Legal Services NYC Announces Retirement of Steven M. Bernstein

On December 31, 2009, Steven M. Bernstein retired from his position as founding Project Director of Legal Services NYC’s Brooklyn Branch. His retirement caps a remarkable 35 years of service with Legal Services NYC and nearly 50 years working on behalf of New York’s low-income residents.

“We at Legal Services NYC enormously appreciate all that Steve Bernstein has done to advance access to justice in the course of his long career with us,” said Andrew Scherer, LS-NYC Executive Director and President. “Steve’s dedication to and zealous representation of his low-income clients have been unparalleled.  As the founding Project Director and driving force behind our Brooklyn branch office, he and the dedicated staff under his leadership have protected and advanced the legal rights of, and improved the lives of, thousands upon thousands of clients in the communities of Brooklyn that they have served.”

“Steve Bernstein will be sorely missed in New York City’s legal community.  Not only is he a terrific lawyer, but he possesses a unique ability to understand his clients and their needs,” said Marvin E. Jacob, Esq., a Partner (Ret.) at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and long-time Chair of the Legal Services NYC-Brooklyn Branch Advisory Board.

Steve became Brooklyn Branch Project Director in 1974. He worked tirelessly to build a program that supports community legal needs, establishing outreach offices in Brighton Beach and Williamsburg to improve access for Russian immigrants and a large Chassidic population, and recruiting a multi lingual staff of attorneys, paralegals and support personnel. Under his leadership, the Brooklyn Branch succeeded over the years in attracting, retaining and promoting a highly dedicated staff that has taken on important leadership roles in continuing legal education, bar associations and litigation. Steve also created the first LS-NYC Bankruptcy Clinic, the precursor to today’s NYC Bankruptcy Assistance Project.

Steve started his career with The Legal Aid Society as a Staff Attorney and then Managing Attorney of the Rockaway branch office, creating liaisons with many community groups and promoting economic development projects for local nonprofits. He is a 1961 graduate of New York University School of Law.

Steve’s career and achievements will be celebrated on Thursday, January 14th, with a reception hosted by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Jennifer Levy of South Brooklyn Legal Services is currently serving as Interim Project Director of LS-NYC Brooklyn Branch.