Legal Services
Who we can help
In keeping with our mission, we focus on providing services to people who face racism, poverty, and gender oppression. To find out if you are eligible for our services, call us at 212-337-8550 or answer the questions below.
- Do you live in New York or do you have a legal problem with a New York agency?
- Are you trans, intersex, or gender nonconforming, or are you facing discrimination because you don't match gender stereotypes?*
- Are you a person of color OR do you make less money a year than is listed in the chart below?
| Number in Household | Annual Income |
| 1 | $ 21,660 |
| 2 | $ 29,140 |
| 3 | $ 36,620 |
| 4 | $ 44,100 |
| 5 | $ 51,580 |
| 6 | $ 59,060 |
| 7 | $ 66,540 |
| 8 | $ 74,020 |
If you answered yes to all three questions, then you are eligible for services at SRLP. Depending on your case, we might be able to give you legal help. Keep reading to find out more. If you answered no to any of the three questions above, we will not be able to give you legal representation. To find other places where you might be able to get help, go to the resources section of this web site or to www.lawhelp.org . You may also want to contact your local bar association's referral service.
Immigrants are welcome. Our services are available regardless of immigration status.
How we can help
We provide advice and referral for a wide variety of legal issues. Sometimes, we can also provide more help, such as advocacy, help with a case you are bringing on your own, or representation. We focus on certain cases in the following areas:
- prisoners' rights;
- discrimination, particularly in sex-segregated facilities, such as group homes, homeless shelters, public restrooms, and drug treatment centers;
- name changes and gender changes on ID;
- problems with public benefits;
- Medicaid coverage; and
- immigration issues, such as adjustments of status and naturalization.
We can also give technical assistance and training to other lawyers. If you are working with a lawyer who does not have a lot of experience with trans or intersex issues, feel free to have that person give us a call. We may be able to help them to help you.
How to get help
Incarcerated people may write to us directly at:
Sylvia Rivera Law Project Attn: Gabriel Arkles 322 8th Ave., 3rd Floor New York, NY 10001
Others should come to our office during drop-in hours or attend a clinic for an intake.
* We welcome transsexual women and men, A.G.s, femme queens, butch lesbians, cross dressers, trans women, trans men, MTFs, FTMs, men and women of transgender experience, genderqueers, Two Spirit people, drag queens and kings, people with an intersex condition or disorder of sex development, and many more.
