ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN INC

CONSUMER DEBT PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, AJB HANDLED 4,548 CONSUMER DEBT CASES, BENEFITING APPROXIMATELY 10,491 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN OPERATES TWO PROGRAMS IN KINGS COUNTY CIVIL COURT TO ASSIST UNREPRESENTED CONSUMER CREDIT LITIGANTS. THE CIVIL LEGAL ADVICE AND RESOURCE OFFICE (CLARO) PROGRAM IS A FREE WEEKLY CLINIC WHERE ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE LITIGANTS WITH IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DEBT COLLECTION AND THEIR OPTIONS FOR DEFENSE, REPRESENTING A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT COUNSEL. THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER LAWYER FOR A DAY (VLFD) ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM, AN ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN ATTORNEY IS PRESENT FOUR DAYS PER WEEK IN KINGS COUNTY CIVIL COURT AND WORKS WITH PRO BONO VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS, LAW GRADUATES, AND LAW STUDENTS TO PROVIDE LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION TO UNREPRESENTED LITIGANTS ON THE DATE OF THEIR COURT APPEARANCE, INCLUDING CLIENTS REFERRED BY OUR CLARO PROGRAM, TO HELP REDUCE OR DISMISS THEIR DEBT OR OBTAIN AN ADJOURNMENT. FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO DISCHARGE DEBT AND REORDER THEIR FINANCES, WE ALSO PREPARE BANKRUPTCY PETITIONS AND OFFER REPRESENTATION IN CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS.

HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION HANDLED 442 FORECLOSURE MATTERS, DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS VIOLATIONS, AND OTHER ISSUES IMPACTING BROOKLYN HOMEOWNERS, BENEFITING APPROXIMATELY 1,271 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN'S SERVICES TO HOMEOWNERS ENCOMPASS A RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION, ASSISTANCE WITH DEED THEFT AND OTHER SCAMS, AND REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS THAT CONCERN DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS (DOB) VIOLATIONS. FOR HOMEOWNERS AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES DUE TO FORECLOSURE, WE PROVIDE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICES, AND FULL LEGAL REPRESENTATION - INCLUDING FORECLOSURE MOTION PRACTICE, BAD FAITH HEARINGS, FORECLOSURE DEFENSE LITIGATION, PREPARING AND NEGOTIATING LOAN MODIFICATIONS, AND ATTENDING SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN COURT-BASED WORKSHOPS AND LEGAL CLINICS, SUCH AS THE BIWEEKLY FORECLOSURE LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP CLINIC, WHERE WE PROVIDE INFORMATION, ADVICE, AND BRIEF LEGAL SERVICES TO HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED PRE-SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES; THE FRIEND OF THE COURT PROGRAM FOR EMERGENCY, LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION IN FORECLOSURE CASES; AND A WEEKLY CLINIC HELD EVERY FRIDAY TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS APPEARING IN KINGS COUNTY SUPREME COURT. IN ADDITION, WE HELP HOMEOWNERS WITH DOB VIOLATIONS BY PROVIDING LIMITED SCOPE, DAY-OF REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE TRIALS AND HEARINGS (OATH), HELPING REDUCE OR DISMISS FINES AND PREVENTING LIENS THAT CAN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FORECLOSURE.