Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A (Brooklyn A or BKA) provides legal representation and advocacy including full representation, brief advice, outreach, and education to low- and moderate-income individuals and families, community-based organizations, community development corporations, coalitions, and small business owners throughout New York City.
Since 1968, Brooklyn A has devoted our legal services to advocacy that protects housing, strengthens families, provides access to education and health care, and safeguards subsistence income for our city’s most vulnerable residents. Our clients live in rapidly-gentrifying neighborhoods where many residents and small business owners have been displaced or are facing displacement and harassment. We have successfully represented and advised thousands of families in varied and multi-faceted legal matters.
Core Programs
Consumer & Economic Advocacy
The Consumer & Economic Advocacy Program uses civil legal remedies, as well as non-legal advocacy to protect economic equity of low-and moderate-income families. We prevent foreclosures and defend against predatory lending. We resolve tax issues with the IRS for low-income taxpayers. We strive to ensure that vulnerable groups have strong safeguards in place to help them build and maintain assets throughout their financial lives.
Community & Economic Development
The Community & Economic Development Program provides transactional legal counsel to nonprofits and small businesses that sustain and empower low-income communities. We assist these organizations with an array of development and operational projects to sustain affordable housing developments, community health centers, and schools. We help small businesses on commercial lease matters.
Preserving Affordable Housing
The Preserving Affordable Housing Program uses legal and advocacy strategies to preserve and protect affordable housing, prevent evictions, combat tenant harassment and discrimination, and ensure that working families, individuals, older adults, and others live in stable environments and within their financial means.
Special Projects
Brooklyn A’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic exists to represent and provide education and outreach to low-income taxpayers, including those who speak English as a second language (ESL). > Learn More
Brooklyn A’s Small Business Support Project provides free legal services to underserved small business owners who cannot otherwise afford counsel. > Learn More
Brooklyn A’s Fair Housing Project works to educate New York City residents about their rights under federal, state, and local fair housing laws. Education is a key piece of the fight against housing discrimination. > Learn More