Legal Services Below is a list of nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies in the Capital Region that offer legal advice and/or services to refugees and immigrants. All of these organizations are serving many clients, so please contact them in advance to make an appointment before stopping by.
Last updated: December 11th, 2024
ALBANY REGIONAL IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE CENTER Contact: (883) 373-2677 Through its Regional Immigration Assistance Center, Albany County offers immigration advice and support to immigrants and their families, and especially the lawyers of immigrants, regarding immigration applications, knowing their rights, and emergency preparedness. For assistance call the Immigration Helpline listed above.
CATHOLIC LEGAL IMMIGRATION NETWORK (CLINIC) Location: 40 North Main Avenue, Albany Contact: (518) 453-6650 The Catholic Legal Immigration Network is an advocacy group, based in NYC, that provides legal resources on immigrant concerns (including a “citizenship tool kit”). Embracing the Gospel value of welcoming the stranger, CLINIC promotes the dignity and rights of immigrants in partnership with a dedicated network of Catholic and community legal immigration programs. Their affiliate in the Capital region is the Catholic Charities Diocese of Albany.
EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER Location: 119 Washington Avenue, Albany Contact: (518) 462-6831Empire Justice is a non-profit law firm dedicated to changing the law for all New Yorkers, especially those who need its protection the most. Through a 360-degree approach that includes litigation, education, and policy advocacy, they use the law to make access to justice more equitable. They offer remote services Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Please call the main telephone number and leave a message. Voicemails are checked daily and will be returned.
IMMIGRATION CLINIC at ALBANY LAW Location: 80 New Scotland Avenue, Albany Contact: (518) 445-2328 The Immigration Law Clinic serves a unique role in the Capital Region, leveraging its many partnerships to dramatically increase the impact of its resources. In the world of pro bono legal services, there is often a lag between the emergence of an issue and the ability of traditional nonprofits to respond because their time is committed to the goals of existing funding and their staff members are already working at capacity. The Immigration Law Clinic is able to create flexible surge capacity for this work, in part because of our community connections, but also because we are able to harness student energy, time, and interest to mitigate the access to justice gap for immigrants in New York State. In addition to the immediate impact of the services this clinic provides, the community gains the benefit of the education those experiences provide for our students. Those students go on to serve our communities as skilled professionals who are well versed in public interest work.
NYS KINSHIP NAVIGATOR Location:87 North Clinton Avenue, Rochester Contact: (877) 454-6463; [email protected] The NYS Kinship Navigator seeks to assist caregivers and guardians by providing information on financial assistance, legal information and referrals, and other types of issues that caregivers face when raising children in order to provide stability and permanency in the home. Click here to find out what’s available in your county. The Navigator also houses over fifty cited legal fact sheets. Caregivers and guardians can access these fact sheets to assist them in applying for benefits through DSS, at family court, enrolling a child into school, and many other topics. Their fact sheets are organized by topic and are easily downloadable.
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS (ONA) LIBERTY DEFENSE PROJECT Location: 41 State Street, 8th Floor, Albany Contact: (518) 694-8699 ext. 2921 The NYS Office for New Americans (ONA) Liberty Defense Project provides free legal assistance and representation to any immigrant in NYS, regardless of status, including those facing deportation. It does so through its Rapid Response Partners located throughout the State. Their Capital Region partner is the Prisoners’ Legal Services, Immigration Program. Click here for more information. NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS (ONA) HOTLINE Contact: 1 (800) 566-7636 (hotline) The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) was created in 2012 to welcome immigrants and to help them in achieving their American Dream. Through its statewide network of community-based providers, ONA assists all new Americans in accessing and navigating a variety of free services and supports their inclusion as an integral part of New York State’s diverse cultural fabric. While Hotline consultants do not provide legal advice, they do refer callers to appropriate legal services agencies in the State. Hotline consultants speak various languages, and interpretation in other languages can be accessed.
PRISONERS' LEGAL SERVICES OF NEW YORK Location: 41 State Street, 8th Floor, Albany Contact: (518) 694-8699 ext. 2921 The mission of Prisoners' Legal Services of New York is to provide high quality, effective legal representation to indigent prisoners, help them secure their civil and human rights and advocate for more humane prisons and for a more humane criminal justice system. PLS’ immigration unit provides legal representation to non-citizens incarcerated in any New York State prison who are in immigration removal proceedings. RISSE (REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SUPPORT SERVICES OF EMMAUS) Location: 240 West Lawrence Street, Albany Contact:(518) 621-1041; [email protected] RISSE offers free immigration assistance to newcomers. RISSE's Department of Justice accreditation allows them to assist with applications for asylum, citizenship, temporary protected status, family reunification, travel documents, and work authorization. If you are looking to get information about our Immigration Services, fill out this contact form on their website.
THE LEGAL PROJECT - IMMIGRATION PROGRAM Location: 24 Aviation Road, Albany Contact: (518) 435-1770 or email via their website The Legal Project in Albany, NY, Immigration Program assists eligible immigrants and refugees with their legal questions through free confidential one-on-one consultations with an immigration attorney. In addition to helping clients understand their options, the staff can provide assistance for certain immigrant processes as well as referrals to other legal resources. Interpretations services are provided. Contact them for more information and/or to set up an appointment.
U.S. COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS (USCRI) – LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM Location:155 Washington Avenue, 1st Floor, Albany Contact: (518) 459-1790; [email protected] USCRI-Albany offers low-cost, professional immigration legal assistance to low-income refugees and immigrants. Services include (but are not limited to): family based petitions, lawful permanent resident applications, travel documents, and humanitarian relief. USCRI-Albany is also an Office for New Americans Opportunity Center that offers free assistance for citizenship and naturalization. For assistance email, call, or text (if you do not speak English, please text the preferred language).
