Legal: Pro Bono Resource Center

The Erie County Veterans Service Agency's Free Legal Services Resource Center

Before Using Our Legal Services List...

The Erie County Veterans Service Agency receives many inquiries regarding legal service advice. The Erie County Veterans Service Agency website offers you the following list simply as a resource. There are many legal services in Erie County. Our agency will never refer you to a specific attorney or service. You are solely responsible for making a selection of an attorney or other service. To the best of our knowledge, the following list is comprised of pro-bono (free) legal services for low income individuals. Your contact with, or use of an attorney contacted via the list on this page does not create an attorney-client relationship between the Erie County Veterans Service Agency and you. The release and security of any sensitive or confidential information transmitted by you to any attorney or service is your sole responsibility. The Erie County Veterans Service Agency does not endorse any particular attorney or legal service and cannot guarantee the quality, or reliability of any legal services provided by any of these legal services.

This site provides information. Use it at your own risk. Information is not the same as legal advice - the application of information to an individual's specific circumstances. This site does not provide legal services or legal advice. Although we try to make our information accurate and useful, you should consult a lawyer to interpret and apply this information to your particular situation. We are not lawyers and we do not take any responsibility for rashes, financial ruin, or anything else that follows from applying this information.

Disclaimer: If you use the following list you agree that: In no event shall The Erie County Veterans Service Agency be liable for lost profits or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with the legal services provided by any of the agencies listed below.

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (NLS) is a not-for-profit agency located in Buffalo, New York. NLS provides free legal services to persons with low-income and persons with disabilities. It also provides a wide range of technical assistance and support services.

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. is located at:
237 Main Street, 4th Floor
Buffalo, New York 14203
Tel: (716) 847-0650
Fax: (716) 847-0227
TTY: (716) 847-1322

Volunteer Lawyer Project

The Bar Association of Erie County Volunteer Lawyers Project Inc. (VLP) is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation which provides free civil legal services to low income individuals and small not-for-profit groups in Erie County.

Volunteer Lawyer Project is located at:
237 Main St # 1000
Buffalo, NY 14203
Telephone: (716) 847-0662

Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled and Disadvantaged

It is the mission of Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western New York to improve the quality of life for elderly, disabled and low-income persons in Western New York. We do so through the provision of free civil legal services, primarily to individuals age sixty and over as defined by the federal Older Americans Act, but also to younger disabled and low-income individuals, as funding permits. Our primary goal is to use the legal system to assure that our clients may live independently and with dignity.

Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled and Disadvantaged is located at:
237 Main Street, Suite 1015
Buffalo, NY 14202
Telephone: (716) 853-3087

Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo

For almost a century, we have served those members of our community who cannot afford legal representation in both civil and criminal matters. Its Civil Legal Services Unit represents low-income individuals and families in such civil matters as divorce, landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosure defense and predatory lending abuses. Buffalo City Court assigns lawyers of its Public Defender Unit to represent persons charged with crimes in the City of Buffalo who cannot afford counsel.

Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo is located at:
237 Main Street, Suite 1602
Buffalo, NY 14203-2778
Telephone: (716)-853-9555
Fax: 853-3219

Client Advocacy Service

A public interest legal advocacy center providing civil legal representation to mental health clients 18 years and older for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Public Assistance, Medicaid & Food Stamps. Also provides legal information & advice to consumers, families and professionals.

Client Advocacy Service is located at:
999 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo NY 14209
Telephone: (716) 886-1242 ext. 323

WNY Law Center Inc

Housing discrimination complaints, mortgage foreclosures and complaints about disability discrimination that are not in litigation.

Western New York Law Center is located at:
237 Main Street, Suite 1130
Buffalo, New York, 14203
Telephone: (716) 855-0203

New York Civil Liberties Union

Provides public education, advocacy and legal counsel for those whose civil liberties have been violated by the government, legislators, or public officials, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to demonstrate, equal protection & due process of law.

The New York Civil Liberties Union is located at:
712 Main St # B2
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 852-4033

New York State - Mental Hygiene Legal Service

Statutorily established to provide legal services & assistance to persons within the mental health and mental retardation/developmental disability systems who are subjects of commitment, involuntary care & treatment, guardianship & substituted decision-making proceedings, as well as related advocacy.

The Mental Hygiene Legal Service is located at:
438 Main St,
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 645-3650

Prisoners Legal Service of NY Buffalo Office

Prisoners Legal Service provides civil legal representation for indigent state inmates including disciplinary hearings, sentencing problems, jail time, civil rights & constitutional matters.

Prisoners Legal Service of NY Buffalo Office is located at: 107 Delaware Ave Ste 1360 Buffalo, NY 14202 Telephone: (716) 854-1007

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program provides: free attorneys to veterans and their qualifying family members who have an appeal pending at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). If an appellant has filed an appeal with the Court, he or she can request assistance from The Veterans Consortium. The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono is a joint program of: The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, National Veterans Legal Services Program and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and is funded by a grand administered by the Legal Services Corporation.

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program is located at:

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

2101 L Street, NW, Suite 420

Washington, DC  20037

(202) 628-8164
Toll Free: (888) 838-7727
Fax: (202) 628-8169

Outreach and Education Components
National Veterans Legal Services Program
1600 K Street, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 265-8305, ext. 106
Fax: (202) 328-0063

Lawyers Serving Warriors

The Lawyers Serving Warriors program offers pro-bono legal help to veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan facing administrative separation, going through a mental evaluation board or physical evaluation board, received an inappropriate discharge characterization, filed a claim with the VA for disability compensation, or having difficulty with a claim under Traumatic Servicemembers Life Insurance.

You can reach the Lawyers Serving Warriors at:
PO Box 65762
Washington, DC 20035
Telephone: (202)-265-8305
Fax 202-328-0063