Next Friday, June 2nd, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Far Rockaway) will host the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) Mobile Legal Help Center at the Wave Crest Shopping Center at 2-43 Beach 20th Street in Far Rockaway, from 10:00AM to 3:00PM. The van, which is cosponsored by the Access to Justice Program of the NYS Court System, allows local residents to access civil legal services for free. The van contains current technology and private meeting space, which allow it to function as a full-fledged legal office.

Staff onboard the van will provide free legal assistance on issues related to housing (tenants only), public benefits, disability benefits, healthcare benefits, identity theft, debt management, consumer credit, immigration, domestic violence, divorce, custody, employment, advance planning, and Superstorm Sandy. Everyone is eligible to receive free legal services, regardless of immigration status.

“Our Constitution guarantees us all equal access to justice, but economic and social barriers can make that guarantee hollow for so many,” said Pheffer Amato. “And in our very bureaucratic city, sometimes promises made by the government go unfulfilled for years – just look at the aftermath of Sandy. So opportunities like this one, to level the playing field and make consultation with a lawyer accessible to all, are absolutely crucial. I am thrilled to be partnering with NYLAG and Access to Justice to host the van. I encourage everyone who needs legal help to go online and reserve a spot for next Friday as soon as possible!

Residents must make an online appointment at https://mobilelegalhelpcenter.acuityscheduling.com/. For more information, residents can also call Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato’s office at 718-945-9550.