By Howard Koplowitz
State Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) unveiled the opening of a program last week that will provide free legal consultations out of her South Ozone Park office.
Run by the CUNY School of Law's Community Legal Resource Network, the program will be available one afternoon a week to low-income residents who are unable to afford legal consultations, the assemblywoman said.
It will be operating out of Titus' South Ozone Park office at 131-17 Rockaway Blvd.
Lawyers participating in the program from the network will be dealing primarily with general civil and immigration legal issues, Titus said.
She said most residents seek help with immigration, custody, matrimonial, elder law, foreclosure prevention, collections, housing and predatory lending issues.
“Too often working families, seniors and new immigrants face barriers in pursuing and defending their rights due to a complex and costly legal system,” she said in a statement.
“As a result, the community as a whole becomes disenfranchised and the principle of 'liberty and justice for all' is in jeopardy. This program will not only restore the community's confidence in a legal system that should protect all rights, but it gives a voice back to the community.”
Fred Rooney, the CLRN director, said the program will enable the organization to “continue its proud tradition of providing increased access to civil justice to under-represented communities in New York City.”
Those interested in the program can call Titus' office at 718-322-4958.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
