New York State Unified Court System, Office for Justice Initiatives

The OJI was established in July 2017 to provide leadership and oversight for NYS’s Unified Court System justice-based initiatives, including the pre-existing Access to Justice Program. We continue to use every resource developed by the Access to Justice Program, including pro bono programs, self-help services, and technological tools and outreach programs throughout New York State’s 62 counties. Our existing programs include:

-Community outreach efforts;

-CourtHelp website designed specifically to help litigants obtain easy-to-understand legal and procedural information as well as instructions for managing their court cases;

-Court Navigators to assist unrepresented litigants in housing and consumer debt cases;

-Do-It-Yourself forms, programs and technology initiatives;

-Help Centers located in courts throughout the state where litigants receive free legal information and assistance to navigate the court system without a lawyer; and

-Volunteer Attorney and other volunteer programs to provide legal information, advice and representation for those disadvantaged by income, age or disability.