Consumer Debt Legal Clinic

The Community Development Project and attorneys from the law firm, Linklaters LLP provide free legal advice at our monthly Consumer Debt Legal Clinic. The clinics are free and open to the public. Sessions are 20-30 minutes long. Attorneys are available to help New York consumers who are having problems with creditors, such as being harassed by debt collectors, sued in New York City Civil Court, or experiencing the hardship of a frozen bank account or garnished wages as a result of consumer debt judgments.

Attendees should bring all documents related to the legal issue. Drop-ins are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis but appointments are available by calling 212-505-1995. The clinic are from 4 to 6:30 at University Settlement/Project Home located at 189 Allen Street (between Houston and Stanton). The last appointment is at 6 PM. The Clinic Schedule for 2010 is as follows:

Click here for downloadable clinic schedule.
(Spanish version)

Consumer Debt Fact Sheets

Some of the documents are available in additional languages.

• How to Report Credit Report Errors
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Consumer Debt Cases: The Debt-Buyer Licensing Defense
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Defenses to Credit Card and Cell Phone Claims
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Defenses to Claims for Unpaid Medical Bills
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Frozen Bank Accounts: Your Rights Under the Exempt Income Protection Act (EIPA)
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Filing an Answer in Response to a Summons
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Mistaken Identity and Identity Theft
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Filing an Order to Show Cause to Vacate a Default Judgment
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Placing a Freeze on your Credit File
  (Spanish) (Chinese)
• Fair Debt Collection Laws
  (Spanish) (Chinese)

CDP's community education efforts include an array of trainings, workshops and forums for NYC grassroots organizations and community members. These activities are designed to increase low-income community members' knowledge of issues that affect them, such as housing law, workers' rights and immigrants' rights, and build crucial skills that enable them to improve their communities and advocate for their rights.

Trainings for Grassroots Community Groups

CDP conducts trainings on a wide variety of issues for grassroots community groups, whose staff and members pass the skills and information they acquire along to the communities that they serve. The trainings cover topics related to legal issues, community-based research, policy and advocacy, and organizational management. Examples include trainings on housing law, employment rights, consumer education, fundraising, using survey data to bolster advocacy, board development, and many more. To find out more and/or inquire about holding a training at your organization, please click here to Get Help or use the "Get Help" link on the left.