Brooklyn VLP: Advocacy

  1. Access Justice Brooklyn Submits Testimony to The NYC Council Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection

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    On Thursday, March 19, 2026 Access Justice Brooklyn President & CEO Lilia Toson testified before the New York City Council Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection Preliminary Budget Hearing to call the Council’s attention to the need for additional resources to effectively operate limited-scope programs for pro se consumer defendants in Brooklyn Civil Court.

    New York City’s Civil Courts have jurisdiction over monetary claims of up to $50,000, such as credit card debt, auto loans, medical debt, student loans, and rental arrears. To assist defendants in these matters, two limited-scope legal services programs operate across the New York City Civil Court system: the Consumer Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) programs, and the Volunteer Lawyer for the Day (VLFD) programs. Not-for-profit legal services organizations staff these programs in each borough, largely in partnership with law schools to increase the programs’ capacity. In Brooklyn, Access Justice Brooklyn operates both the CLARO and VLFD programs.

    During her testimony, Lilia shared the following: “As many as seventy to eighty people seek assistance at Brooklyn CLARO on any given day, which is a number that has increased substantially since the pandemic. Compared to 2019, in 2025 we have handled an increase of nearly forty percent in matters for consumer defendants, relying on the same level of staff. The increase demand far exceeds the capacity of the CLARO program.”

    As most consumer defendants are people with low incomes, access to private counsel represents a prohibitive expense, making the Civil Court’s pro se programs their only source of legal assistance. The CLARO and VLFD programs therefore represent crucial resources for consumers without representation, and the status of these programs in Brooklyn Civil Court illustrates that the need for assistance has outpaced the level of capacity that funding currently supports. These programs have largely maintained their level of impact through the generous support of volunteers and through the efforts of Access Justice Brooklyn’s staff to meet with as many people as possible despite time and resource constraints.

    Lilia’s full testimony can be viewed below.

    A copy of the written testimony is available to view and download here.

  2. Statement in Support of the Legal Profession & Rule of Law

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    Statement in Support of the Legal Profession & Rule of Law
    March 24, 2025 (click here for PDF)

    For over 35 years, Access Justice Brooklyn has delivered essential civil legal services and community education to our neighbors in need. To achieve our vision for an accessible legal system and equitable Brooklyn, we leverage the expertise of pro bono attorneys and law firms who share in our belief that the legal process should be open and available to everyone.

    The current administration’s recent actions represent a deeply concerning challenge to the long-standing partnership that has existed between the nonprofit sector and the private bar, compromising access to justice for vulnerable communities.

    We are encouraged by the broad opposition to the President’s attempts to dismantle the rule of law – efforts which threaten the foundation of our democracy and undermine the values that allow our legal system to function. We further call on our partners in the legal community to remain steadfast in our collective obligation to defend the rule of law, and resilient in the face of these attacks on our justice system.

    Access Justice Brooklyn stands in solidarity with the many diverse voices – from within private law firms and across the legal profession – that continue to advocate for the rule of law and uphold the integrity of our legal system. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we live our values, speak up in defense of democracy, and remain committed to advancing justice.

  3. Governor Hochul Signs Deed Theft and Notary Bill

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    On Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to protect New Yorkers from deed theft, a practice in which property owners are defrauded out of the property titles to their homes.

    The new legislation, S.6577/A.6656, strengthens existing protections against deed theft by giving the Attorney General and local District Attorneys the power to pause eviction and ownership disputes while investigating or litigating deed theft cases. The law also increases the range of crimes that prosecutors can use to invalidate fraudulent sale and loan documents, among other measures. Governor Hochul signed the bill in Brooklyn, where the Attorney General, legal services advocates, members of the Legislature, and victims of deed theft were present. To read the official press release and watch the bill signing, click here.

    On November 1, 2023, Governor Hochul signed “Notary Bill” eliminating the burdensome and often discriminatory process of requiring documents to be notarized in civil matters!

    The new legislation, S.5162/A.5772, allows parties in civil disputes to make sworn statements without the need for notarization. With the enactment of this law, New York joins the federal government and more than 20 other states in eliminating the burdensome and often discriminatory process of notarizing documents in civil matters.

    Access Justice Brooklyn is proud to have advocated for the passage of both S.6577/A.6656 and S.5162/A.5772. Thank you to Governor Hochul for making the legal system more accessible to New Yorkers!

    New Yorkers are encouraged to report deed theft and other scams to the Attorney General’s office by calling 800-771-7755 or filing a complaint here.

    Access Justice Brooklyn provides foreclosure intervention and prevention services to support Brooklyn homeowners. To learn more about our Homeowners Assistance program and access resources, click here.