What We Do
Every day, the VOLS team and network of partners stand by New Yorkers as they face their civil legal challenges. Through our projects and initiatives, VOLS helps our neighbors to reunite families, resolve immigration issues, stabilize small businesses, meet basic needs, and much more:
VOLS Stories
Read the stories of VOLS’ clients, partners, and volunteers.
On September 23, 2022, VOLS requested permission to file its third amicus curiae or “friend…
Victor Celis is an Associate in the Global Litigation Group at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft…
AC had been attempting to retain UI benefits dating back to March of 2020. She…
Each year the Pro Bono Institute (PBI) and its Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) project host their annual Financial Institution…
The Immigration Project is happy to share three success stories for the month of April.…
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the VOLS Unemployed Workers Project relaunched a hotline for…
March was National Social Work Month and this year’s theme was The Time is Right…
VOLS is proud to extend our Unemployed Workers Project’s services to immigrant New Yorkers, providing…
Small Business Success = Resilient Communities The Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) Microenterprise Project would…
The Voices of Immigrant Young People Amidst the uncertainties of immigration law and the pandemic,…
Your Support Empowers Older New Yorkers 2021 was a year of both heartache and hope…
VOLS’ client Eric M.* arrived in the Unites States from Ecuador in March 2020, right…
Your Support Helps NYC's Workers to Bounce Forward With the support of our partners and…
VOLS Veterans Initiative: 2021 Veterans Day Update On Veterans Day this November 11th, we take…
Volunteers of Legal Service is proud to announce that the VOLS Elderly Project is now the VOLS…
In July 2021, The New York Times' Miriam Jordan reported that: A federal judge in…
On June 1, 2020, VOLS launched the COVID-19 Frontline and Healthcare Workers Initiative, a project to…
The VOLS Elderly Project is thrilled to announce that Elisa M. Tustian has joined as our newest…
VOLS Microenterprise Project Pro Bono Scholar Parth Kalaria has had a longstanding interest in the…
NOTE: Originally posted March 11, 2021 on the Bay Ridge Center's Website. To read the…
Dear Friends, On behalf of Volunteers of Legal Service, I am thrilled to announce that…
When we want progress, we want progress for all. And we don't want to leave…
About forty years ago, Mr. Hernandez[i], an honorably discharged Army veteran in his 30s, fell…
For VOLS Microenterprise Project staff attorney Imran Hossain, his journey into public interest law was…
The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs, administered…
As part of our 2020 year-end reports, Volunteers of Legal Service today launches the new…
The Volunteers of Legal Service Veterans Initiative joins our community in celebrating Veterans Day 2020.…
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the VOLS Microenterprise Project recruited volunteers from McDermott, Will…
https://youtu.be/KBH8JRVKLkc Senior Vice President and Assistant Vice Counsel at Citi, Rohit Malik, spoke at last…
As part of National Pro Bono Week, we highlight the Pro Bono Team at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett…
Ashley Rose Haden, an associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, has provided…
Christopher Palmese, a senior associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, has provided pro bono services to…
Jeff Xu, an associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, has provided pro bono services to VOLS clients through the…
Jenny Schiller Vaughn, an associate at Herrick Feinstein LLP, has provided pro bono services to…
On October 14, VOLS hosted our "On the Ground" community briefing to hear updates from…
In October of 2019, Mr. Thomas had one month left to contest NYCHA's denial of…
On May 5, 2020, GivingTuesday, VOLS volunteer and Board member Claire James hosted a meet…
The VOLS Incarcerated Mothers Law Project (IMLP) has nurtured a strong partnership with the Women’s…
Here at VOLS, we understand the importance of shopping local to support your community’s small…
This story is a recent case example from the Veterans Initiative of the VOLS Elderly…
It's National Pro Bono Week! Each day, VOLS is featuring cases with attorneys who dedicate their…
Following is a case example from the VOLS Incarcerated Mothers Law Project. For over twenty-five…
June is Pride Month and VOLS is proud. At VOLS, we take pride in supporting…
Following is a case example that highlights the work of the VOLS Elderly Project to…
Maggi Knox- Immigration Project Volunteer Photo Credit: Alan Winslow …
Claire James- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Claire James, a partner specializing in mergers and acquisitions at Willkie…
Clara Mak- Troutman Sanders LLP Clara Mak, Counsel at Troutman Sanders LLP, works in the Real Estate…
Tommy Lopez- Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Pro bono work is voluntary;…
Our last summer intern spotlight is Natasha Del Villar, who is a native New Yorker…
Surya Gowda is entering her senior year of high school and has been interning with…
Chelsea Lopez was born in Manhattan and raised in Queens. She completed her undergraduate degree…
Veronica Li, our law student intern, was born and raised in New York City. She…
“The Microenterprise Project and our attorneys believed in us and supported our efforts to build a…
Last year, entrepreneur Kalema Boateng set out to start her own business, Boateng Creatives Consulting. Through customized…
The VOLS Immigration Project would like to thank Christine Salinas, a dedicated volunteer since 2015! #celebrateprobono
In honor of National Pro Bono Week, we are highlighting our dedicated volunteers throughout our…
Ethan A. Sukonik is currently a Harold Oaklander Public Interest Fellow with our Unemployment Insurance Advocacy Project.…
Maeve Wilson is currently an intern with VOLS through our Immigration Project. Maeve grew up…
Paul, Weiss represented a pro bono client in two unemployment insurance hearings, winning both and…
Christine Isaacs was a Pro Bono Scholar with our Unemployment Insurance Advocacy Project this past Spring. The Pro Bono…
VOLS’ Microenterprise Project client Mera McGrew’s company Soapply was recently featured in the New York Times’ Front Burner column. …
Jerry Dragon’s journey from being homelessness to founding CleanliYES, a Brooklyn-based cleaning company, wasn’t easy. It…
THE IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT Born in the Dominican Republic, Fabio Gomez, 21, is an…
"I enjoyed working with my client on her life-planning documents. It felt great to provide…
Having help from VOLS not only enabled me to adjust my immigration status, but it…
Just in time for the patriotic celebrations taking place across the country, Voice of America…
"I moved to the United States in 2011. It was a difficult time for me…
"Arguing this case was by far the most rewarding (and challenging) experience of my summer. …
James came to the United States from Nigeria to provide a better life for his…
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett associates Shannon Torres and Dan Shin recently assisted the mother of…