About
Who We Are
Who We Are
For more than 50 years, Legal Services of Central New York has fought to help people overcome obstacles, achieve goals, and pursue justice. Our team of 40 attorneys offers expertise in confronting community-wide problems and representing individuals. In 2018 we helped more than 17,000 people in 5,600 cases.
We serve a 13-county region of Central New York (Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego, and Oswego), fighting for justice and opportunity for all.
Legal Services of Central New York is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. A copy of our most recently filed financial report is available from the Charities Registry on the NYS Attorney General’s website (www.charitiesnys.com or from the NYS Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, or from Legal Services of Central New York at 221 South Warren Street, Suite 300, Syracuse, NY 13202. You may also obtain information on charitable organizations from the NYS Office of the Attorney General at www.charitiesnys.com or (212) 416-8401.
Our Mission
We help people and communities in Central New York change law, policy, and systems to promote equity and create pathways out of poverty.
Our Vision
Justice, equality, and opportunity for all people throughout the 13-county region we serve.
Our History
1966
Serving the greater Syracuse-area, Onondaga Neighborhood Legal Services is formed, with a primary focus on providing free legal services to people and families with low-income.
1982
Onondaga Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. changes its name to Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. to reflect its expanded service area which now includes Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, and Jefferson counties, in addition to Onondaga county.
2004
Legal Services of Central New York, the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, and Legal Aid for Broome and Chenango Counties reorganize the 3 organizations into 2 separate 501(c)(3) organizations—Legal Services of Central New York and the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. As a result, LSCNY now has the ability to represent non-citizens, file class actions and amicus briefs, and pursue other legal strategies to best benefit its clients.
2004
Legal Services of Central New York and Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York partner to form the Central New York Legal Helpline which allows people with low-income anywhere in the 13-county to call a toll-free number for free legal advice and counsel, further increasing accessibility of legal services.
2015
Legal Services of Central New York, the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, and the Volunteer Lawyer Project of Onondaga County move into the George H. Lowe Center for Justice at 221 South Warren Street in Syracuse, bringing multiple providers of free legal services for individuals with low-income under one roof.
2016
Legal Services of Central New York celebrates 50 years of service.
2018
Four leading providers of free legal services are located at 221 South Warren Street in Syracuse when Hiscock Legal Aid Society relocates part of their office into the George H. Lowe Center for Justice.
2018
Legal Services of Central New York refines its mission to highlight its unique role as a leader in confronting community-wide problems such as hostile treatment of juveniles in jails, unlivable home conditions, and barriers to language access. LSCNY also unveils the new tag line: Defending Dignity, Strengthening Communities, Securing Justice.
2018
July 1, 2018 Legal Services of Central New York launches a new online intake form to better serve our clients