Empire Justice 2010 Survey
August 17, 2010
This summer Empire Justice surveyed advocates familiar with its work to provide feedback on the services it provides and to help shape priorities. This report details the survey findings. Read More

Support Our Work - Donate Today!!
May 14, 2010
Two of three core funding sources for civil legal services continue to face virtual elimination and ongoing delays in the New York State budget will soon begin to force legal services providers to cut services, cut staff, close offices. Read More

New Yorkers for Responsible Lending (NYRL)
May 14, 2010
New Yorkers for Responsible Lending (NYRL) is a statewide coalition that promotes access to fair and affordable financial services and the preservation of assets for all New Yorkers and their communities. Read More

Improvements to the Consumer & Community Development Section of Website Planned
May 14, 2010
The Consumer, Housing, C.A.S.H. and Community Development (CHCCD) Unit just finished a plan to enhance the Consumer & Community Development (C&CD) issue area of Empire Justice Center’s website. As the plan is implemented over the next several months, look for the following improvements to the C&CD issue area. Read More

Empire Justice Center Elects Officers and New Board Members
January 16, 2010
Empire Justice Center, a statewide leader working to achieve social and economic justice for people in New York State, is pleased to announce the election of three new members to its Board of Directors. Read More

Empire Justice Center Welcomes New Board Members
August 13, 2009
The Board of Directors of the Empire Justice Center welcomes new members: Read More

Integrating Information Sharing: The LSJ and the Web
August 13, 2009
Like many publications across the country the Legal Services Journal has tried to respond to the ways that people take in information. For the last several years we have posted the Journal on our website and made it available to download in its entirety or read online. Read More

LSJ Returns - New Empire Justice Center Website Launches
August 13, 2009
We are pleased to be able to offer the first Legal Services Journal of 2009. Read More

New Website Supports Self-Help
August 13, 2009
In the website’s first week, I had the pleasure of seeing how useful a tool it can be when I received a call from a gentleman who had found materials on our website and had questions. Read More

Advocacy Breakthrough: Client Information
October 1, 2007
Legal service advocates in Rochester encountered an obstacle when attempting to obtain information about their clients from caseworkers at the Monroe County Department of Human Services (DHS). Read More

Richness of Backgrounds is Outstanding as Summer Interns Take on Projects in Rochester and Albany Offices
August 1, 2007
The Rochester and Albany offices of Empire Justice Center have been fortunate to have several summer interns working on a variety of projects. Read More

Empire Justice 2007 Board
August 1, 2007
Empire Justice is pleased to announce the election of new Board Members and Officers. We are very excited to welcome new members and officers, to offer thanks to those continuing to serve and to wish our departing Board members all the best. Read More

Empire Justice Web Statistics Grow Steadily
August 1, 2007
As the technical assistance and support center for civil legal services, one of the things we do is maintain an every-growing website that brings to the community a variety of resources to help in their work. Read More

Empire Justice Center to Open a Long Island Office
February 1, 2007
Empire Justice will be opening a Long Island office as part of Touro Law School’s newly created Long Island Public Interest Legal Center. The Center will house other not-for-profit agencies, including Nassau Suffolk Lawl Services, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund, the Civil Liberties Union, and others. Read More

New Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) at Empire Justice Center
December 1, 2006
Next year, attorneys at Empire Justice Center will take part in a new loan repayment assistance program (LRAP) recently approved by our Board of Directors. The program will provide attorneys and those with job-related graduate school debt at Empire Justice with a forgivable loan each year to partially offset the monthly expense of repaying that debt. Read More

Domestic Violence Legal Program Expands and Enhances Services
October 1, 2006
Thanks to funding received from the New York State Senate, the Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce the expansion and enhancement of legal technical assistance and training to the civil legal services community and other domestic violence-related service providers outside of New York City. Read More

2008 Legislative Session Update
August 1, 2008
In the midst of all the chaos that surrounded state leadership and serious concerns about the financial outlook for the state, the 2008 legislative session drew to at least a temporary close with a mix of positive and negative outcomes that will affect struggling New Yorkers and their families Read More

Medicaid News Brief: DID YOU KNOW????
Stay on your toes.
August 1, 2008
Did you know that it’s easier to qualify for Medicaid than it was a year ago, or even six months ago? Read More

Immigration Remedies for GBLT DV Victims
August 1, 2008
Since immigration law is federal law, and federal law does not recognize same-sex marriage, the gay and lesbian community is automatically left out of the protections afforded by the VAWA Self-Petitioning process via form I-360 and the Battered Spouse Waiver via form I-751. This article will discuss some of the immigration remedies that are available to DV victims who are part of the GLBT community. These remedies can help the GLBT DV victim gain legal status in the U.S. Read More

Food Stamps News Brief - August 2008
August 1, 2008
OTDA clarifies fleeing means "fleeing"; HEAP Plan revision: $1 of HEAP equals more food stamps; Adoption subsidies and Foster Care payments count as income. Read More

New Protection Against the Garnishment of Exempt Funds
August 1, 2008
Advocates across the state are pleased that the legislature has passed the Exempt Income Protection Act (“EIPA”), which will sharply limit judgment creditors’ ability to restrain bank accounts containing directly deposited Social Security and other exempt funds Read More

No More Food Stamp Program - Now it's SNAP!
August 1, 2008
The Food Stamp Program has a new name – the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Read More

Access to Education and Training for Public Benefits Recipients
August 1, 2008
Ever since welfare reform in 1996, welfare recipients have faced multiple obstacles to participating in education and training. Many of us find this a strange irony since education and training clearly and consistently provide the most successful path off of welfare and out of poverty. But the rules requiring recipients to engage virtually full-time in work-related activities have often made education a practical impossibility. Read More

Medicare Savings Program Update
New York State Makes Changes to Improve Access to Low Income Beneficiaries
August 1, 2008
The Medicare Savings Program is more accessible than ever to low income elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries in New York State, thanks to two recent changes being implemented by the New York State Department of Health (DOH). Read More

August 2008 Regulatory Roundup
August 1, 2008
Regulatory Round Up reports on administrative rule making of interest to public benefits specialists. The rulemaking described below appeared in the New York State Register from February 27, 2008 to July 23, 2008. All references are to 18 NYCRR, unless otherwise indicated. Read More

Federal Settlement Expands Access to Medicaid
Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance and Nursing Services
August 1, 2008
On June 12, 2008, the Protection and Advocacy for persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) program at Nassau/Suffolk Law Services (NSLS) obtained a federal court settlement that will expand access to two Medicaid home care programs in New York State – the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program and the Private Duty Nursing program. Read More

State Legislature Addresses Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis and Subprime Lending Abuse
August 1, 2008
On August 5, 2008, Governor Paterson signed into law comprehensive legislation that the New York State Legislature had passed in June, referred by some as the Foreclosure Prevention and Responsible Lending Act. The law provides assistance to homeowners with high-cost, subprime and non-traditional home loans who are in danger of losing their homes. Read More

Class Action Changes State Policy
on County to County Medicaid Moves
August 1, 2008
Medicaid and Family Health Plus recipients who move from one social service district to another no longer have to reapply for Medicaid, as long as they notify the original district of their change in residency, and have no other change in circumstances relevant to Medicaid eligibility. Read More

New Law to Protect Victims of Identity Theft
August 1, 2008
On July 7, 2008, Governor Paterson signed into law his identify theft program bill. The law includes restrictions for the use of social security numbers for personal identification by employers, businesses and the government, and outlaws possession of “skimmer” devices which can obtain personal information from credit cards for the purpose of committing identity theft. Read More