Dear Friends,

Spring feels especially welcome this year after a rough winter, and that sense of newness and hope amidst adversity are important to hold onto. In this respect, I'm reminded - and humbled to share - that in recent weeks three City Bar Justice Center clients, who are of very limited means and facing tremendous legal challenges, themselves donated to our organization, helping us help others just as we've helped these individuals. That, to me, was a wonderful springtime sign of hope.

We've seized on that hope to power through a busy spring season here at the City Bar Justice Center. In April, we held our 21st Annual Gala, Open Doors | Fresh Starts, and raised over $1.25 million to support free legal services for the 27,000 New Yorkers who are impacted by our work each year. We were so pleased to recognize three standout honorees with City Bar Justice Awards - Goldman Sachs, Ropes & Gray LLP, and the Honorable Jonathan Lippman - at an evening focused on the impact that civil legal aid makes for New Yorkers in need and our community at large. Thank you to everyone who supported this year's festivities.

I am also excited to announce that the Justice Center has received renewed funding from the New York Bar Foundation, which you'll read about in more detail below.

We also pride ourselves on helping to launch the next generation of public interest-minded lawyers, and were honored to welcome six graduating law school students to our office as Pro Bono Scholars. We will miss them when they depart at the end of the month, and appreciate that they've taken time to share in this newsletter about their experiences at the Justice Center before stepping into their next chapters.

This newsletter also highlights recent Justice Center community outreach initiatives that have been invaluable, especially for our newest staff, as we bring our work directly into our local community.

I appreciate each and every one of you for your continued interest in and support of our work. To learn more about what we've accomplished over the past year, stay tuned for the release of our upcoming Impact Report. I'm looking forward to sharing more with you all soon!

Best regards, 

Kurt M. Denk 

Executive Director 



21ST ANNUAL GALA - OPEN DOORS | FRESH STARTS

The City Bar Justice Center held its 21st Annual Gala, Open Doors | Fresh Starts on Wednesday, April 15. For the second year in a row, three honorees were recognized with City Bar Justice Awards -

Goldman Sachs, Ropes & Gray LLP, and the Honorable Jonathan Lippman.

With nearly 300 people in attendance at the New York City Bar Association building in Midtown Manhattan, the event raised more than $1.25M to support over 27,000 New Yorkers who benefit from the Justice Center's services.

The theme, Open Doors | Fresh Starts, symbolizes the new opportunities that our communities can gain once receiving free and accessible legal assistance that can change lives.

RENEWED NEW YORK BAR FOUNDATION FUNDING FOR 2026-27!

The City Bar Justice Center is pleased to announce that it has received renewed funding from the New York Bar Foundation for 2026-27.

"Our organization is deeply grateful for the New York Bar Foundation's ongoing support," said Justice Center Executive Director Kurt M. Denk. "Within the last year, the grant has allowed us to complete projects such as an advocacy-focused best practices guide, Estate Planning for the Preservation of Intergenerational Wealth and Affordable Homeownership. We look forward to continuing this important work made possible by the Foundation's award."

SAYING FAREWELL TO OUR PRO BONO SCHOLARS

The City Bar Justice Center is gearing up to say goodbye to our Spring 2026 class of Pro Bono Scholars. This program allows students in their final year of law school to spend their last semester performing pro bono service. Thank you for your hard work over the last few months!

Carter Kuhl

Brooklyn Law School

Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project (SDNY)

Christopher McFarland

Fordham University School of Law

Homeowner and Consumer Debt Advocacy Project

What lessons will you take with you into your future career?

"The main lesson that I will take from the program is that you do not always know what is going on in a client's life. They may not be replying because something terrible has happened to themselves or a family member. It is always important to be patient and compassionate with clients."

Dominique Moody

New York Law School

Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project (SDNY)

Enoch Adelani

Columbia Law School

Planning and Estates Law Project

Malika Ilboudo

University of Connecticut School of Law

Elder Law Project

Xuyou Zhang

Fordham University School of Law

Homeowner and Consumer Debt Advocacy Project

What did you learn during your experience as a Pro Bono Scholar?

"I learned trauma-informed lawyering skills and gained a clearer understanding of the challenges that pro bono legal service providers are facing in closing the access to justice gap."

TEAM MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY