Established in 1994, the LGBT Bar NY Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable and educational arm of our organization, dedicated to delivering free legal assistance to vulnerable community members, expanding legal knowledge, and fostering the next generation of jurists.
Through the Foundation, we provide vital civil legal aid to hundreds of community members each year through a network of free walk-in and virtual legal consultation clinics, anchored by our flagship weekly clinic at Manhattan's LGBT Community Center.
The Foundation also publishes LGBT Law Notes—the nation's foremost chronicler of LGBTQ+ jurisprudence—produces our educational legal podcast, awards academic scholarships and judicial fellowships, and sponsors community education and cultural programming across New York.
Explore Foundation Initiatives
Legal Services
Free weekly walk-in and remote legal consultation clinics providing critical guidance, referrals, and pro bono resources for community members facing civil legal matters.
Law Notes
Reporting on the fight for LGBTQ+ equality since 1980. Under Editor-in-Chief Arthur S. Leonard, this premier journal provides essential analysis of key court rulings and statutory changes.
Law Student Programs
Supporting aspiring LGBTQ+ legal professionals with career mentorship, campus-to-practice workshops, and networking connections with the bench and bar.
Legal Podcast
Join LGBTQ+ lawyers, scholars, and activists for in-depth analysis of critical legal and civil rights developments, featuring regular commentary from Prof. Emeritus Arthur S. Leonard.
Scholarships & Fellowships
Supporting law students through educational scholarships and the Dr. M.L. "Hank" Henry, Jr. Judicial Fellowship Program, placing rising advocates in state and federal courts.
Community Education & Programming
Hosting public forums, educational workshops, and cosponsoring cultural events—such as special community film screenings—to foster dialogue and engage the public.