New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): The Mobile Legal Help Center (MLHC)

Who We Are

The Mobile Legal Help Cener (MLHC) was created through a partnership between NYLAG and the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program. It is the country’s first legal services office and courtroom on wheels. Attorneys provide counseling, advice, and representation on comprehensive matters to clients directly onboard the vehicle. A video link with the courts enables access to judges for emergency hearings, including domestic violence and eviction cases. The Center contains four private meeting areas for attorneys and clients, and is equipped with high-speed Internet and state-of-the-art technology.

Six days per week the vehicle visits isolated neighborhoods throughout New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties, reaching clients who otherwise could not access free legal services due to disabilities, travel barriers, child care concerns, fears of revealing their immigration status, or because their neighborhood’s community-based organizations cannot accommodate legal intake onsite. Usually goes out Sunday-Friday approximately 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – times and dates always subject to change based on needs ot clients and host organizations.

In addition, the MLHC promotes the existence of free civil legal services in underserved communities and helps prevent fraud by providing legal services to individuals who may otherwise fall victim to sham providers.

How to Get Help

At this time NYLAG is offering remote services. The Mobile Legal Help Center is conducting daily intakes by phone via (212) 613-5000. You can also make an appointment for a phone intake here.

You are also encouraged to contact our NY COVID-19 Legal Resource Hotline Mon-Fri from 10am-1pm via (929) 356-9582, which can offer advice in any of the following areas:

• Advanced Planning (Standby Guardianship, Power of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy, Wills)
• Consumer Debt (Debt Collection, Wage Garnishment)
• Employees’ Rights (Paid Leave, FMLA, Working Conditions)
• Housing (Eviction, Rent Arrears, Foreclosure, Mortgage Relief Options,)
• Unemployment Benefits
• Public Benefits
• Special Education issues (K-12)
• Stimulus Payment questions

When leaving a message, please leave your name, the best number to call you back, and a description of your issue. We will call you back within two business days.

Who We Serve

Area(s): Bronx County, Kings (Brooklyn) County, Nassau County, New York (Manhattan) County, New York City (all 5 NYC boroughs), Queens County, Richmond (Staten Island) County, Rockland County, Suffolk County

Language(s) Spoken

• Albanian / Shqip
• Bengali / বাংলা
• Cantonese Chinese / 粵語
• French / Français
• German / Deutsch
• Greek / Ελληνικά
• Hebrew / עברית
• Hindi / हिन्दी
• Italian / Italiano
• Korean / 한국어
• Mandarin Chinese / 官話
• Polish / Język Polski
• Portuguese / Português
• Russian / Pусский
• Spanish / Español
• Tagalog / Pilipino
• Urdu / اردو
• Yiddish / ייִדיש

Circumstances and languages in which interpreters are provided

Other foreign languages spoken in house: Berber, and Swedish.

For the hearing impaired, we access outside services.

Is this organization accessible by wheelchair?: NO

Does this organization provide access for the hearing impaired?: YES

Eligibility Restrictions

Responds to clients who otherwise could not access free legal services due to disabilities, travel barriers, child care concerns, fears of revealing their immigration status, or because their neighborhood’s community-based organizations cannot accommodate legal intake onsite.

Type of Help

This group provides the following types of services based on your legal needs and its resources:

• Full Legal Representation
• Brief Advice