The New York Bar Foundation recently presented the Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society(HLA) with a grant of $9,159 .  The grant will be used to support Diversity Fellowships to support COVID-19 related case increases.  

“This New York Bar Foundation funding gives HLA an opportunity to hire paid interns to  assist with pandemic related increases in legal needs,” said Linda Gehron, Executive Director. “Promoting justice for all requires many groups working together. We are proud and grateful to have the support of the New York Bar Foundation to further our mission.”

Foundation grants assist non-profit organizations with essentials-of-life issues such as child support, consumer debt, housing, access to health care and education, and family matters such as domestic violence and family stability.  Added this year was a focus on COVID-19 related issues, and racial justice impacted programming needs.

“The New York Bar Foundation has allocated nearly $700,000 in grants to 107 programs across New York significantly increasing the total number of grants over the past several years,” said Lucia Whisenand, chair of the Grant Review Committee.  “The issues we touch on are extensive and impact people in life changing ways.”

By raising awareness of the need for access to civil legal services and allocating resources to help meet these needs, the Foundation will help make access to justice a reality for New Yorkers and, thereby, enhance the understanding of and respect for the rule of law.

“Through our grant-making program we help improve access to justice by providing seed grants to innovative legal projects piloting new ways to help those in need,” adds June Castellano, Vice-chair of the Grant Review Committee.  “When you give to the Foundation you help make a difference across New York State.”

At a time when the help of legal services organization is in great demand, the Foundation has established a COVID-19 Emergency Legal Relief Fund. Donations to the fund will assist New Yorkers across New York State in need of legal services due to the impacts of COVID-19 through their grant program.  Donations can be made at www.tnybf.org and selecting the COVID-19 Legal Relief Fund in the drop-down window. 

The New York Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the charitable arm of the New York State Bar Association.  Established in 1950, the Foundation is dedicated to aiding charitable and educational projects to meet the law-related needs of the public and the legal profession.   

To learn more about the Foundation visit www.tnybf.org or email Deborah Auspelmyer [email protected].

Unemployment insurance is temporary income for eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. If you have been laid off or terminated from your employment, have had to quit your job or are unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have questions about whether you are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits or how to apply. Please contact our office at (315) 218-0141. We have attorneys ready to advise clients about filing an unemployment insurance claim or to represent you at a hearing if you are denied unemployment insurance benefits.

During the changing public health landscape as a result of COVID-19. 

Court is still open to hear emergency custody matters, orders of protection and emergency child protective proceedings. If you are seeking an order of protection, have an urgent, emergency custody, visitation, or child protective matter and you already have an open file with us, please reach out to your attorney directly. If you are not already assigned an attorney from our office and are seeking our assistance, please call us at 315-218-0141.

Beginning March 18, 2020, the Hiscock Legal Aid Society began serving clients in all practice areas through telephone and email only.

Please join Hiscock Legal Aid Society (HLA) for our annual Justice For All breakfast October 16, 2019 at Drumlins.

Over the course of the one hour event, we’ll provide you with breakfast and take you on a virtual tour of our mission and vision through compelling short stories from agency leadership, members of the Board of Directors and clients we’ve served.

“Justice For All is another opportunity for us to showcase our mission to people in the community,” said Linda Gehron, Executive Director. “Promoting justice for all requires commitment, collaboration and support from our friends across Central New York. This is a day that honors our clients, as well as our friends, who make our mission come to life.”

HLA will also present the 2019 Justice For All Award to Judge Langston C. McKinney.

Register for the free event at: https://whoozin.com/jfa

On October 10, 2019 join leadership from Hiscock Legal Aid Society for a pre-show reception and performance of 12 Angry Men.

Our networking evening begins at 6 p.m. featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar followed by the show. Register via this link no later than September 29 to have a portion of your ticket sales donated to the Hiscock Legal Aid Society.

The reception begins at 6:00 p.m. and the performance starts at 7:30 p.m.

A portion of your ticket price supports the work of the Hiscock Legal Aid Society. 

According to Vera House, “the White Ribbon Campaign is led by men and encourages all members of the community to join them in their efforts. This male leadership helps to acknowledge the important contributions men have made in ending violence against women and invites others to take a role.”

We defend. We empower. We collaborate. We promote justice for all.

Justice For All is a breakfast event taking place on December 6, 2017 from 7:45 am to 8:45 am at Drumlins. This fourth annual event helps Hiscock Legal Aid Society continue to provide free legal services for some of CNY’s most resilient, yet marginalized, residents.
The breakfast is free and open to the public. It lasts one hour. During the hour, guests are taken on a virtual tour of the mission and vision of HLAS. Attendees will hear from agency leadership (the Chief Executive Officer and Board Members) as well as a few clients who’ve been served by HLAS programs.
Guests are invited at the end of the breakfast to make a contribution to HLAS. There is no minimum and no maximum and giving is confidential.
Guests may RSVP by emailing [email protected] or via WhoozIn.

Click Here to make a donation.

September 23,2017

Presented by:

The Hiscock Legal Aid Society
Onondaga County Assigned Counsel Program
New York State Defenders Association 

On Saturday, September 23rd, HLA attorneys Heather Prado, Amanda McHenry, and Nancy Farrell will present at the Family Court Defense Seminar on “What is Imminent Risk?”  They will discuss the pertinent statutes and case law surrounding imminent risk that results in or prevents the removal of children from their homes.  They will also present scenarios for discussion and talk about attorney’s professional and ethical responsibilities to clients in evaluating imminent risk. Additionally, they will talk about the training and standards case workers for presentment agencies utilize.  This seminar is a collaboration between the New York State Defender’s Association, the Onondaga County Assigned Counsel Program, and Hiscock Legal Aid Society.  This seminar will take place at the George Lowe Center for Justice at 221 South Warren St. in Syracuse.

Hiscock Legal Aid Society is proud to attend this event each year in Westcott.

At the event, attorneys and staff have an opportunity to meet with people in the community, share information on our mission and vision as well as the services provided by Hiscock Legal Aid Society.

HLA attendance at the Westcott Cultural  Fair gives staff the chance to  meet with people in the community one on one to explain the HLA mission and to describe the services that we provide to those in need.” –Linda Gehron, President & CEO

HLA promotes justice for all at the Wescott Street Cultural Fair.  Heather Prado, Andrea Drumm, Linda Gehron, and Nancy Farrell.

On September 13th Hiscock Legal Aid Society and the Volunteer Lawyers Project will be hosting the 3rd Annual Justice Walk/Run. The proceeds will benefit immigration work done in collaboration with OnVLP.  This is a 5K race at the Willow Bay shelter at Onondaga Lake Parkway.  The race starts at 5:30.

Thanks to our sponsors Excellus BCBS and Wegmans.

Coming Up:  Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 12:30 PM at Aster Pantry in Armory Square, 116 Walton Street in Syracuse, NY 13201

Leah A. Witmer, Esq and Joseph G. Murray, Esq. will be presenting:

Recent Amendments to the Real Property Action and Proceedings Law Regarding “Zombie Properties”

Cost:  $35.00 for members, $40.00 for non-members

CLE credit:  1 hour professional practice

We’re jumping for justice – again!



Last year’s event was so much fun, we thought we had to do it again. Join Hiscock Legal Aid Society for its second annual Jumping for Justice event at Sky Zone Syracuse!

Here are the options for joining us: 

—> Our most popular: Trampoline dodgeball

1. Gather your closest co-workers, friends and frenemies. Teams must have a minimum of six. You can add as many people as you’d like to your team.

2. Register + fundraise!

3. Create shirts (or don’t, it’s your choice – but know that the teams who won last year had team shirts!)

4. Join us on the trampoline for a fun game(s) of dodgeball.

—> Our free jump: for those who don’t find trampoline dodgeball appealing

We hear you.

We have some bad memories of childhood gym class, too. Fear not, we have an option for you! Register here and have access to your own free jump trampoline, basketball trampoline, and the ball pit. When registering, select the “I’m a Free Jumper” option – and please don’t join a team. We’ll know you’re here for the free jump. You’ll be away from the dodgball action, but you’ll have just as much fun, we promise.

All participants, regardless of registration type much fill out a sky zone waiver prior to joining us on May 9. Those waivers can be filled out online by clicking here. 

—> More details: Here are five other things we think are pretty important:  

1. Your registration includes sky socks (the basic ones. If you have Sky Socks from last year, you can use them again!), pizza and soda, and two hours of jump time.

2. People ages 3+ can register for our free jump. People ages 12+ can be on a dodgeball team.

3. The event begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 5.

4. Online registration closes on May 8, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. EST. After that date, you can register in person.

5. Share your images from this event on your social media platforms using @HiscockLegalAid and #JumpingforJustice.

We’ll see you on the trampoline!

To Register click  here.