Bronson-secured funding nets expansion at Legal Aid Society

The Legal Aid Society of Rochester has unveiled its new expansion, supported by dollars secured from the state by assemblyman Harry Bronson.

The Legal Aid Society provides legal services for low- to moderate-income residents of the Greater Rochester area; the organization traces its roots back to 1893 and the Rochester’s Women’s Educational and Industrial Union, founded by Susan B. Anthony.

The $275,000 Bronson secured went toward expanding the ground-floor reception area and offices at the Telesca Center for Justice, 1 West Main Street. That reception area will replace the former waiting room on the eighth floor of the building.

“At the end of the day, even though we had to expand and were busting at the seams, the real reason behind doing this was for our clients, to make a space that was much more welcoming and hospitable to the clients,” said president and CEO Carla Palumbo.

Attending the June 28 ribbon-cutting, Bronson pointed to the Legal Aid Society as a vital resource for Rochesterians.

“All of you do such a vital piece of work for the community,” Bronson said. “As an attorney, not practicing anymore, but as an attorney I know how important it is to have legal representation, whether you’re in a matrimonial issue, educational issue, immigration issue, whatever it is.

“It’s important to have representation, because that representation lets you have a voice, and that voice lets you have justice.”

As part of the reception area, a new children’s play area will be named in honor of Bronson. The updated space will also have a computer area for clients to fill out paperwork onsite.

“When people walk in to do intake, instead of handing them a card and telling them to call you, they can actually sit down, use a computer and do online intake,” Palumbo said. “It will just be easier for people.”

From 2016-17, the Legal Aid Society provided representation in 4,424 cases, obtaining $3,020,000 for clients. Thirty-six attorneys worked at Legal Aid during that time frame, with representation stretching across Wayne, Monroe, Orleans, Genesee, Livingston and Ontario counties.

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