providers like LSNYC do not have enough resources to assist every eligible New Yorker who needs help.

Am I eligible for legal services through LSNYC?

Eligibility for assistance from LSNYC depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to,  type of legal issue, capacity of our programs, household income level, immigration status, and other demographic information. We primarily assist low-income households, but specific income eligibility varies depending on our funding requirements. Because the need for legal services is very high and funding is limited, legal services providers like LSNYC do not have enough resources to assist every eligible New Yorker who needs help.

What is the LSNYC Access Line? What is “intake”?

LSNYC Access Line is the citywide phone hotline for accessing free legal help through LSNYC. If you need help with a legal issue and are not already working with an advocate at LSNYC, calling the Access Line is the best way to find out if we can assist you. “Intake” refers to the initial conversation you have with Access Line intake specialist, where we gather information about you and your legal issue, assess your eligibility for our services, and figure out next steps.

Can I do a walk-in intake instead of calling the LSNYC Access Line?

Probably not. Due to staffing capacity and the volume of help requests, most of LSNYC’s neighborhood offices only do walk-in intake for limited emergency issues, if at all. The best way to find out if LSNYC can assist you is by calling the Access Line.

What should I expect when I call the LSNYC Access Line?

When you call the Access Line, you will have a chance to select your preferred language, and you will likely be placed on hold while you wait to speak with a intake specialist. (Note: if call volume is high and our phone queue is full, you may be asked to call back later.) Once an Access Line intake specialist answers your call, they will gather information about you and your legal issue to determine how we can help. Please keep in mind:

  • Our Access Line intake specialists, and all staff at LSNYC, care about you and want to help you if we can. The assistance we provide will depend on eligibility, type of legal issue, and capacity of our programs.
  • The questions our intake specialists ask are designed to help us determine your eligibility for our services, understand your legal issue, and identify whether we can help. Please listen and respond carefully to these questions. You will get a chance to tell us about your legal issue, but please let our intake specialists guide the conversation.
  • You might experience a brief audio delay on the call. Please pause for a few seconds after you’ve finished speaking to give our intake specialist a chance to respond or ask the next question – this will help prevent you from talking over each other. 

How can I prepare for a phone intake through the LSYNC Access Line? What information and documents do I need to have ready when I call?


Please have the following information and documents handy when you call the Access Line:

  • Your address and contact information, and, if applicable: the NYC borough where you live, and the borough where your legal issue is based
  • Names, income sources, and income amounts of all members of your household
  • Your birth date and social security number
  • The birth dates of other household members, if possible
  • Court papers, notices, or other documents related to your legal issue
  • Any upcoming court dates or deadlines related to your legal issue

What does LSNYC do with the information I provide to the Access Line?

The information we collect from you during the intake conversation is meant to help us understand your legal issue and your eligibility for our services. This information, including personal or identifying details about you and your issue, is confidential and is stored securely in our internal database. Note: our funders often ask us to provide data related to our work – we will let you know if this data might contain personal information and get your permission before proceeding.

I can’t get through when I call the LSNYC Access Line – what should I do?

Please keep trying. To keep wait times manageable for callers, our phone system stops placing new calls on hold once the average wait time gets too high. When waiting calls are answered, the wait times will go down and new calls can come through. Call volume will often vary throughout the day, so we encourage you to keep calling if you don’t get through right away. Our hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

English is not my primary language – can I still call the Access Line?

Yes! Our Access Line intake specialists speak many languages in addition to English, and we have live interpreters available for all languages.

Will LSNYC take my case if I call the LSNYC Access Line?

LSNYC can’t take every case that comes in through the Access Line. Because the need for legal services is very high and funding is limited, legal services providers like LSNYC do not have enough resources to assist every eligible New Yorker who needs help. The assistance we provide will depend on eligibility, type of legal issue, and capacity of our programs. In addition, please keep in mind that while the Access Line can complete an initial intake screening and sometimes offer brief legal advice or information, there is no guarantee of ongoing assistance or full representation.

What type of help can I get from LSNYC if I do an intake through the Access Line?

Available assistance may vary depending on the capacity of our programs, funding, and staffing. For every call, we try to help as much as we can. Legal assistance through the Access Line might include one or more of the following:

  • Legal information and brief legal advice during the intake call
  • Self-help resources
  • Referrals to other organizations
  • A follow-up appointment or callback for a legal consultation with an LSNYC advocate
  • An appointment to attend a group legal clinic, which may include legal advice, brief service (such as help with legal forms or court documents), or placement with a pro bono attorney at a private firm for ongoing assistance 
  • Representation or ongoing assistance with a legal matter after assessment by the program advocates and supervising attorneys

Will I be able to speak with an attorney when I call the LSNYC Access Line?

No. Our Access Line is staffed by trained, experienced intake specialists who specialize in LSNYC intake. Depending on your legal issue and the info you provide during your intake call, the Access Line intake specialist you speak with may be able to provide brief legal advice or legal information. You may also receive a follow-up appointment with an advocate, but you won’t be able to consult with an attorney during the Access Line intake call.

I am already working with an advocate at LSNYC, but I need help with another issue – should I call the Access Line?

No. The Access Line is intended for new callers, and not people who are already working with LSNYC. If you are a current client, please ask your advocate about an internal referral for help with another issue.

I am already working with an advocate at LSNYC, but I don’t know how to reach them – can the Access Line connect me with my advocate?

No. The Access Line is intended for new callers, and not people who are already working with LSNYC. If you don’t know how to reach your advocate, please call the front desk for the borough office or program you are working with and speak with the receptionist. 

  • Brooklyn Legal Services: (718) 237-5500
  • Bronx Legal Services: (718) 928-3700
  • Manhattan Legal Services: (646) 442-3100
  • Queens Legal Services: (347) 592-2200
  • Staten Island Legal Services: (718) 233-6480
  • Bankruptcy Assistance Project and Pro Bono: (646) 442-3600

What should I expect after completing an intake with the Access Line?

The next steps after your intake with the Access Line will depend on the type of assistance we were able to provide.

  • If we scheduled a time for you to speak with an advocate or attend a legal clinic, the appointment/clinic information will be provided to you by the Access Line intake specialist, and you should also get an appointment/clinic confirmation email or letter after the intake call.
  • If we sent your information to an LSNYC advocate for follow-up, you should expect a call back within 10 business days.
  • If we provided legal information, legal advice, self-help resources, and/or referrals but we were NOT able to schedule an appointment, clinic, or callback, LSNYC cannot offer any additional assistance with your legal issue at this time. You should call us back if you have a new issue, or your current issue changes significantly and you want us to reassess.
  • Please note: there is no guarantee that LSNYC will be able to offer full or ongoing representation on your legal issue.

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