Press Release: The New York State Bar Association, Access Justice Brooklyn, and The Brooklyn Bar Association Join Together In Honor Of Mitchell Rabbino Health Care Decisions Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, March 24, 2025

THE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN, AND THE BROOKLYN BAR ASSOCIATION JOIN TOGETHER IN HONOR OF MITCHELL RABBINO HEALTH CARE DECISIONS DAY  (click here to download the press release)

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law & Special Needs Section, Access Justice Brooklyn, and the Brooklyn Bar Association will join in celebration of Mitchell Rabbino Health Care Decisions Day to help ensure members of the Brooklyn community are aware of the critical importance of advance life planning.

Founded in 1995 by Mitchell Rabbino, Esq. – an elder law attorney and active member of the NYSBA Elder Law Section – and originally known as Senior Health Care Decisions Day, the objective of the day is to empower older adults with the resources and understanding of the importance of completing advanced directives. Following Mitchell Rabbino’s passing on February 14, 2003, the day was renamed in his honor, and his legacy lives on and continues to inspire the work.

The upcoming event series On Tuesday, April 29th will be driven by compassionate volunteers across sponsoring organizations who will have the opportunity to visit participating senior and community centers across Brooklyn, providing free presentations and FAQ sessions about advanced medical directives such as a health care proxy, and other life planning documents.

“A health care proxy is a document that instructs a close family member or friend to make healthcare decisions for a person if they are no longer able to do so for themselves. Often people put off this crucial task instead of naming a healthcare agent as soon as possible. We want our community members to know that it is never too early to determine these arrangements, in fact, the sooner the better,” said Joan C. Lenihan, Esq., owner of Joan C. Lenihan, Attorney at Law and coordinator of the 2025 Mitchell Rabbino Health Care Decisions Day.

If you would like more information about participating in Mitchell Rabbino National Healthcare Decisions Day, please contact Joan C. Lenihan, Esq. at(917) 805-2004 or joan@joanclenihanlaw.com or Access Justice Brooklyn at info@accessjusticebk.org.


About the New York State Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Section:

The Elder Law and Special Needs Section provides services and opportunities for NYSBA members to become involved on issues relating to elder law and special needs law.  Among activities, the Section presents educational programs and publishes materials on practice, procedure and developments to enhance the competence and skill of lawyers who practice in this field and improve their ability to deliver the most efficient and highest quality of services to their clients; prepare studies, analyses and recommendations to seek improvement in the law and procedure relating to elder law; and undertake projects to increase the understanding of senior citizens, their families and the general public concerning legal issues affecting the elderly. Visit nysba.org to learn more.

About Access Justice Brooklyn:

Access Justice Brooklyn partners with compassionate pro bono attorneys to provide high-quality, civil legal services that help ensure equal access to the legal system. The organization’s approach prioritizes the most basic, essential elements and experiences of human life, including housing, family stability, and subsistence income. Its proven pro bono model—recruit, train, supervise, and support—also provides flexibility to address new legal issues as they emerge. Everyone, whether an attorney or not, has a role to play in expanding access to justice.

Visit www.accessjusticebrooklyn.org or email info@accessjusticebk.org to volunteer, donate, or find other ways to get involved.

About the Brooklyn Bar Association

Established in 1872, the Brooklyn Bar Association’s primary purpose is to promote professional competence among attorneys and increased respect for the legal system. The BBA promotes access to the legal system through the Lawyer Referral Service which provides referrals for legal assistance in multiple practice areas. The BBA advances leadership and promotes opportunities for success through networking opportunities and through sections and committees, which focus on improvements in the practice of law. The BBA also provides Continuing Legal Education, which enhances the skills, competence and ethics of its members. Visit brooklynbar.org to learn more.

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Statement in Support of the Legal Profession & Rule of Law

Statement in Support of the Legal Profession & Rule of Law
March 24, 2025 (click here for PDF)

For over 35 years, Access Justice Brooklyn has delivered essential civil legal services and community education to our neighbors in need. To achieve our vision for an accessible legal system and equitable Brooklyn, we leverage the expertise of pro bono attorneys and law firms who share in our belief that the legal process should be open and available to everyone.

The current administration’s recent actions represent a deeply concerning challenge to the long-standing partnership that has existed between the nonprofit sector and the private bar, compromising access to justice for vulnerable communities.

We are encouraged by the broad opposition to the President’s attempts to dismantle the rule of law – efforts which threaten the foundation of our democracy and undermine the values that allow our legal system to function. We further call on our partners in the legal community to remain steadfast in our collective obligation to defend the rule of law, and resilient in the face of these attacks on our justice system.

Access Justice Brooklyn stands in solidarity with the many diverse voices – from within private law firms and across the legal profession – that continue to advocate for the rule of law and uphold the integrity of our legal system. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we live our values, speak up in defense of democracy, and remain committed to advancing justice.

Exciting News: AJB’s New Office is Open!

Dear Neighbors,

In November 2024, we shared that Access Justice Brooklyn was relocating, and we are now delighted to announce that we have officially opened our doors to our new office located at 203 Jay Street, Suite 300, Brooklyn, NY 11201!

With staff settled in, and 203 Jay Street already feeling like home, we look forward to welcoming our community members, volunteers, partners, donors, and friends to a space designed with intention, representing our shared values: access, change, compassion, fairness, resilience, and respect.

As a reminder, our intake hours are Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. All intakes and requests for help on legal cases must be done by phone at (718) 624-3894 or via our online intake form. In-person meetings can be arranged by appointment only.

If you are an existing AJB client and would like to meet in-person with your assigned attorney, please reach out to them directly to make an appointment.

Our weekly legal court clinics also continue to operate as normal:

  •  If you are facing foreclosure, the Foreclosure Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) Program operates every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:30-3:30 PM at Kings County Supreme Court. Click here for clinic details.
  • If you are being sued for a debt in civil court, the Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) operates every Thursday from 2:00-4:30 PM and 5:00-7:00 PM at the Brooklyn Civil Court. Click here for clinic details.

We thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition period. We are truly excited to share our new office with you all! Please stay tuned for upcoming events, workshops, and community forums and check our website and social media to keep up with AJB’s programming and learn more about ways to help advance our critical mission.

Warm regards,

The Access Justice Brooklyn Team