The Legal Project

What The Legal Project does

The Legal Project is a 501(c)(3) civil legal aid nonprofit founded in 1995 and headquartered at 204 Lafayette Street, Suite 2, in Schenectady, New York, serving the Capital Region. It delivers free and low-cost legal services to low-income individuals, crime victims, domestic violence survivors, immigrants and asylum seekers, people facing foreclosure, seniors, veterans, and small business owners across 11 counties through 13 program areas: Affordable Housing Attorney Assistance (AHAA), Bankruptcy and Credit, Crime Victims Assistance, Domestic Violence Legal Connection, Elder Law Assistance, Homeowner Protection, Human Trafficking Survivors, Immigration, Legal Clinic, Small Business Legal Network, Uncontested Divorce, Veterans Law Project, and Wills.

The organization operates without proprietary technology, relying on staff attorneys, supervising attorneys, paralegals, and a pro bono volunteer attorney network to deliver services. Distribution is multi-channel: direct office consultations in Schenectady, virtual and in-person legal clinics hosted at partner agency locations (YWCA, Equinox, MVP Health Care, Albany Medical College, Albany County Rural Housing Alliance), and statewide reach via the Home Ownership Protection Program (HOPP) network of 89 non-profit organizations. Reported output metrics include 20,564+ individuals served annually and $1.2 billion in statewide economic impact through HOPP.

The business model is a hybrid of government grants (federal and state civil legal aid funding) and charitable donations. There are no fees charged to clients; access is determined by income eligibility and case type. There is no equity funding, parent company, or subsidiary structure — the organization is governed by a Board of Directors and overseen by Executive Director Monice Barbero, Esq., following the January 2024 departure of Michele Pollock Rich. Recent activity includes a May 2026 rebrand (new website and logo) and an Elder Law Assistance Program partnership with MVP Health Care that introduces a payer-referral channel.

Name

The Legal Project

Legal name

The Legal Project

Website

https://legalproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Legal Project is a Schenectady, NY-based 501(c)(3) civil legal aid nonprofit, founded 1995, that delivers free legal services across 13 program areas — housing, immigration, domestic violence, elder law, veterans, and more — to low-income residents of New York's Capital Region through a staff-and-pro-bono-attorney model funded by government grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Civil legal aid
• Pro bono legal services
• Legal clinic services
• Foreclosure prevention assistance
• Immigration legal aid

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding source from federal and state government grants to support civil legal aid programs
2. Charitable Donations: Funding from private charitable donations and foundations supporting access to justice initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Legal Project is a civil legal aid nonprofit that provides free and low-cost legal representation, advice, and advocacy across 13 program areas to underserved populations in the Capital Region of New York. Services are delivered by staff attorneys and pro bono volunteer attorneys through direct consultations, monthly legal clinics, and partner agency locations. Programs cover housing and foreclosure prevention, immigration and human trafficking, domestic violence and crime victim assistance, elder law, wills and estate planning, bankruptcy and credit, uncontested divorce, veterans' legal issues, and small business legal support.

Product overview

The Legal Project is a nonprofit civil legal services organization that offers a comprehensive portfolio of free and low-cost legal services to vulnerable populations in the Capital Region of New York. The organization operates as a unified service model consisting of 13 distinct program areas including the Affordable Housing Attorney Assistance (AHAA), Bankruptcy and Credit Program, Crime Victims Assistance Program, Domestic Violence Legal Connection, Elder Law Assistance Program, Homeowner Protection Program, Human Trafficking Legal Services, Immigration Program, Legal Clinic Program, Small Business Legal Network, Uncontested Divorce Program, Veterans Law Project, and Wills Program. These services are delivered through a combination of direct staff attorney representation, pro bono volunteer attorney matching, and scheduled legal clinics. The organization serves clients who have traditionally had difficulty obtaining legal assistance, including the working poor, women, immigrants, the LGBTQ community, seniors, veterans, and crime victims.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Attorney Assistance (AHAA) Works with community-based Affordable Housing agencies to help homebuyers who are unable to afford legal fees with contract review, explanation of program requirements, and representation at real estate closings.
• Bankruptcy and Credit Program Provides free and low-cost legal advice and representation for individuals and families struggling with financial problems and debt, including bankruptcy and credit matters.
• Crime Victims Assistance Program Provides civil legal services to victims and survivors of crime in Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer Counties, offering legal advice, representation, and assistance with New York State Victims' Compensation Applications.
• Domestic Violence Legal Connection Provides confidential, free, and low-cost legal assistance to domestic violence victims, including free consultations, representation in divorce matters, and Family Court assistance for Orders of Protection and custody issues.
• Elder Law Assistance Program Provides compassionate, expert legal assistance and advice to seniors 55 and over, vulnerable individuals with disabilities, individuals with terminal illness, and their caregivers, covering Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, wills, living wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, guardianship, elder abuse, housing matters, and consumer fraud.
• Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) Provides legal advice and representation to homeowners facing foreclosure, offering consultations, Supreme Court settlement conferences, loan workout options, and referrals to housing counseling agencies.
• Legal Services for Human Trafficking Survivors Provides free and confidential consultations with an attorney for victims of human trafficking, offering legal advice and representation in areas including labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and related matters.
• Immigration Program Provides free immigration legal services including consultations, VAWA petitions, U-visas, T-visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, asylum, naturalization, and Green card renewals.
• Legal Clinic Program Provides free, private, and confidential consultations with experienced volunteer attorneys through monthly legal clinics held virtually via Zoom or in-person at community agencies, covering Bankruptcy, Credit, Family Law, Landlord/Tenant, Matrimonial, Real Estate, SSI, SSD, and other civil legal issues.
• Small Business Legal Network Provides free or low-cost legal resources to established or start-up businesses through consultations with attorneys and educational programs on small business legal topics.
• Uncontested Divorce Program Assists low income individuals with the preparation and filing of necessary documents in uncontested divorce actions through clinics held multiple times per year.
• Veterans Law Project Provides compassionate, expert legal assistance free of charge to Veterans, Active Military, and their Spouses through monthly Veteran Law Clinics and representative services on various civil legal issues.
• Wills Program Offers one-on-one assistance to low-income individuals and families to complete end of life legal documents including wills, living wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,564 individuals served annually through HOPP program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Equinox, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Schenectady County Crime Victims Assistance Program (SACVAP). The Legal Project provides legal services to crime victims through this partnership, offering legal representation, protection orders, and advocacy services for domestic violence and crime victims.
• YWCA of Northeastern New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Crime Victims Assistance Program (SACVAP). Partnership provides legal services to domestic violence survivors and crime victims through the YWCA's network, offering legal representation, safety planning, and victim advocacy.
• Albany Medical College / Capital District Asylum CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides medical evaluations and documentation for immigrants and asylum seekers. The collaboration enables The Legal Project to offer comprehensive support including medical-legal partnership services for vulnerable immigrant populations seeking asylum.
• Albany County Rural Housing AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) applications. The Legal Project provides legal support for homeowners facing foreclosure, working with the housing alliance to prevent displacement.
• MVP Health CarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Elder Law Assistance Program providing legal services to MVP Health Care members aged 55 and older. Services include legal advice, representation, and referrals for elder law matters including healthcare, housing, and benefits.
• HOPP (Home Ownership Protection Program)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStatewide network of 89 non-profit organizations working together to prevent foreclosure and stabilize housing. The Legal Project is a member of this network that serves 20,564 individuals annually and generates $1.2 billion in economic impact across New York State.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Pro Bono Net: National nonprofit that builds technology and infrastructure for civil legal aid and pro bono programs, including LawHelpNY; an enabling peer rather than direct competitor, but its tools shape how TLP and similar providers deliver services.

Direct peers

• Empire Justice Center: New York statewide legal services and policy organization delivering civil legal aid, training, and impact litigation across multiple practice areas overlapping with TLP's foreclosure, DV, and consumer programs.
• Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York: Civil legal aid nonprofit serving the same NY Capital Region with overlapping practice areas including housing, family, public benefits, and consumer law; the closest direct geographic and service peer to The Legal Project.
• Legal Services NYC: NYC-focused civil legal aid provider offering housing, family, immigration, and public benefits representation; relevant peer for the integrated multi-practice legal aid model TLP operates in the Capital Region.
• City Bar Justice Center: NYC bar-affiliated legal services organization running pro bono projects in elder law, immigration, and veterans law, comparable in its use of volunteer attorneys and clinic-based service delivery.
• Mobilization for Justice: NYC civil legal services nonprofit providing direct representation in housing, family, consumer, and public benefits matters, with a similar integrated services + community clinic delivery approach to TLP.
• South Brooklyn Legal Services: Brooklyn-based civil legal aid nonprofit with strong housing, foreclosure, immigration, and DV practices; relevant peer for the multi-program integrated civil legal aid model.
• New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): Large NYC-based civil legal services organization operating multiple specialized projects (immigration, foreclosure, DV, elder law) that closely mirror TLP's 13-program integrated model at significantly greater scale.
• Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT): Family-law focused civil legal services organization in NYC providing direct representation, clinics, and self-help resources; comparable delivery model for TLP's family law and DV programs.
• Volunteer Lawyers Project of Northeastern New York: Pro bono-focused legal services nonprofit in the Capital Region; comparable in mission, region, and reliance on volunteer attorney networks, with overlapping family and housing practice areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheLegalProjec1
• Facebookfacebook.com/thelegalproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Legal Project