Standing with Our Colleagues: February News
The Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund is a critical funding source for legal services organizations in New York State. IOLA funds help organizations like VOLS provide free legal services to New Yorkers with limited resources. VOLS is deeply concerned that Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY 2027 Executive Budget provided only $77.5 million, approximately 25 percent less than the $102.5 million needed to fund civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers. IOLA is in the second year of a five-year grant cycle. Without full funding authority, IOLA will not be able to carry out planned commitments, putting vital legal services for New Yorkers at risk. VOLS stands with our colleagues in the legal services community in calling on the Legislature to restore full spending authority in the final enacted budget and protect IOLA funding.
Even one civil legal challenge can upend a life. The high cost of hiring a private attorney prevents many New Yorkers from accessing justice for these challenges. IOLA funding is critical for legal services organizations to continue providing free civil legal services that meet the needs of our community and help close the access to justice gap.
Best,
Abja Midha
Executive Director
Honoring Black History Month
VOLS honors and celebrates the contributions of Black Americans, past and present, whose impact continues to shape our society and advance the work toward access to justice.
VOLS New York, Together 2026 Gala
Sponsorships and tickets are available for the VOLS New York, Together 2026 Gala on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. For more information, please visit our website.
Team VOLS x NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon
3 spots left! You can join Team VOLS for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon on Sunday, April 26 and help close the access to justice gap for New Yorkers in need of civil legal services. Join our team today!
February Project Updates
VOLS Benefits Law Project (BLP) helped New Yorkers maintain housing through our SCRIE/DRIE legal services programming. This month BLP launched a weekly SCRIE call-back clinic supported by pro bono partner Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and held a rent freeze clinic at JASA’s St. Martin’s Tower NORC Program alongside pro bono attorneys from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Our BLP team held two presentations on fair housing law for 100 staff members at the Jericho Project, and, through BLP’s Housing Court Initiative, maintained a regular monthly presence in housing court to provide information and legal support on housing-related benefits to housing court litigants.
VOLS Immigration Project (IP) supported immigrant young people and their families. VOLS IP resumed our regular screening clinics in downtown Manhattan, supported by pro bono attorneys from Davis Polk & Wardwell. IP also held DACA renewal clinics alongside pro bono attorneys.
VOLS Incarcerated Mothers Law Project (IMLP) provided family law support to our incarcerated clients. The team traveled to Bedford Hills Correctional Facility to provide education, advocacy, and counsel with the support of pro bono volunteers from A&O Shearman, Fried Frank, and Paul, Weiss.
VOLS Microenterprise Project (MEP) worked with pro bono partners to provide transactional legal support to small business owners. This month MEP held a legal clinic focused on intellectual property supported by pro bono attorneys from DLA Piper and Pfizer and teamed up with WilmerHale to hold a presentation on commercial leases to small business owners from the Council of Peoples Organization.
VOLS Senior Law Project (SLP) supported older adult New Yorkers with their life planning needs. This month, SLP held legal clinics and educational programs for older adults with community partners RiseBoro Brevoort and Spring Creek Senior Partners. The team also held a voluntary administration clinic alongside pro bono attorneys from Altice and Winston & Strawn.
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