Legal/Lawyers
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[edit] Free monthly Legal Clinic for low-income transgender people
2nd Thursday of the Month At Boston Health Care for the Homeless (BHCFH) - During the Transgender Clinic Time: 5pm to 7pm Location: Healthcare for the Homeless at Jean Yawkey Place (near Boston Medical Center) 780 Albany Street, Boston MA 02118
Appointments available; walk-ins welcome. Provided by Mass. Transgender Legal Advocates
Who we are: Massachusetts Transgender Legal Advocates is a team of trans and ally law students and attorneys supervised by Denise McWilliams, Esq., Director of Public Policy and Legal Affairs, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts.
Support: Clinic is made possible and supported by: TransCEND, a program of Cambridge Cares about AIDS (CCA) AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC) Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)
Services: Massachusetts Transgender Legal Advocates will provide whatever legal services it can, based on its members’ availability and expertise, and following an initial assessment meeting with each prospective client.
Cost: FREE. Massachusetts Transgender Legal Advocates will not charge for any services that its team members provide. If team members cannot take a case, they will help identify a pro bono or low-cost lawyer who can.
Contact us: For more information reach us at 617.450.1353 or TransgenderLegalAdvocates@gmail.com
[edit] Mass Lesbian Gay Bar Association
The MLGBA is a voluntary state-wide professional association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lawyers and our allies providing a visible LGBT presence within the Massachusetts legal community. Law students, paralegals and other members of the legal profession are encouraged to become non-voting associate members. Their website provides a lawyer referral list.
[edit] Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
GLAD’s hotline Monday - Friday, 1:30 - 4:30pm English and Spanish
Boston Area: (617) 426-1350
New England: 1-800-455-GLAD
Founded in 1978, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is New England’s leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression. Providing litigation, advocacy, and educational work in all areas of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights and the rights of people living with HIV, GLAD has a full-time legal staff and a network of cooperating attorneys across New England. GLAD's hotline provides legal information, referrals, and resources. Their website has answers to many LGBT legal questions.
[edit] Immigration Lawyers
Hema Sarangapani Attorney at Law ~ Abogada 11 Green Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 p. 617-435-8005 ~ hs@hemalaw.com
Richard Iandoli A national immigration law practice with experience with LGBT
[edit] Lambda Legal
[edit] Lambda Legal's Help Desk, Overview
How the Help Desk Works: Lambda's Legal Help Desk staff respond directly to members of our communit(ies) who are seeking legal information and assistance with discrimination related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and HIV status. To the extent that our resources and priorities allow, Lambda Legal takes on legal representation of callers whose situations present impact litigation issues; for many others, Lambda Legal provides leads to other organizations and practical information that might help them address their problems. We also provide a list of suggested questions to ask a prospective attorney. If you would like more information or to request assistance, please call the office which serves your state. Please note that help desk hours are subject to change.
If you live in these states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington D.C. or a U.S. territory, contact:
National Headquarters
National Headquarters accepts Legal Help Desk calls at any time during regular business hours and also Monday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 212-809-8585 and ask for the Legal Help Desk. If Help Desk staff are busy helping other callers, your call will be routed to the Legal Help Desk voicemail. Please leave the following information: name, state, contact info, best time to reach you, and a brief message outlining your legal inquiry. A Help Desk staff person will return your call within one business day.
[edit] Western Regional Office
Serving: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming (Pacific Time)
Mondays -- 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesdays -- 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays -- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursdays -- 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday -- 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Call 213-382-7600 and ask for the Help Desk.
[edit] Midwest Regional Office
Serving: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin (Central Time)
The Midwest Regional Office accepts Help Desk calls at any time during business hours (M-F 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.). Call 312-663-4413, ask for the Help Desk, and a Help Desk staff person will assist you. If Help Desk staff is busy helping other callers, your call will automatically be routed to the Legal Help Desk voicemail. You are welcome to leave the following information: name, state, contact info, best time to reach you, and a brief message outlining your legal inquiry. A Help Desk staff person will return your call within 24 hours.
[edit] Southern Regional Office
Serving: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia (Eastern Time)
Mondays -- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays -- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursdays -- 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Call 404-897-1880 and ask for the Help Desk.
[edit] South Central Regional Office
Serving: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas (Central Time)
The South Central Regional Office accepts HelpDesk calls during regular business hours, excluding holidays (M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Call 214-219-8585 and ask for the HelpDesk. If HelpDesk staff is unavailable or on another call you will be routed to the Legal HelpDesk voicemail. You are encouraged to leave the following information: name, state, contact information, best time to reach you and a brief message outlining your legal inquiry. A HelpDesk staff person will return your call within one business day.
It is usually most efficient for Help Desk callers to contact us by phone. If you are in a place where you are not able to make long distance calls, we can make an appointment to call you. If you are absolutely unable to call us, you may e-mail us at legalhelpdesk@lambdalegal.org.
[edit] Transgender Law & Policy Institute
The Transgender Law & Policy Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging in effective advocacy for transgender people in our society. The TLPI brings experts and advocates together to work on law and policy initiatives designed to advance transgender equality.
They offer extensive resources on employment discrimination, safe legal resources, identity change documents, immigration and the criminal justice system.
Other resources:
Email them at info@transgenderlaw.org
[edit] IGLHRC's Asylum Documentation Program
The Asylum Documentation Program (ADP) provides support to worldwide claims for political asylum made by those who fear persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV/AIDS status. This is achieved through providing documentation (country packets) on human rights abuses perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, and those living with HIV/AIDS to their lawyers/advocates, and occasionally to other interested parties. On a limited basis, the Asylum Documentation Program may also provide contact information for immigration advocates who have handled sexual orientation cases.
As part of IGLHRC's ongoing commitment to disseminate information pertaining to the human rights status of LGBT people worldwide, IGLHRC and asylumlaw.org have teamed up to create an online library of the ASYLUM DOCUMENTATION PROGRAM (ADP) of IGLHRC. This library, comprised of country packets, is available to all interested individuals and institutions free of charge. All you have to do is register with Asylum Law, a free website, to gain access to the information.
Visit International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) for further information
[edit] The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP)
322 8th Avenue 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10001
212.337.8550
212.337.1972
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence. SRLP is a collective organization founded on the understanding that gender self-determination is inextricably intertwined with racial, social and economic justice. Therefore, we seek to increase the political voice and visibility of low-income people of color who are transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming. SRLP works to improve access to respectful and affirming social, health, and legal services for our communities. We believe that in order to create meaningful political participation and leadership, we must have access to basic means of survival and safety from violence.
We provide free legal services to transgender, intersex and gender nonconforming low-income people and people of color. We represent and advise clients in a variety of contexts. For most clients, the opportunity to access legal services in an environment where gender self-determination is valued and respected is a new and often transforming experience.
