290 Main Street
Suite 150R Buffalo, NY 14202
legalaidbuffalo.org
Automated Civil Legal Services Unit Intake
716-853-9555 x400
General Fax
716-853-3219
Criminal Defense Unit
716-853-9555 x261
Attorneys for Children Unit
716-853-9555 x580
Appeals & Post-Conviction Unit
716-853-9555 x625
Civil Legal Services Unit
716-853-9555 x200
Primary Services
Advance Medical Directives, Alimony Assistance, Bankruptcy Assistance, Child Custody/Visitation Assistance, Child Support Assistance/Enforcement, Child Support Wage Assignment Assistance, Comprehensive Family Law Services, Consumer Law, Criminal Law, Divorce Assistance, Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services, Durable Power of Attorney for Asset Management, Employment Discrimination Assistance, Ex-Offender Legal Assistance, General Legal Aid, GI Rights Counseling, Housing Discrimination Assistance, Immigration/Naturalization Legal Services, Labor and Employment Law, Landlord Rights Information/Counseling, Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution, Legal Representation, Life Care Planning, Mortgage Delinquency and Default Counseling, Name/Personal Information Modification Assistance, Public Defender, Real Estate Law, Tenant Rights Information/Counseling, Trust Preparation Assistance, Unemployment Insurance Benefits Assistance, Will Preparation Assistance
Description
The Civil Legal Services Unit provides legal assistance in Housing, Divorce, Mortgage & Tax Foreclosures, Unemployment Insurance, Bankruptcy and Other Consumer matters, Wills & other End-of-Life Documents, Immigration, Veterans matters, and Reentry matters, as detailed in the following categories below.
- Family Justice: Provides divorce representation in both contested and uncontested divorce matters, including cases involving contested custody, domestic violence, mental health issues, or client vulnerability, as well as Post-matrimonial Enforcements & Modifications. Also handle some Family Court matters including child or spousal support, custody, visitation, and family-offense petitions.
- Housing: Can help homeowners set priorities to maintain home ownership and neighborhood stability while under financial constrictions. Represents homeowners and tenants in court and may refer them to other not-for-profit agencies and funding resources for assistance.
- Employment: Provides advice, counsel, or direct representation to low-income workers facing denial of unemployment insurance benefits and workplace discrimination or retaliation, including discrimination based on past criminal convictions.
- Veterans: Provides advice, counsel, or direct representation to service members about their rights, as well as divorce, child support, custody, visitation, family offense (order of protection), and spousal support. Participates in the Erie County Veterans Court, a single venue whose aim is in to achieve successful reintegration into civilian culture.
- LGBTQ: Staff is fully familiar with marriage-equality rights and the impact of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act on same-sex marriages in New York. Provides advice, counsel, or direct representation in cases of child support, divorce, parental rights, employment discrimination, domestic violence, name changes, housing, educational discrimination, and youth issues related to school and other services.
- Re-Entry: Provides the following services for clients returning to the community from a correctional facility: aids clients in preparing applications for relief of civil disabilities, assists clients in obtaining, reviewing, verifying, correcting, and sealing criminal records, assists with restoring professional licenses suspended on conviction, assists with child support modification, and refers clients to appropriate reentry partners in Erie and surrounding counties regarding counseling, training, employment, and housing opportunities.
- Immigrants, Asylee & Refugees: Assists immigrants with naturalization paperwork, adjustments of status, employment authorization documents, and family reunification matters. Also provides assistance with asylum applications in some instances.
- Wills & Estates: Works to preserve generational wealth through preparation of wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies & living wills, and title transfer documents. Also provides advice and counsel in some Surrogate's Court matters.
The Criminal Defense Unit represents indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in the City of Buffalo, including misdemeanors under both the New York State Penal Law and the Vehicle & Traffic Law, as well as C, D and E Felonies. Starting January 1, 2026, our services will also include B Felonies in the City of Buffalo, as well as misdemeanors under both the New York State Penal Law and the Vehicle & Traffic Law, as well as B, C, D and E Felonies in the Town of Cheektowaga.
The Attorneys for Children is privileged to represent children in neglect, abuse, custody, adoption, juvenile delinquency, PINS, and other proceedings in Erie County Family Court, as well as special education, school discipline and other matters in the education arena.
The Appeals and Post-Conviction Unit is the primary appellate provider for indigent criminal appeals in Erie, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Orleans Counties. We also assist clients on assignment from the Appellate Division, Fourth Department in Chautauqua, Niagara, and Ontario Counties. Our office primarily handles appeals from superior court matters — supreme and county courts — but may file appeals to county court when called upon in Genesee, Cattaraugus, Ontario, and Orleans Counties.
##Veteran##
##REENTRY##
- Family Justice: Provides divorce representation in both contested and uncontested divorce matters, including cases involving contested custody, domestic violence, mental health issues, or client vulnerability, as well as Post-matrimonial Enforcements & Modifications. Also handle some Family Court matters including child or spousal support, custody, visitation, and family-offense petitions.
- Housing: Can help homeowners set priorities to maintain home ownership and neighborhood stability while under financial constrictions. Represents homeowners and tenants in court and may refer them to other not-for-profit agencies and funding resources for assistance.
- Employment: Provides advice, counsel, or direct representation to low-income workers facing denial of unemployment insurance benefits and workplace discrimination or retaliation, including discrimination based on past criminal convictions.
- Veterans: Provides advice, counsel, or direct representation to service members about their rights, as well as divorce, child support, custody, visitation, family offense (order of protection), and spousal support. Participates in the Erie County Veterans Court, a single venue whose aim is in to achieve successful reintegration into civilian culture.
- LGBTQ: Staff is fully familiar with marriage-equality rights and the impact of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act on same-sex marriages in New York. Provides advice, counsel, or direct representation in cases of child support, divorce, parental rights, employment discrimination, domestic violence, name changes, housing, educational discrimination, and youth issues related to school and other services.
- Re-Entry: Provides the following services for clients returning to the community from a correctional facility: aids clients in preparing applications for relief of civil disabilities, assists clients in obtaining, reviewing, verifying, correcting, and sealing criminal records, assists with restoring professional licenses suspended on conviction, assists with child support modification, and refers clients to appropriate reentry partners in Erie and surrounding counties regarding counseling, training, employment, and housing opportunities.
- Immigrants, Asylee & Refugees: Assists immigrants with naturalization paperwork, adjustments of status, employment authorization documents, and family reunification matters. Also provides assistance with asylum applications in some instances.
- Wills & Estates: Works to preserve generational wealth through preparation of wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies & living wills, and title transfer documents. Also provides advice and counsel in some Surrogate's Court matters.
The Criminal Defense Unit represents indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in the City of Buffalo, including misdemeanors under both the New York State Penal Law and the Vehicle & Traffic Law, as well as C, D and E Felonies. Starting January 1, 2026, our services will also include B Felonies in the City of Buffalo, as well as misdemeanors under both the New York State Penal Law and the Vehicle & Traffic Law, as well as B, C, D and E Felonies in the Town of Cheektowaga.
The Attorneys for Children is privileged to represent children in neglect, abuse, custody, adoption, juvenile delinquency, PINS, and other proceedings in Erie County Family Court, as well as special education, school discipline and other matters in the education arena.
The Appeals and Post-Conviction Unit is the primary appellate provider for indigent criminal appeals in Erie, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Orleans Counties. We also assist clients on assignment from the Appellate Division, Fourth Department in Chautauqua, Niagara, and Ontario Counties. Our office primarily handles appeals from superior court matters — supreme and county courts — but may file appeals to county court when called upon in Genesee, Cattaraugus, Ontario, and Orleans Counties.
##Veteran##
##REENTRY##
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
Eligibility
Income guidelines vary by unit and practice area based on specific grant guidelines. Please apply for eligibility review.
Service Area: Generally, Legal Aid represents eligible individuals within the 8 counties of Western New York (Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Allegany, and Cattaraugus), however, specific grant guidelines may impact eligibility based on location. Please apply for eligibility review.
Service Area: Generally, Legal Aid represents eligible individuals within the 8 counties of Western New York (Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Allegany, and Cattaraugus), however, specific grant guidelines may impact eligibility based on location. Please apply for eligibility review.
Intake Process
For Civil Legal Services: Apply online at https://legalaidbuffalo.org/get-help-apply/; Call 716-853-9555 ext. 200 (or 400 for automated intake for request of mailed or emailed application); email at cls@legalaidbuffalo.org for request of mailed or emailed application; or Walk-in for a paper intake or access to a kiosk for online intake.
For Attorneys for Children: LABB takes referrals issued from the court system only.
For Criminal Defense Unit: LABB takes referrals issued from the court system only.
For Attorneys for Children: LABB takes referrals issued from the court system only.
For Criminal Defense Unit: LABB takes referrals issued from the court system only.
Program Fees
Free. Applicant is responsible for any third party costs.
Languages
On-site speakers of several languages available, as well as access to Language Line.
Handicap Accessible?
Yes
Accessibility
Accessible building and restrooms. Additional accessibility accommodations can be made with advance notice.
Date of Official Change
Aug 19, 2025
Contacts
Contact Email (Primary)
cls@legalaidbuffalo.org