40 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JUNE 2021
PRESS BUSINESS
THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF NASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENSE
BY BRIANA BONFIGLIO
Being a public defender is difficult and
certainly not the most high-paying job,
but for many lawyers at the Legal Aid
Society of Nassau County, it’s a calling.
The 55 staff attorneys and supervisors
at the Hempstead-based nonprofit
organization are appointed to
those who have criminal charges or
complaints against them who cannot
afford private lawyers but have a right
to counsel. Staff attorneys represent
all those arrested for felonies and
misdemeanors in the county, unless
they have their own lawyer, as well as
individuals in family court. So what
brings these law school graduates and
experienced attorneys to work at the
Legal Aid Society?
“I think it’s a commitment to social
justice and helping people out who are
struggling — people who themselves
have had issues in life and been in a
criminal justice, educational, social
service system that has
passed them by and not met
their needs,” says N. Scott
Banks, attorney-in-chief
of the Legal Aid Society of
Nassau County.
Legal Aid is funded by
Nassau County because
the county must offer legal
counsel to indigent criminal
and civil court defendants.
The funding isn’t
exactly top-dollar, making
it difficult to retain experienced
attorneys, so Banks
Legal Aid counsels criminal defendants who can’t afford an
attorney. (Getty Images)
hires only those whom he
believes truly want to work there.
“What I want to see from the law
grads is a commitment to the work and
caring about the client,” he says. “You
can›t do this work if you just want to
get some law experience. Where that
comes from? It›s really within you.
“If you come into this thinking, ‘I›m a
lawyer, I›m going to make a lot of money’
... You can make a living here, but
it›s not the same as private practice.
Not everyone can do it,” he adds.
Over the past year, the Covid pandemic
has exacerbated economic and racial
disparities on Long Island, and Legal
Aid has been at the forefront of that.
Banks calls these challenging
yet exciting times for the nonprofit
firm.
There’s a lot of problems to
resolve and clients who need
their help. There are also new
police reform laws, which
Banks offered input for on
the county level, as well as the
state’s recent discovery and
bail reform laws.
“It›s a new day in criminal
defense,” he says.
Legal Aid is expecting state
funding for a new program to help
juveniles with behavioral problems
in noncriminal cases. Though the
nonprofit does not run fundraising
campaigns, any individual
donations it receives go toward
buying professional clothing for
defendants who cannot afford it for
their court dates.
NONPROFIT FUNDRAISERS
‘DO THIS’ FOR A CAUSE
HEROICS FOR CHILDREN WITH
CANCER
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer
charity that funds more than any
other organization except the U.S. government
in childhood cancer research
grants. Giving hope to infants, children,
teens and young adults who are fighting
cancer is what this foundation is all
about. So come shave your head, donate,
or volunteer at this exciting St. Baldrick’s
event. Donations can be made on website.
Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub, 229 Laurel
Ave., Northport. stbaldricks.org/events
Free. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. June 5.
LONG ISLAND TAKE STEPS
ROAD RALLY
Hosted by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation,
Take Steps is being held to support
the 3.1 million patients affected by
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Virtual and in-person events will be
held so everyone can come together.
These events are full of support recognition,
inspiring patient stories,
entertainment and much more. RXR Executive
Park, 68 S. Service Rd., Melville.
cctakesteps.org/longisland21 Free. 12
p.m. June 6.
PUPS & PEEPS WALK
Walk with your dog in this socially
distanced, Covid-safe event to benefit
the American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention. Attendees can register at
Castle Gould’s clock tower. Sands Point
Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Rd., Sands
Point, sandspointconservancy.org
Free. 9 a.m.-11 a.m. June 6.
MERCY HAVEN’S ANNUAL
GOLF OUTING
All proceeds from the 21st annual event
support Mercy Haven’s housing and
support programs, acknowledging the
dignity and potential of those who are
homeless, living with mental illness,
or living in poverty. This is an all-day
event including a breakfast buffet,
barbecue lunch, cocktails and dinner,
fabulous hole-in-one prizes, dozens of
raffle baskets, and a silent auction. 1
Clubhouse Dr., Commack. events.r20.
constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=
a07ehj8t9dp7b037033&llr=dyrvvofab
$350. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 7.
MICHAEL MAGRO FOUNDATION
ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
The Michael Magro Foundation is
committed to developing programs and
providing services to meet the needs of
chronically ill pediatric patients. This
golfing event package includes valet
parking, locker room facilities, brunch,
green fee, refreshments during play,
cocktails and a dinner buffet. 22 E Gate
Dr., Cold Spring Harbor. michaelmagrofoundation.
com $175-$1,800. 11 a.m.-9
p.m. June 10.
GREAT SOUTH BAY YMCA 5K
The 4th Annual Run For A Cause will be
virtual this year. Choose your distance,
use a timer or GPS, take your run and
don’t forget to update your time online.
This race will benefit YMCA of Long
Island’s Covid-19 response fund. events.
elitefeats.com/ymca $5-$25. June 5-13.
-Compiled by Terrell Bush
Golf for a good cause this month. (Getty Images)
/longisland21
/events
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/sandspointconservancy.org
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