John Jay Legal Services

The Amelia A. Gould Representation in Mediation Clinic, in partnership with the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York and the Surrogate’s Court of Westchester County, offers direct legal services to clients. Under faculty supervision, law students in the Clinic provide limited scope representation to pro se litigants in court-referred mediation proceedings. Students interview clients, assess interests, analyze claims, negotiate with opposing counsel, perform legal research, and prepare documents in connection with mediation proceedings, as well as act as advocates in court-referred mediation proceedings. Clients are appointed through the court system with prioritization given to children, the elderly and those who are financial disadvantaged.

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The Barbara C. Salken Criminal Justice Clinic handles all aspects of the representation, from arraignment through sentencing, of indigent clients charged with misdemeanor offenses in the Bronx County Criminal Court. Law students working under the supervision of a law school professor prepare bail applications, factual investigation and discovery, motions and memoranda of law, hearings on motions, negotiation with the District Attorney, trial and sentencing advocacy, and, if necessary, probation and parole revocation hearings.

Clients are primarily assigned through the Bronx Criminal Court, the Legal Aid Society of NYC, or Bronx Criminal Defense Practice. The clinic evaluates referrals for post-conviction cases based on a variety of factors including the complexity of the case, the chances of a good outcome, how they fit with our total caseload, and our overall mission of providing defense for indigent people while providing a rich educational experience for our students.

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The Immigration Justice Clinic, provides assistance to immigrants who are unable to obtain legal representation because they cannot afford to pay enough, given the complexity and difficulty of their legal problems. Law students, working under the supervision of a law school professor, represent immigrants seeking to regularize their status or to defend against removal by the United States government. There is no charge for the legal services provided by the Immigration Justice Clinic for those eligible.

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The Fairbridge Investor Rights Clinic of John Jay Legal Services, Inc. provides assistance to small investors in arbitrations or mediations who are unable to obtain legal representation because of the small amount of their claims. Law students, under the supervision of a faculty member, represent customers in handling their disputes with broker-dealers. John Jay Legal Services, Inc. and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University are educational institutions and have no affiliation with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

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The Environmental Litigation Clinic represents public interest environmental groups bringing citizen enforcement actions in state and federal courts on a variety of environmental and land use issues, including water pollution, compliance with environmental review requirements, and cleanup of toxic sites. These citizen suits are the last line of defense in protecting the environment and also serve to compel EPA and state environmental agencies to do the job they are required to do to protect the environment. Law students working under the supervision of a law school professor represent clinic clients in various aspects of legal work, which may include researching and developing cases, drafting litigation papers, appearing in court, and preparing for and conducting hearings.

The Clinic is actively expanding its range of work beyond Clean Water Act cases for its primary client Riverkeeper, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to protecting the Hudson River and its tributaries. In that effort, the Clinic takes on several new qualifying clients each year, which can range from very small, local community organizations through well-established, not-for-profit environmental groups.

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The Equal Justice America Disabilities Rights Clinic provides legal advice and representation for disabled and elderly clients and their families in a variety of transactional matters, administrative proceedings, and civil cases in state and federal court. Law students oversee case work which includes challenging denials of access to health care, Social Security disability benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare, as well as preparation of a range of legal documents, including wills, health care proxies, "living wills," powers of attorney, supplemental needs trusts, and other specialized legal instruments. Students also assists families seeking guardianship of disabled adult children, and planning for the future of family members with disabilities. The Clinic considers inquiries from disabled individuals and their families with low to moderate income and limited assets who cannot afford a private attorney.

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The Food and Farm Business Law Clinic provides free transactional legal services to farmers, food and beverage entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations seeking to improve our food system. The Clinic’s legal services help clients expand access to local, healthy food in underserved communities, build community and create jobs through mission-driven business ventures, steward the preservation and transitioning of farmland for future generations of farmers, and implement innovative and sustainable production, processing, and distribution practices. Under the close supervision of the Clinic’s experienced faculty, our student attorneys assist clients on a variety of transactional matters, including:

• New business formation and legal structure
• Applications for tax exemption and maintenance of tax-exempt status for nonprofit corporations
• Review, drafting, and negotiation of contracts, including leases, financing agreements, and other documents
• Regulatory advice, including relating to food safety, labeling and marketing, and land use

Client eligibility is based on a range of factors that include the complexity of the client’s case, the fit with our current caseload and mission, and income criteria.

Learn more about the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic