Page 49 - Impact: Collected Essays on Expanding Access to Justice

2.2. Local efforts in Buffalo, New York
A broad range of community-based workers provide general support to individuals in accessing the justice system, which may include assistance or referral in relation to their legal problems or simply identifying the problem as legal in nature . Social workers, welfare workers, health workers, psychological counselors, credit counselors, and housing counselors can all play a role in improving access to justice . Numerous government authorities, not-for-profit organizations and professional bodies provide advice and assistance for refugees to access the justice system .
For instance, the Eighth Judicial District Court Help Center employs staff to provide free procedural information and guidance about the courts or available legal resources (without giving any legal advice) .26 In addition, in order to expand access to civil legal services and improve access to justice for refugees, asylees and immigrants, a coalition of legal services providers has been formed in Buffalo .
a. The CRLS Project
As a new collaborative project launched in July 2014, the Coordinated Refugee/Asylee Legal Services Program (the CRLS Project) has been seen as the new social transformation vehicle for refugees and asylees in Buffalo .
In fact, responding to the major and rapid shifts in the flow of refugees, legal services providers came up with this program teaming up with seven partners providing civil legal services, including Legal Services for the Elderly, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Journey’s End, the Legal Aid Bureau, Neighborhood Legal Services, Vive La Casa (henceforth branch of Jericho Road Community Health Center), and the Western New York Law Center .
CRLS sought a pragmatic, proactive approach by developing a new delivery model that would deeply involve these organizations in the communities, places, and institutions that affect their clients’ lives .
While its main purpose is to expand the capacity to serve refugees and asylum seekers on civil and immigration legal issues, it falls short of improving our understanding of client’s values and culture . Certainly, the CRLS partners have forged new opportunities to work together in greater harmony, serving the refugees and asylum seekers who face struggles integrating into their new land where they experience differences in customs, behavior, and social relations .
Increasingly, the refugee population is assisted with legal issues involving housing, family matters, public benefits, health and disability, immigration, labor and employment, consumer law, and education .
During the July 2014-March 2015 reporting period, “CRLS legal partners accepted 925 legal cases and had the great privilege of providing direct legal services to clients from sixty different countries, speaking forty different languages . 158 of the legal matters have been resolved, with the remaining cases still pending .”27
26 See N.Y. State unified Court Sys., 8th Judicial District Court Help Center, 8Th Jud. disTricT, hTTPs://www.nycourTs. goV/courTs/8Jd/helPcTr.shTml (last visited Jan. 30, 2016).
27 legal aid bureau of buffalo, The crls ProJecT, inTernal rePorT 10 (March 2015).
Specific Areas for Reform: Immigration
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