The Scoop on DC 37 Legal Services
Representing more than 150,000 members and families, District Council 37, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, is one of the largest municipal employee unions in the country. DC 37 represents men and women employed in New York City municipal government, including the School Construction Authority, New York City public hospitals, the City University of New York, the New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation and other governmental agencies of the City of New York , as well as employees of the City’s private and non-profit organizations as designated by AFSCME International.
DC 37 Legal Services provides legal services to DC37 members and their eligible family members in important areas of civil law such as consumer matters, matrimonial law, workers’ compensation, landlord-tenant, and probate and estates. We also assist with certain areas of family law, sexual harassment and other employment litigation. DC 37 Legal Services staff attorneys are employed by DC37, and support staff are represented by DC 37.
Who Can Use DC 37 Legal Services?
Membership eligibility and the types of legal matters that members are eligible to receive legal services for is determined by which of the various public employee unions. Members eligible for legal services include members who belong to DC 37; members who belong to a municipal union that is affiliated with DC 37; and members of a chapter formerly represented by DC 37 and merged into another DC 37 affiliate. Members are also eligible if their union is barred by law from providing them legal services. People who are not DC 37 members are not eligible for legal services, with a few exceptions including Medicare and Social Security related litigation, benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Veterans Services, Medicaid, and Federal Trade Commission claims. DC 37 members may receive legal services on the following types of matters: Pension Fund matters, Medical Benefits Fund, Welfare Fund, Tuition Benefits Fund, Certificate of Membership and for errs and omissions in pension-related matters.
The Various Kinds of Legal Services Provided
The legal services offered through DC 37 are as diverse as the membership it serves. With an expansive and continually growing range of services, some of the most utilized include:
Labor Law
DC 37’s labor law services cover a broad spectrum of needs. From administrative representation at tribunals, to appellate advocacy in New York State and Federal courts, labor law representatives at the DC 37 Legal Services plan and execute their strategy with members in mind. Some examples of the type of labor law services offered include participation in grievance proceedings, representation in disciplinary proceedings, collective bargaining agreement interpretation, and arbitrative services.
Family Law
Providing relatively affordable family law services to those who have nowhere else to turn has become one of the cornerstones of the DC 37 Legal Services plan. Conducting more than 11,000 cases each year, DC 37’s skilled family law professionals provide a variety of needed services for both divorce and family court cases including custodial and visitation issues, support and separation issues, and juvenile justice representation.
Immigration
Members from all backgrounds seek out the immigration services offered at DC 37. Regarded as a cost-effective option for their immigration issues, clients of the immigration unit are involved in a variety of situations including applications for citizenship, parole, asylum, special immigrant visas, and more.
Personal and Civil Law
Providing civil and personal legal services to members of DC 37 covers a large range of needs. Services offered within this category include land use and zoning, environmental issues, employment law (for former employees), and representation for criminal matters such as gun possession or narcotics possession.
How to Make Use of DC 37 Legal Services
Filing a request for assistance is simple; Simply fill out the "Request for Legal Assistance" form and submit the form to obtain this assistance. There are three ways to obtain the necessary form:
- Login to your DC37 Member Portal account.
- Download a PDF Form which can be printed, filled out and submitted by Email or Fax.
- Visit the DC37 HQ at 125 Barclay St New York, NY 10007 to fill out a form and speak with a representative in person.
Once the request is filed a Representative will contact you within 7 (seven) business days. The Representative will set up an appointment with you where they will review your request and determine if you qualify for assistance.
If you are found to qualify you will be referred to an Attorney experienced in your type of issue. Please note that at this point it will be up to the Attorney as to whether or not they take your particular case. DC37 Attorneys may choose to represent you on a pro bono basis , but are not required to do so. Appropriate referrals may be made to the grievance process with the Citywide or Agency Labor-Management Committees.
If you are not entitled to representation, you will be given the opportunity to seek out an outside attorney. Please note that DC37 Legal Services is not an attorney referral service and will not provide names of outside attorneys under any circumstance. Your Agency’s union representative may also be able to assist you in finding representation.
How DC 37 Legal Services Benefit You
DC 37 members who use the Legal Services Unit can enjoy a variety of benefits. First and foremost, using DC 37 Legal Services saves the member money, when the cost for a similar service from a private attorney can run anywhere from $200 to $400 an hour. Maybe you are confused about how to handle your case. You don’t know the procedures, or the law is complex and you just don’t understand. Our knowledgeable attorneys give employee members guidance and advice to help you. Perhaps the employer is threatening disciplinary action against you. The Legal Services attorneys will go to a hearing with you to support you and make sure that you get the process you are entitled to.
Member Testimonials
The feedback we receive from DC 37 members is overwhelmingly positive, and we take pride in our track record of success. One member who recently sought our help with a public sector employment discrimination matter said, "I honestly could not have asked for a better outcome from my experience with DC 37 Legal Services. I felt prepared and ready to take on my case after consulting with Ms. Serebinsky and Ms. Mastrosimone. They were very thorough in their preparation and I felt confident going in. The entire process was streamlined thanks to the effort of the team at DC 37 Legal Services. Everything was efficiently put together , leaving no room for flaws. I have to thank my attorney Nancy Serebinsky for going above and beyond in visiting me at work during hours that were convenient for me, which helped me prepare for what was to come. I feel that we really made the best case possible and that my case was well representative of the value and quality of the services provided by the DC 37 Legal Services lawyers."