Employment/Unemployment
Employment/Unemployment Unit
Attention:
If you have documented immigrant clients who live in Brooklyn and who need assistance with unemployment benefits or in employment matters, our office maybe able to help. We are taking cases involving unemployment benefits as well as any area of employment law including wage and hour, employment discrimination, and the Family Medical Leave Act. Clients can call our hotline (718) 237-5516 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-5.
Please note we also represent citizens but are looking to increase our representation of immigrant clients. We encourage you to forward this message to other organizations that might have immigrant clients.
Due to our LSC restrictions, we are unable to represent most undocumented immigrants for employment cases. However, we can represent the following immigrants:
- Lawful permanent residents (LPRs)
- Refugees
- Asylees
- Persons granted withholding of deportation
- Conditional entrants
- Trafficking victims
- Lawful temporary residents under the SAW program of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
- Temporary agricultural workers (H-2A workers)
- Individuals who have applied for adjustment to LPR status and whose application has not been rejected, who have a citizen spouse, parent, or child
The Employment Hotline gives advice, referral and representation to low income workers facing a range of problems including:
- Loss of job
- Obtaining unemployment insurance
- Unpaid wages and/or overtime pay
- Employment discrimination, including discrimination based on past criminal records (see our Re-Entry Project below)
- Family Medical Leave Act Claims
- Other employment related issues
Please check our zip code and income eligibility guidelines here.
If you are eligible, call our Employment Hotline at (718) 237-5516 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Re-Entry Employment Project
The Re-Entry Employment Project is a new initiative of the Employment Law Unit to provide legal advice and advocacy to individuals facing illegal employment discrimination on the basis of past criminal convictions. Through our partnerships with community-based organizations, we assist individuals with criminal backgrounds to correct errors on rap sheets, and to obtain Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct. The Project is engaged in litigation against employers and licensing agencies to challenge illegal employment discrimination based solely on criminal convictions.
The Project works collaboratively with Brooklyn community-based re-entry and job training programs including the Fifth Avenue Committee’s Developing Justice program, the Hope Program, and Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. We conduct community education workshops at these sites to educate job training participants about their employment rights and how to address questions regarding criminal background as they seek employment.
For more information about re-entry and criminal background employment discrimination see the publications of the National HIRE Network.
This unit is part of the Benefits and Employment Law Unit.
The Employment division is currently staffed by Nicole Salk, Senior Staff Attorney, and Rachel Bennett, Paralegal.
SBLS Settles Federal Suit Against Unethical Debt Collector On Behalf of Two Elderly Pensioners
Ninety-four-year-old Arthur Crockette, Sr. and his wheelchair-bound 85-year-old wife had a rude surprise one Christmas. Their bank account containing $6,000 in pension and Social Security payments was frozen for a debt involving their 53-year-old-son. Although Daniels & Norelli, who ordered the freeze, soon learned it had snared the wrong account, it nevertheless maintained the restraint for six weeks — until South Brooklyn Legal Services intervened…
...continue reading "SBLS Settles Federal Suit Against Unethical Debt Collector On Behalf of Two Elderly Pensioners" >
* (Employment) 17 June 10 More Employment spotlights >
SBLS and NYU Program Assist Man With Two Misdemeanors Apply to Improve Job Chances
A client with two decades-old misdemeanors on his record will be able to seek better employment opportunities, thanks to South Brooklyn Legal Services and the New York University School of Law – Students for Economic Justice Program. Mr. M.C. had two misdemeanors, one from 1975, almost 35 years ago when he was just 23 years old, and another misdemeanor he received ten years later in 1986 for fare evasion on the subway…
...continue reading "SBLS and NYU Program Assist Man With Two Misdemeanors Apply to Improve Job Chances" >
* (Employment) 5 May 10 More Employment spotlights >
