Consumer Debt & Bankruptcy
We assist in re-ordering finances through Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitions, and we represent people facing insurmountable debt due to job loss, a family crisis, or serious medical problems. For assistant, you can start an online intake here. If you prefer to speak with staff directly, our intake hours are Monday through Thursday between 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Please call (718) 624-3894 or email us at help@accessjusticebk.org.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Consumer bankruptcy protection is often chosen as a last resort by individuals and families facing insurmountable debt after trying to cope with job loss, a family crisis, or serious medical problems. Access Justice Brooklyn volunteer attorneys assist individuals who need to re-order their finances by drafting bankruptcy petitions and by representing them in Chapter 7 proceedings in the United State Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York.
Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO)
The Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) is a service where unrepresented consumers can obtain free information about debt collection matters. Brooklyn’s CLARO program is a joint project of Access Justice Brooklyn and Brooklyn Law School, with the collaboration of Mobilization for Justice and the New Economy Project. It was created in cooperation with Kings County Civil Court to address the needs of unrepresented consumer debt litigants.
Is someone suing you for a debt in Civil Court?
CLARO runs every Thursday from 2:00-4:00 PM and located in the Brooklyn Civil Court, 141 Livingston St., 13th Floor, Room 1312. Be sure to bring all Civil Court and debt-related papers.
Please email help@accessjusticebk.org or call 718-624-3894 if you would like more information about CLARO.
To watch the Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office’s video on consumer debt, click here.
Volunteer Lawyer for the Day (VLFD) Consumer Credit
The Volunteer Lawyer for the Day (VLFD) program provides limited-scope representation in consumer credit matters for New Yorkers who do not have an attorney. A partnership between the New York State Office for Justice Initiatives and Access Justice Brooklyn, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), and New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA), the VLFD program operates in all five boroughs. Access Justice Brooklyn is the designated VLFD provider in Kings County Civil Court, where we assist unrepresented Brooklyn residents who are being sued for consumer debt issues; VLFD runs Monday-Thursday from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
If you have an upcoming court date for a consumer credit case in Kings County Civil Court and you do not have an attorney, you may be eligible for representation through VLFD. To determine your eligibility for our services, please contact us at least seven (7) days before your court date by emailing help@accessjusticebk.org or calling us at (718) 624-3894.
Additional Resources:
Access Justice Brooklyn
44 Court Street, Suite 1206
Brooklyn, NY 11201