About the Ed Simon Fellowship

The Edward N. Simon Fellowship honors the memory of Manhattan Legal Services (MLS) housing attorney and lifelong social justice advocate, Ed Simon. Ed fought passionately for the rights of New Yorkers living in poverty and challenged systems of oppression. The Fellowship provides stipends for law students committed to social justice, who gain invaluable experience by spending the summer working in the Housing Unit of MLS. The stipend defrays the cost of living in NYC for the summer, allowing a diverse and competitive pool of candidates to participate.

The need for the services provided by the Housing Unit at MLS has never been greater. After decades of gentrification and the loss of affordable housing, many low-income New Yorkers are fighting to maintain their homes. We are at the forefront of this fight to prevent evictions, preserve affordable housing, and ensure that our clients’ apartments are safe. Your gift enables us to provide future lawyers with hands on experience helping low-income Manhattan residents at risk of losing their homes.