Legal challenges can arise at any point in a veteran’s transition, and having reliable, accessible support is essential for stability and long-term success. Legal Services and Resources for veterans cover a wide range of needs, from navigating civil disputes to defending against criminal charges and protecting housing rights. Many veterans face legal barriers connected to mental health struggles, homelessness, employment issues, or unresolved matters from years past. These challenges can directly impact eligibility for benefits, access to housing, and opportunities for employment—making timely legal guidance critical.


Civil legal services assist with issues such as consumer debt, family court matters, identity theft, benefits disputes, employment rights, and record corrections. Criminal legal support helps veterans address outstanding warrants, misdemeanors, felonies, and diversion opportunities, including veteran-specific treatment courts that focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Housing-related legal assistance is especially important for those facing eviction, unsafe living conditions, landlord disputes, or discrimination—key issues affecting veterans in transition or living in temporary shelter systems.


Veteran-oriented legal providers understand the complexities of military service, trauma, and reintegration. Their goal is not only to resolve legal problems, but also to restore stability, protect rights, and help veterans reclaim control over their lives. Together, these services form a vital foundation for rebuilding security and independence.

Listings for Veterans Organizations

Veteran organizations play a vital role in connecting service members to the benefits, programs, and community support they have earned. This section provides direct access to trusted national, state, and local organizations offering assistance with healthcare, housing, employment, education, legal services, and emergency support.Not seeing what you need or have a suggestion? Contact us Here.

  • Legal Resources and Information / New York

    New York State Unified Court System

    Many veterans return to civilian life and find themselves facing personal challenges, including mental health problems or substance use, that are unique to life after military service. Criminal behavior, mental health problems and substance abuse often stem directly from service in combat zones and may be amplified by reentry into civilian life. There are numerous organizations and agencies that cater to veterans struggling with legal issues whether civil or criminal.

     

    City Bar Justice

    Veterans Assistance Project

    Phone: (212) 382-4722 or request on-line.

    --Veterans Benefit issues


    Legal Services NYC

    Phone: (917) 661-4500 Hotline

    Call Monday-Friday, 10 am – 4 pm. 

    --Brooklyn Campus: Legal Clinic – 1st Tuesday of every Month

    16th floor PRRTP, 8 am to 12 noon.

    --LSNYC also assists veterans in a range of civil legal matters including housing, family law, child support, Social Security, VA benefits, healthcare proxy, wills, power of attorney, immigration, employment law. Locations:

    BRONX

    349 East 149th St. 10th Floor

    Bronx, NY 10451

    Phone: 718-928-3700

    BROOKLYN

    105 Court Street, 3rd Floor

    Brooklyn, NY 11201

    Phone: 718-237-5500

    MANHATTAN

    1 West 125th Street, 2nd Floor

    New York, NY 10027

    Phone: 646-442-3100

    QUEENS

    89-00 Sutphin Blvd.

    Jamaica, NY 11435

    Phone: 347-592-2200

    STATEN ISLAND

    36 Richmond Terrace, Ste. 205

    Staten Island, NY 10301

    Phone: 718-233-6480


    Veteran Advocacy Project

    Phone: (646) 602-5620

    40 Rector Street, 9th floor, NY, NY

    Email: contact@veteranadvocacy.org

    --Discharge upgrades, evictions, and more


    Hofstra Veterans Law Clinic

    --Provides free representation to low-income Veterans seeking to appeal a denial of VA disability compensation benefits and to Veterans seeking a discharge upgrade. Phone screening

    Phone: (516) 463-5934 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, or email Email: LawClinic@Hofstra.edu

     

    New York City Small Claims Court

    Anyone 18 years of age or over can sue in Small Claims Court. If you are younger than 18, your parent or guardian may sue on your behalf. Only an individual can sue in Small Claims Court. Corporations, partnerships, associations, or assignees cannot sue in Small Claims Court. However, they can be sued in Small Claims Court.


    Additional Legal Services for Veterans Awards List


    Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, Inc.

    Referrals can be made through calling:

    Phone: 844-VLPVETS or by 

    Email: admissions@vlpwpa.org


    United Veterans Beacon House, Inc.

    Nassau County (NY)

    Suffolk County (NY)

    Contact: Dimitri Honorat - Veteran Case Manager

    Email: dhonorat@uvbh.com

    Phone: 631-771-9341

    Direct 631-275-8394 Cell Jackie DeLeonardis COO 

    Email: Jackie@uvbh.com

    Phone: 631-771-9306

    Direct 631-774-6445 Cell 

    Cornell's Director of Public Interest

    Michaela Rossettie Azemi, Esq.,

    Email: ma688@cornell.edu

     

    New York Legal Assistance Group, Inc 

    Contact: Susan Quatrone squatrone@nylag.org

    Phone: 212-659-7423


    Syracuse University NY 

    Email: veteranadvocacy@syr.edu

    Phone: 315-443-4582

     

    Nassau Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc.

    Phone: 516-292-8100 (Nassau) 

    Phone: 631-232-2400 (Suffolk)


    Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. 

    Email: vetsmlp@nls.org 

    Phone: 716- 847-0650 ext 838 (VET) 


    Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.

    Email: lobrien@lawny.org and brivera@lawny.org


    Legal Services of Northwest Jersey NJ

    roza@lsnj.org


  • Legal and Judicial Resources / Housing

    Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.

  • Legal Resources and Information / Criminal

    Legal Services & Information


    Veterans Justice Outreach Program

    The mission of the Veterans Justice Programs is to identify justice-involved Veterans and contact them through outreach, in order to facilitate access to VA services at the earliest possible point. Veterans Justice Programs accomplish this by building and maintaining partnerships between VA and key elements of the criminal justice system.


    New York State Unified Court System

    Many veterans return to civilian life and find themselves facing personal challenges, including mental health problems or substance use, that are unique to life after military service. Criminal behavior, mental health problems and substance abuse often stem directly from service in combat zones and may be amplified by reentry into civilian life.

  • Legal and Judicial Resources / Veterans Justice Outreach

    Veterans Justice Outreach Program

    The mission of the Veterans Justice Programs is to identify justice-involved Veterans and contact them through outreach, in order to facilitate access to VA services at the earliest possible point. Veterans Justice Programs accomplish this by building and maintaining partnerships between VA and key elements of the criminal justice system.



  • Legal and Judicial Resources / Veterans Treatment Courts

    Veterans Justice Outreach Program

    The mission of the Veterans Justice Programs is to identify justice-involved Veterans and contact them through outreach, in order to facilitate access to VA services at the earliest possible point. Veterans Justice Programs accomplish this by building and maintaining partnerships between VA and key elements of the criminal justice system.

    New York Harbor Healthcare System

    423 E. 23rd St.

    New York, NY 10010

    Contact: Siobhan Dannacker, LCSW

    Phone: (212) 807-4449

    Email: Siobhan.Dannacker@va.gov

    New York Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinators

    Albany, Albany VA Medical Center: Samuel S. Stratton, Alyssa Gibbons

    Bath, Bath VA Medical Center, Stacie Contreras

    Bronx, James J. Peters VA Medical Center (Bronx, NY), Eddie Marcano

    Buffalo, VA Western New York Healthcare System at Buffalo, John Lahood, Carolyn Fagnan

    Canandaigua, Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Shirley McGee

    Montrose, VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, Karetha Henry

    New York, Manhattan Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Siobhan Dannacker, Jeff Rabinovici, Kimberly Shaw

    Northport, Northport VA Medical Center, Eric Bruno, Tiffany Grant-Zellem

    Syracuse, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Janice James, Wendy Varricchio-Fletcher


    New York State Unified Court System / Resources

    The New York State Unified Court System recognizes that veterans sometimes enter the criminal justice system under circumstances that may arise from their prior military service.  Drug Courts and Mental Health Courts leverage tools best calculated to make a meaningful difference for court involved veterans with substance abuse or mental health issues.  Veterans Treatment Courts can help leverage the resources available to defendant veterans to help them reintegrate as successful and productive civilians. This directory is intended to help veterans that may struggle with issues such as substance abuse, mental health issues, homelessness and thoughts of suicide.  It is also intended to aid judges and courts in identifying resources available to veterans who may appear in proceedings before them.  In addition to listing statewide and regional resources, this directory invites court managers to adapt it to include their own local resources where veterans and their families can access referrals specific to their needs. We encourage courts to share their local resources with the Unified Court System, Office of Policy and Planning so we can disseminate updated resource guides in the future.



  • Naturalization Resources and Information

    The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

    Did you know Veterans with Honorable or General discharges qualify for expedited naturalization? 

     provides FREE legal aid through the "Veterans Naturalization Assistance Program."

    2101 L Street NW, Suite 225

    Washington, DC 20037

    @vetsprobono 



The Forgotten Veteran Sections Legal Quick Links

Each of The Forgotten Veteran Sections connect veterans to trusted Veterans Affairs programs and community-based resources. Each listing provides direct access to services supporting housing, healthcare, education, and employment. With verified links and local contacts, veterans can easily navigate both federal and community networks to find the help they need. Do you have a resource or service to submit? Contact us Here.