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NEW YORK CENTER FOR LAW & JUSTICE INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 431992508 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE R99 · Civil Rights & Advocacy · Small ($100K-$1M) · lawjusticecenter.org
revenue
$180K
expenses
$266K
net assets
$161K
employees
2
volunteers
24
program ratio
64%
mission · from form 990

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIGENT, DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING NEW YORKERS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Legal services organization based in New York City that advocates for the rights of indigent, deaf, and hard of hearing individuals. Founded in 2001 by attorneys Bruce and Liz Gitlin, the center provides direct legal representation in cases involving housing, domestic violence, benefits, and asylum, while also pursuing systemic change through litigation and policy advocacy. It has secured landmark accommodations in public systems, including homeless shelters and courts.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Landmark Settlement with NYC
Secured a settlement requiring the NYC Department of Homeless Services to provide ASL interpreters, visual alarms, and staff training for deaf shelter residents
Legal Representation for Indigent Deaf
Provides direct legal services to low-income deaf and hard of hearing clients in housing, domestic violence, benefits, and asylum cases
New York Court Modernization Initiative
Advised on the redesign of courtrooms at 60 Centre Street to include ASL and CART captioning, improved audio, and accessible displays for deaf and visually impaired individuals
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support Services 4 activities
    • Deliver educational workshops and training on legal issues for Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities
      Conducts off-site seminars, workshops, and training sessions for community groups, professionals, and members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities on legal rights, communication access, and proactive legal issue prevention.
    • Provide free legal services to low-income and Deaf individuals in civil matters
      Offers direct legal representation and advocacy for low-income Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals in civil cases including housing, family law, public benefits, consumer debt, domestic violence, and guardianship. Services are provided across New York, with specialized support tailored to language access needs.
    • Provide holistic social services alongside legal support
      Offers integrated social services to indigent Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, including assistance with public benefits, medical advice, permanent housing, clothing, and referrals to social service professionals.
    • Support pro bono legal representation for underserved Deaf individuals
      Organizes and supports a network of pro bono lawyers and law students by providing cultural orientation, sign language interpreters, and case referrals to expand access to justice for Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing New Yorkers.
  • Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 2 activities
    • Advocate for systemic improvements in communication access in public systems
      Engages in advocacy and impact litigation to improve communication access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in city agencies, courts, and homeless shelters, including through landmark legal settlements and policy reform initiatives.
    • Operate the Deaf Rights Project to advance language access and systemic change
      Runs the Deaf Rights Project, launched in 2012, to improve justice and communication access for Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals through legal advocacy, outreach, and systemic reform initiatives in New York.
  • Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
    • Participate in community outreach and cultural events for Deaf communities
      Engages in community events such as the Deaf Asian Street Festival to promote inclusive communication, raise awareness about resources, and support Deaf cultural expression and entrepreneurship.
  • Holocaust Survivor Support Services 1 activity
    • Provide legal and social services to Holocaust survivors
      Operates the Holocaust Survivors Program, launched in 2019, offering free legal assistance and social services to Holocaust survivors in New York for civil matters including housing, public benefits, and guardianship.
  • Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
    • Represent Deaf clients in immigration and asylum cases
      Provides legal representation for Deaf individuals in political asylum cases from countries including Jamaica, Gambia, and the Middle East, often in collaboration with pro bono partners.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Conduct impact litigation in employment and disability rights cases
      Secures legal victories in federal impact litigation, including a $1.3 million verdict with punitive damages for a worker with a hearing disability in an employment discrimination case, to advance disability rights.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$180K
Contributions & grants$179K99%
Program service revenue$9791%
Investment income$10%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$266K
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$202K
Grants paid out$325
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$219K
Cash$208K
Investments$0
Liabilities$58K
Net assets$161K
Liquid reserves9.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +12.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BRUCE GITLIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 30 $111K
board members · 13
  • ABBY ROSMARIN — DIRECTOR
  • DAISY DARVALL — DIRECTOR
  • JEFFREY HOROWITZ — CHAIR
  • JEFFREY ROTHMAN — VICE CHAIR
  • JILLIAN ROTHMAN — DIRECTOR
  • KATHERINE E DURNAN — DIRECTOR
  • KEVEN POORE — DIRECTOR
  • MARGERY GREENBERG — DIRECTOR
  • MATTHEW S WEINER — DIRECTOR
  • PAUL GROBMAN — TREASURER
  • PAUL KLAUSNER — DIRECTOR
  • PETER KURSHAN — SECRETARY
  • RIKKI KAPLAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • 504 Democratic Club Partner — Collaborated with the Center on advising the New York Court Modernization Initiative to improve accessibility for visually and hearing-impaired individuals.
  • Bracewell & Giuliani Partner — Provided pro bono support to the Center in representing deaf clients in political asylum cases.
  • Center for Hearing and Communication Partner — Presented the New York Center for Law and Justice with the Irving Berelson President's Award in recognition of advocacy for Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals.
  • Center for Hearing and Communication Partner — Recognized the organization's executive director with the Irving Berelson President's Award for advocacy on behalf of Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals.
  • Center for Independence of the Disabled Partner — Collaborated with the Center on advising the New York Court Modernization Initiative to improve accessibility for visually and hearing-impaired individuals.
  • Columbia School of Social Work Network — Liz Gitlin, leader of the Social Services Project, is a graduate of the Columbia School of Social Work.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities Partner — Collaborates with members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities in educational outreach and legal advocacy initiatives.
  • FDNY Office of Community Affairs Government — Participated in the Deaf Asian Street Festival through its government office presence.
  • Fordham Law School Network — Liz Gitlin, leader of the Social Services Project, holds a law degree from Fordham Law School.
  • Harlem Alliance of Advocates for the Blind Partner — Collaborated with the Center on advising the New York Court Modernization Initiative to improve accessibility for visually and hearing-impaired individuals.
  • Holocaust Survivor Program Partner — Collaborates on providing specialized services to Holocaust survivors.
  • Kaye Scholer Partner — Pro bono legal partner that co-represented plaintiffs in a lawsuit leading to a landmark settlement with New York City on accessibility for deaf shelter residents.
  • Kirkland & Ellis Partner — Provided pro bono support to the Center in representing deaf clients in political asylum cases.
  • Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel Partner — Provided pro bono support to the Center in representing deaf clients in political asylum cases.
  • Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association Partner — Co-participated in the Deaf Asian Street Festival.
  • NY ABLE Government — Participated in the Deaf Asian Street Festival through its government office presence.
  • New York Center for Law and Justice Partner — Organization providing legal services and support to individuals in New York.
  • New York Courts Modernization Initiative Government — Engaged the organization's executive director to advise on improving courtroom accessibility for Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing communities.
  • New York Deaf Church Partner — Attended the Deaf Asian Street Festival alongside the organization.
  • New York’s Office of Court Administration Government — Received a grant from New York’s Office of Court Administration to support the center’s work.
  • Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York Partner — Collaborated on legal efforts related to the re-entry of a deaf prisoner after decades of incarceration.
  • Supporters Partner — Individual donors who provide financial support for the organization's services
  • United Hands Partner — Attended the Deaf Asian Street Festival alongside the organization.
  • United States Department of Justice Government — Jointly negotiated with the Center a landmark settlement with New York City to improve accommodations for deaf individuals in homeless shelters.
  • private law firms Partner — Collaborates with pro bono partners at private law firms, providing guidance on effective representation of Deaf clients.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Culturally Competent Legal Representation
    methodology: culturally_competent_representation
    By staffing legal professionals fluent in Deaf culture and American Sign Language and by providing cultural-linguistic support to pro bono attorneys, the organization ensures effective representation, because legal access is undermined when language and cultural differences are not fully addressed.
  • Holistic Legal Advocacy Model
    methodology: holistic_legal_representation
    By addressing both legal and interconnected social service needs within a single framework, the organization promotes long-term client independence and improves outcomes, because legal problems are rarely isolated and often stem from broader systemic vulnerabilities.
  • Integrated Legal and Social Services
    methodology: integrated_services
    By combining legal aid with social services, the organization addresses root causes of vulnerability—such as poverty, isolation, and lack of access—because sustainable justice requires more than legal remedies alone.
  • Preventative Legal Empowerment
    methodology: preventative_law
    By providing legal education and training to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, the organization reduces the incidence of legal problems before they arise, because prevention lowers personal and systemic costs and increases self-advocacy.
  • Systemic Change Through Impact Litigation and Policy Advocacy
    methodology: impact_litigation
    By using impact litigation and institutional advocacy, the organization creates systemic change in communication practices and policies affecting Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, because individual legal victories alone cannot dismantle structural barriers.