Economic Justice Clinic
What We Do
The Economic Justice Legal Clinic is a full-year partner clinic offered in collaboration with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), a nonprofit law office offering free, comprehensive legal services in civil law matters to low-income New Yorkers who otherwise cannot afford or access legal services.
The Economic Justice Legal Clinic is a full-year partner clinic offered in collaboration with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), a nonprofit law office offering free, comprehensive legal services in civil law matters to low-income New Yorkers who otherwise cannot afford or access legal services. Students in the Clinic participate in NYLAG’s Project FAIR, Inc. (PFAIR). Founded in 2001, PFAIR is the only agency specializing in fair hearings and the only coalition bringing together the private bar, public interest law firms and social service agencies to better serve fair hearing appellants.
For eight years, PFAIR has provided direct services through its Legal Help Desk, a portable office set up daily at the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Administrative Hearing Center in downtown Brooklyn. OTDA conducts administrative fair hearings throughout New York City on issues relating to safety net benefits, including cash assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid and housing subsidies.
Working alongside seasoned welfare advocates, Clinic students staff the Legal Help Desk, offering information and referrals to clients whose public assistance, Food Stamps, shelter allowance and Medicaid have been adversely affected. With attorney supervision, they also engage in negotiations with officials at OTDA, New York City’s Human Resources Administration, the NYC Housing Authority, the Department of Homeless Services and other agencies. In addition to advocating for clients outside of court, Clinic students represent clients at fair hearings − quasi-judicial mini-trials held before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at OTDA’s Brooklyn Center. Where appropriate, they prepare opening and closing statements, enter evidence, examine witnesses and write memoranda of law.
As part of the Clinic experience, students also hear from panels of clients, listen to guest lectures and meet with welfare advocates at New York City legal services provider organizations. Through the clinic’s affiliation with NYLAG and its participation in PFAIR, students also have the opportunity to participate in community outreach and education, impact litigation and public policy advocacy, including participation in advocacy coalitions like the Welfare Task Force and REAACT [the Ready Assistance to Advocates Coalition].
Contact Us
Marta Mychak
Adjunct Professor
[email protected]
212-613-5000
Our Clinic
How to Apply as a Candidate
Students can apply for the Economic Justice Clinic during the spring semester for the following school year.
Attend a Virtual Clinical Information Session which is held for All Clinics for one day in April.
- Next Date: April 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Submit an online application
- Application URL: https://tinyurl.com/lFallClinics2022
Upload the following within the online application:
- Cover Letter stating interest in the clinic
- Current Resume
- Unofficial Transcript printed from the Academic Record screen in UIS
After submitting all required documents, an interview will be scheduled.
Marta Mychak
Adjunct Professor of Law
Staff Attorney at New York Legal Assistance Group
Professor Mychak works in the Public Assistance and SNAP Practice at NYLAG, providing representation at administrative Fair Hearings. She is committed to economic justice and participates in various policy and advocacy groups in New York City working on benefits issues. She received her BA from Drew University and her JD from Brooklyn Law School.
The Economic Justice Clinic is a two-semester, eight-credit clinic (4 credits a semester) open to second and third-year students. Participants work at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) 13 hours each week and attend a two-hour weekly seminar conducted by Professor Portelli at the Law School and at NYLAG. In addition to training on fair hearing advocacy, client interview, and intake skills and on attorney-client relationship rules and ethical considerations, seminars will also focus on the history and theory of poverty law in the United States. Professsor Portelli will bring in guest speakers from NYLAG who are experts in their field, and others from legal services provider organizations throughout the City, on current topics in economic justice.