Volunteers of Legal Service: Senior Law Project

Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) was founded in 1984 by New York City Bar Association leaders to fill a void left by damaging federal cuts to legal services. For 38 years, VOLS has collaborated with pro bono and community partners to provide free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers across all five boroughs of the city. Our legal team includes 15 attorneys and law graduates who are subject matter experts and have their own docket of cases, as part of a 24-member organizational staff. We further recruit, train, and mentor over 1,000 volunteer attorneys from more than 70 law firms and companies to multiply our impact.

The VOLS Senior Law Project serves low income New Yorkers age 60+ by partnering with pro bono attorneys to provide wills, powers of attorney, and other essential life planning documents free of charge. These documents enable our clients to maintain income and avoid homelessness, ensure that their dying wishes are fulfilled, and enable our clients’ caregivers to provide the care and services necessary for our clients to access health care and age in place. Senior Law Project staff attorneys also provide advice and counsel on landlord-tenant issues, as well as providing advice and referrals on a range of other issues. We provide trainings and ongoing support to social workers, senior center staff, and pro bono attorneys to address clients’ legal needs. We also regularly hold in-person legal clinics in coordination with community partners.