Neighborhood Defenders

For over 30 years The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) has provided comprehensive, collaborative and client-centered services to the residents of Northern Manhattan who cannot afford an attorney. Each NDS client has access to an interdisciplinary team of advocates and attorneys collaborating and fighting on their behalf across criminal, family, and civil forums in order to address their complex legal needs. The Civil Defense Practice at NDS represents clients facing the many collateral consequences of contact with the criminal legal and child welfare system including immigration, housing, employment, public benefits, property forfeiture and reentry needs. The Civil Defense Practice is also part of the Right to Counsel program, working to prevent eviction as assigned counsel in Housing Court.