Attys and law students offer free legal services at Queens Civil Court

Zenith Taylor and a volunteer attorney, pictured left, giving free legal assistance to a Queens resident as part of an MLK Day of Service event.  Eagle photo by Noah Powelson

By Noah Powelson

The Queens court community held their second annual Martin Luther King Day of Service event on Thursday, honoring the civil rights leader by giving free legal assistance to court users.

The all-day service event was set up in rooms inside the Queens Civil Courthouse in Jamaica, where teams of attorneys and student lawyers made themselves available to answer questions, give advice and walk court users through the next step of their legal issues. Legal matters attorneys provided help for included divorces, child support, custody and visitation, consumer debt, housing and name changes.

Organized and led by Zenith Taylor, the Unified Court System’s civic engagement coordinator, over 40 court users received free legal assistance as part of the Day of Service.

Taylor said they elected to hold the event on Martin Luther King’s birthday as a way to honor his legacy of civil service in an actionable way that helps others.

“We really have to continue his legacy of service, and this is a way for service as a community and as a statewide civic engagement coordinator,” Taylor told the Eagle. “My job is really to go out there and promote civic learning and civic engagement, and this is the best way to do it.”

Thursday’s Day of Service was the second UCS has held, and a significant expansion from last year’s program.

In 2025, the program was held in a Queens Supreme Court, Civil Term, in partnership with the Queens County Bar Association. There, attorneys offered assistance with uncontested divorce cases. While the event was limited, it was still a success, and QCBA received an Innovative Program Award from the New York State Bar Association as a result.

This year, UCS moved the event to Queens Civil Court to expand the number of rooms available and services provided, and also announced they would hold more programs outside of the city. The program also provides an equally valuable opportunity for Queens law students to get real world experience helping clients.

Court users had to register ahead of time, but attorneys also helped some walk-ins.

The event was organized in partnership with the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission and St. John’s University Ron Brown Civil Rights Center – 20 St. John law students participated in the event. Law students gave legal assistance with the supervision of attorneys, and were also given the chance to network with judges and court staff during lunch and dinner breaks.

Administrative Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York Shahabuddeen Ally and recently appointed Queens Civil Court Supervising Judge Michael Goldman also attended the program.

Taylor said the event not only helped young attorneys gain hands-on experience, but also fostered the idea of using their education in service to communities in need.

“When we read a book, we don't really put it together,” Taylor told the Eagle. “This brings it back and makes it more tangible for them to understand, and also to start to plant that seed that we have to give back to our communities.”

“That's what civics is,” she added. “We have to recognize that there's some people that are less fortunate than us that need help.”

Thursday was just the first of several Day of Service events that will take place across the state.

Another will be held in Suffolk County on Jan. 23, in partnership with Touro Law School. Buffalo County will also have a Day of Service event on Jan. 28, in partnership with the University of Buffalo Law School.

A third program will also take place in Nassau County, but the details for that event have yet to be confirmed.