Updated 7/17 from print edition*
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New
York (LASNNY) moved in June to a new location
at 40 New St., Saratoga Springs.
LASNNY, which is the successor organization
to the Legal Aid Society of Albany, provides free
civil legal services and education to low-income
upstate New Yorkers.
Officials said the new location will allow the
staff to provide the residents of Saratoga, Warren
and Washington counties easier access to
services.
“The Legal Aid Society provides an invaluable
service to the many low income members of our
community who are in need of civil legal advice
and counsel,” said Mayor Joanne Yepsen. “I am
very pleased that they will continue to be a presence
in our city and I applaud the work they are
doing, day in and day out.”
The acquisition and rehabilitation of the
new property was proved to be a challenge the
Upstate New York legal community was willing
to take on. To date, the campaign has reached a
total of $145,000 in donations, thanks to a challenge
grant and match campaign initiated by the
Warren County Bar Foundation to the Warren
County Bar Association, officials said.
LASNNY hopes to raise an additional $121,000
from members of the bar and the community
at large.
The Foundation, originally planning to match
funds up to $15,000, increased its pledge by
$5,000 when it saw the remarkable response
from its members, officials said. The challenger,
the Warren County Bar Association, met its
$20,000 match for a total gift of $43,000 to the
campaign.
James T. Towne Jr., principal at Towne, Ryan & Partners PC, and his
wife Sue, kicked of the fundraising campaign with a donation of
$25,000. To keep the momentum going, an additional $20,000 one-to-one
challenge match was made by the Townes and E. Stewart Jones, partner at
E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy to members of the Saratoga Bar
Association.
“When you realize the tireless work the
LASSNY attorneys and staff undertake each day
on difficult and challenging matters on behalf
of the area’s most economically disadvantaged,
it was an easy task helping raise funds for this
great organization,” said Towne.
The overall campaign is succeeding in driving
down the 15-year mortgage on the property,
which will lend not only to a considerable savings
over the life of the loan and necessary renovations,
but also allow for a greater focus on providing
quality legal services, the organization said.
The new location also houses LASNNY’s
Private Attorney Involvement staff, including
Michele Sleight, Cheryl Dedes and Drew Wagner.
The program oversees the work of pro-bono
attorneys throughout LASNNY’s service area.
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New
York provides free civil legal services and education
to and advocacy for people with low income
or other barriers to accessing the legal system.
It secures basic needs, protects and preserves
legal rights, provide equal access to justice and
seek fairness and dignity for clients.
It has a staff of 76 in five offices in the region,
serving 16 counties and the St. Regis Indian
Reservation.
To donate to the Saratoga Springs Capital
Campaign, people can visit www.lasnny.org. The
Saratoga Springs office number is 587-5188.
*Updated 7/17 from the July print edition to correct error in headline from Washington County Bar to Warren County Bar and to clarify additional donations.