Kramer Levin engages in a wide range of activities intended to serve the core mission of any pro bono program: to help reduce the “justice gap” by providing free legal services to the poor in connection with housing, public benefits and other crucial life needs.
Since 1998, Kramer Levin has staffed a full-time externship at South Brooklyn Legal Services, helping meet the vast need of low-income tenants for representation in housing court and other forums. More than 30 firm lawyers have rotated through this position, representing hundreds of low-income tenants in court and counseling thousands more through “hotline” and other informal means. The externship not only provides associates with unparalleled hands-on experience in court, working with clients and negotiating with adversaries, but it also delivers legal services to the poor with unusual efficiency for a private law firm pro bono program.
Kramer Levin has represented dozens of low-income Social Security disability claimants in administrative proceedings before the Social Security Administration (SSA), working with several organizations, including the Center for Disability Advocacy Rights (CeDAR). The firm has also represented many claimants in federal court appeals challenging the denial of benefits. In addition, Kramer Levin worked with CeDAR on two different class actions challenging the SSA’s policy of failing to fully consider the combined impact of all impairments in evaluating children’s SSI claims, and earlier litigated Steiberger v. Apfel, in which the Second Circuit held that due process required the tolling of appeals deadlines for claimants with mental impairments.
Kramer Levin has established a relationship with Public School 11 in Chelsea, through which firm attorneys conduct legal clinics and provide direct representation to low-income families on legal issues that may impact their children’s ability to succeed in school. Kramer Levin lawyers have handled housing, immigration and domestic relations issues on behalf of P.S. 11 families. Kramer Levin was matched with P.S. 11 through a program of Volunteers of Legal Service.
Working with Her Justice, Kramer Levin has advocated for low-income women in a wide range of family law cases, including contested and uncontested divorces and matters involving custody, visitation and/or orders of protection. In addition, our attorneys have provided immigration assistance to battered women and their children through Violence Against Women Act self-petitions and battered spouse waivers.
Kramer Levin lawyers working on family law cases have the opportunity to conduct interviews, engage in discovery, research case law, draft motions, and advise and strategize with their clients. In addition, volunteer attorneys may appear in court, handle mediations, negotiate settlements and conduct trials.
In 2014, a Kramer Levin partner received the Partner Award at Her Justice’s 2014 Commitment to Justice Awards, which honors volunteers who provide legal assistance to Her Justice clients. In 2013, two Kramer Levin associates were honored with a Commitment to Justice Award for outstanding legal team for their representation of a Her Justice client throughout her contested divorce proceedings.
Kramer Levin has represented a number of veterans with service-connected disability claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Most of the clients were referred to the firm through New York City’s Veterans Assistance Project.
Kramer Levin litigated Dajour B. v. City of New York, a lawsuit to enforce the obligations of the city and state of New York to reach, screen and treat eligible homeless children with asthma. Working with the Association to Benefit Children, the Legal Aid Society and the Natural Resource Defense Council, the firm negotiated a settlement that dramatically improved the city’s performance in this area. Earlier, the firm litigated a class action on behalf of “boarder babies,” leading to a settlement requiring New York City to more aggressively place in foster care hospitalized children who had previously languished for months or years awaiting placement.
Kramer Levin lawyers have provided legal assistance to the arts community by working directly with various artists and arts organizations referred through Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. For example, Kramer Levin attorneys have helped provide copyright counseling to the organizer of a weekly collaborative podcast featuring unpublished works of composers, instrumentalists and sound artists; counseled a jazz musician regarding her royalty rights for a studio album; and assisted a Brooklyn-based cultural arts center in drafting a privacy policy for its website.