Touro Law Center is home to the William Randolph Hearst Public Advocacy Center. The only one of its kind in the nation, the Center was developed to have an impact on social justice, legal training and the lives of countless individuals in and beyond the local community.

The Law Office of The Public Advocacy Center

The Law Office of the PAC is a non-profit law office, which was established by funding primarily from the New York State Court System's "Access to Justice" grant and supplemented by a grant from the Education & Assistance Corporation's (EAC), which is funded through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's (OTDA) "Just for Dads" program.  In its inaugural year, the Law Office of the PAC provided direct legal assistance to clients that positively impacted more than 250 residents of Long Island.  Despite the elimination of both funding sources from the New York State budget, Touro Law Center recognized the need for, and displayed its commitment to low income residents of Suffolk County by completely funding this law office. 

The objective of the office remains the same: to represent clients who otherwise would not be represented by other legal services organizations due to funding restrictions imposed by their respective funding sources, and to involve law students in all aspects of a functioning law office. This law office, under the guidance and supervision of Staff Attorney Jack B. Evans Jr., Esq. and Public Advocacy Center Director Thomas Maligno, is bridging the gap in representation to residents of Long Island.  Now focused on assisting residents of Suffolk County, the law office has narrowed its scope of representation to Landlord/Tenant for undocumented and certain low-income clients, including poor landlords. In addition to providing direct legal services in Landlord/Tenant proceedings, the Law Office of the PAC has added a policy advocacy component, and is assisting select advocacy groups promote new proposed legislation, and assist develop implementation programs for recently passed legislation.  Furthermore, the Law Office of the PAC will continue to provide indirect legal services to the Suffolk County community by coordinating with the Suffolk County  Bar Association and the Touro Law Center Real Estate Law Society to provide logistical and administrative support to the Pro Bono Foreclosure Settlement Conference Project.

To avoid overlap with other legal service providers, the Law Office of the PAC has coordinated with other local non-profit legal service providers, such as Nassau/Suffolk Law Services and the Empire Justice Center to institute an effective referral system, which ensures that the Law Office of the PAC serves only those who could not receive legal services elsewhere. Part and parcel of the newly configured Law Office of the PAC is a renewed commitment to and involvement with the law students of Touro Law Center.  The active participation of law students enrolled at Touro Law Center increases the number of residents that the law office is able to serve. Students who work with this office receive substantial court exposure, in-depth practical skill development and guidance, and the experience of working through multiple real cases, which fosters an experiential atmosphere conducive for an exponential advancement of their legal professional development.
 
For additional information, please contact Jack Evans, Staff Attorney via email or by phone at 631.761.7045.

PUBLIC ADVOCACY CENTER MEMBER AGENCIES

The Center for Restorative Practices, Inc. has a central mission to break the “School-to-Prison Pipeline” and reduce Disproportionate Minority representation in the juvenile justice system. They are advocates, advisors, and trainers in Restorative Justice, Restorative Practices and Non-violent Communication. These approaches and skills constitute effective viable alternatives to: incarceration, residential placement, school suspensions and expulsions.

The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island is a health and human services planning, research/public education and advocacy organization that serves as the umbrella for public and voluntary agencies serving Long Island's poor and vulnerable individuals and families. Though the Council has changed and grown since its establishment in 1947, its mission has always remained the same: to respond to the needs of all Long Islanders, ensuring that the voices of the powerless are heard.

Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc.
Room: PA214
Robert Briglio, Attorney
(631) 650-2314

Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc. is a non-profit, community-based poverty law program which provides legal assistance in civil (non-criminal) matters to low-income individuals throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York. The program provides free legal service in thousands of cases each year as well as legal support to every church, agency and grassroots organization that works with the poor.

SEPA Mujer, Services for the Advancement of Women is a community-based organization offering legal rights education for Latina immigrant women and free representation for Latina victims of domestic violence. Founded in 1996, the agency is dedicated to educating, informing and organizing the community.

The Suffolk Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union
Room: PA221
Suffolk Chapter Director - (631) 650-2301
Marina Nadler, Suffolk Chapter Assistant - (631) 650-2301
Amol Sinha, Executive Director

The Suffolk Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union is dedicated to the protection of civil liberties as embodied in the Bill of Rights. Its mission is to protect the constitutional rights of the people it serves through advocacy and involvement in the legislative process and to educate the community about civil liberties issues.