One Billable Hour

The Legal Aid Society of Rockland County is holding its second annual “One Billable Hour” Campaign to raise money in support of services we provide to Rockland County residents in their time of need. We are asking attorneys to consider donating the value of One Billable Hour to our organization in support of our mission and core program areas:

Who Will Your Billable Hour Help?

Thousands

of Children Served in 2022

Children's Rights

We help protect the rights of children by representing them in Rockland County Family Court in cases involving abuse and neglect, PINS, juvenile delinquency, custody and visitation. Our attorneys appear in over 1,700 matters each year in Family Court.

1,785

Individual provided with Tenant Advocacy

Housing


We offer representation to those facing eviction proceedings to ensure that their rights and, in all cases, their housing, is preserved. We also work hard to ensure that as many clients as possible retain their housing subsidy and we play a leading role in preventing homelessness.

2,270

Family Court Cases in 2022

Children's Rights

We help protect the rights of children by representing them in Rockland County Family Court in cases involving abuse and neglect, PINS, juvenile delinquency, custody and visitation. Our attorneys appear in over 1,700 matters each year in Family Court.

1,007

Individuals helped by the Foreclosure Defense Unit

Foreclosure Defense

Our attorneys provide free legal help to homeowners to stop foreclosure actions and to preserve the dream of homeownership for as many families and senior citizens as possible
by filing defenses to foreclosure actions and requesting loan modifications from banks.

454

Individuals who received advocacy to restore or obtain Public Benefits

Public Benefits

Our attorneys and paralegals work to ensure that as many people as possible preserve or obtain the benefits that they are entitled to, ranging from SSI, Disability, Unemployment and Medicaid.

3,437

Individuals served in Civil Matters

Civil Matters

We strive to ensure that Rockland County families and individuals, seniors and children, have access to a safe home, enough food to eat, public benefits to which they are entitled, medical care and adequate shelter.

19

individuals served 2022 and 2023 YTD in bankruptcy or consumer matters

Foreclosure Defense

We focus on stopping family violence and assist income-eligible victims of domestic violence in obtaining divorces, and place emphasis on the enforcement of the law to protect the victims from future violence. Our attorneys are specialized in representing people living with HIV/AIDS in a wide variety of matters affecting them, including housing, discrimination, permanency planning, and Social Security Disability.

41

Individuals with HIV or AIDS served

HIV/AIDS

We focus on stopping family violence and assist income-eligible victims of domestic violence in obtaining divorces, and place emphasis on the enforcement of the law to protect the victims from future violence. Our attorneys are specialized in representing people living with HIV/AIDS in a wide variety of matters affecting them, including housing, discrimination, permanency planning, and Social Security Disability.

131

Individuals served in matters involving divorce or domestic violence

Divorce & Domestic Violence

We focus on stopping family violence and assist income-eligible victims of domestic violence in obtaining divorces, and place emphasis on the enforcement of the law to protect the victims from future violence. Our attorneys are specialized in representing people living with HIV/AIDS in a wide variety of matters affecting them, including housing, discrimination, permanency planning, and Social Security Disability.

Success Story

One Billable Hour“Alan” and “Rose” are a couple who are both hourly employees—he as a forklift supervisor and she as a teaching assistant. Their house has been in Alan’s family since 1956. Rose had significant medical setbacks and required four surgeries on her back and four separate surgeries on her right foot. During her recovery, not only could Rose not earn a wage, but Alan was required to take time off from work to care for her. As a result, their joint income plummeted, and they fell behind on their mortgage.

They tried repeatedly to get a loan modification, but the mortgage company refused to lower the interest rate because there was equity in the home and it determined that the homeowners’ income was insufficient. The Legal Aid Society litigated the foreclosure case and was able to force the lender to face a trial. The trial was delayed because of the pandemic, but Alan and Rose continued, with the Legal Aid Society’s assistance, to attempt to obtain a loan modification based on Rose’s successful recovery and return to work—claiming a change of financial circumstances.

The mortgage company still refused, but, on the eve of trial, the mortgage company changed and the new company changed its attorneys to a Manhattan firm, which was able to convince its client sensibly to avoid trial, lower the interest rate, and offer Alan and Rose a three-month trial loan modification. Alan and Rose made all three payments, finalized the loan modification, and were able to retain their family home.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS!

One Billable Hour Sponsors