Legal help in Suffolk County: Courts will offer free aid Jan. 23, in memory of Martin Luther King Jr.

Navigating the court system without assistance can be a daunting process, but now, in a day of service inspired by the memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Suffolk County courts are offering free legal help Jan. 23.

The county court system's program will assist people filing uncontested divorce cases or contending with child- or spousal-support matters, initial custody and visitation proceedings and name-change applications. Touro Law Center students, with the assistance of volunteer attorneys, will be on hand to help residents fill out court forms. They also will explain procedures and highlight other available services, court officials said.

"This program will bring together service, education, and community partnership in a new way that will help advance the court’s pledge to providing equal access to justice for all," Suffolk's district administrative judge, Andrew Crecca, said in a statement.

The one-day event, scheduled by appointment in the Central Jury Room of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex in Central Islip, is part of a statewide initiative piloted in Queens last year. It will be expanded to four other counties this year, including Nassau, on dates to be determined. Registering in advance is required.

Last year’s program in Queens County Supreme Court, conceived by St. John’s Law professor Vernadette Horne, focused solely on uncontested divorces involving no children or property. It took place on Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday dedicated to national service and volunteerism. It will be held this year in Queens County on Jan. 15, before Suffolk, Nassau and Buffalo hold theirs in the following weeks. 

Myra Berman, associate dean for Experiential Learning & Special Programs at Touro Law Center, said about 60 students took part in training to prepare for the Suffolk County program. They were taught how to navigate the paperwork they’ll be sharing with the community and how to respond to questions from the public.

The students will also work at the event with experienced attorneys who also will answer questions and ensure accuracy.

"From our perspective, our students are gaining invaluable education and on-the-job training," Berman said. "And from the court's perspective, we're helping the vulnerable with access to justice they wouldn't otherwise have."

Berman said that while the courts have do-it-yourself paperwork systems to make it easier for people to navigate the legal process without an attorney, the forms can sometimes be overwhelming and that it can be difficult to get immediate help from court staff.

Supervising Judge Cheryl Joseph, of Suffolk County Supreme Court Matrimonial Parts, said people are often emotional when dealing with custody and child-support issues and can grow frustrated. Many begin the process distrustful of government and the courts system, she said.

And while some court users come in having done their own research through Google or AI, that doesn’t always translate to an easier experience, said Joseph, chair of Equal Justice in the Courts Committee for Suffolk County. The judge said it’s not uncommon for court applications to be dismissed or denied because they weren’t filled out correctly.

"This is where the law students come in," said Joseph, who will oversee the program. "This is what this project is really about. ... It’s a thing to do to help."

The Office of Court Administration's civic engagement coordinator, Zenith Taylor, who is running the program statewide, said the goal is to show students and communities that civic engagement consists of more than just voting.

"It's also about service," Taylor said. "People don't always think about service and community of volunteering, but the word 'civic' comes from citizenship contributing to society."

To make an appointment, Suffolk residents should call the court clerk at 631-852-2421. Registrants will be required to present photo ID and share pedigree information for all parties involved, court officials said. While the support services are being provided for free, anyone looking to begin a divorce case or name-change proceeding will be required to pay a $210 filing fee, though eligible residents can seek assistance from the volunteers for a possible fee waiver, officials said. 

Like in Queens last year, uncontested divorces will be limited to cases not involving children and property.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.