URGENT NEWS
Support the $50 million increase in spending authority for IOLA to protect access to justice for New Yorkers
2026
Lawmakers, Legal Services Providers, and Bar Leaders Call for Full Support of IOLA Fund in Final Budget Agreement
Coalition highlights partnership between nonprofit legal services and the private bar to protect access to justice for vulnerable New Yorkers
One-house budget proposals restore full appropriation for IOLA
For photos and video, click here (photo credit: Anat Gerstein, Inc)
2026 Law Firm Leaders Letter to Governor Hochul Regarding IOLA funding to legal services organizations
Dear Governor Hochul,
We join the law firm and corporate legal department leaders who advocated to you last month in the attached letter to support full spending authority of $102.5M for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund. Both the Senate and the Assembly have proposed to fully fund IOLA in their FY 2027 One-House budget proposals, allowing the IOLA Fund to make good on its five-year commitment to civil legal aid funding in the State. We ask that you agree to these funding provisions in the final FY 2027 budget and do not unilaterally remove already budgeted funds from organizations providing vital legal services to low-income New Yorkers.
NY Legal Services Coalition Applauds Senate and Assembly for Restoring IOLA Funding in One-House Budgets
ALBANY, NY – The New York Legal Services Coalition released the following statement from President Kristin Brown in response to the Senate and Assembly one-house budget proposals restoring full appropriation authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund. Both the Senate and Assembly proposals restore IOLA funding to $102.5 million, and the Senate proposal includes an additional $50 million investment in civil legal services, bringing the total proposed funding to $152.5 million.
Lawmakers propose boost to civil legal services fund
By Jacob Kaye
The state legislature this week proposed boosting a civil legal services fund in its one-house budgets that attorneys say was severely underfunded in Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal.
NY Legal Services Coalition Applauds Senate and Assembly for Restoring IOLA Funding in One-House Budgets
ALBANY, NY – The New York Legal Services Coalition released the following statement from President Kristin Brown in response to the Senate and Assembly one-house budget proposals restoring full appropriation authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund. Both the Senate and Assembly proposals restore IOLA funding to $102.5 million, and the Senate proposal includes an additional $50 million investment in civil legal services, bringing the total proposed funding to $152.5 million.
Hochul restricts funds for civil legal services- The Capitol Pressroom
March 10, 2026- A board controlling funds for civil legal services is being undermined by Gov. Kathy Hochul. We discuss the holdup and what it could mean for low-income families with Kristin Brown, president and CEO of the Empire Justice Center.
Commentary: Cutting corners on civil legal assistance fund won't save taxpayers any money
The Interest on Lawyer Account Fund deserves full support, because vulnerable New Yorkers should not have to navigate life-altering legal crises alone. By Monice Barbero, For the Times Union
BronxNet, Todays Verdict: IOLA Fund - The Lawyers Alliance for New York interview
Angela Fernandez, Executive Director of Lawyers Alliance and coalition member, explains the push to restore full spending authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund and what the budget gap could mean for civil legal services across New York.
Queens Daily Eagle: Civil legal service fund go unchanged in gov’s budget amendments
Despite bar associations and legal organizations across the state urging the governor to expand a public fund for civil legal services, the governor made no changes to the budget item in the slate of amendments to her proposed financial plan released last week.
Statement from the New York Legal Services Coalition on IOLA Funding in the Governor’s 30-Day Budget Amendments
ALBANY, NY – The New York Legal Services Coalition released the following statement from President Kristin Brown in response to the Governor’s 30-day budget amendments, which did not restore full appropriation authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund:
NYC Bar Urges Governor to Fully Fund IOLA in Budget Amendments
February 11, 2026
The New York City Bar Association and its Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee, which represents numerous leading legal services providers as well as major pro bono partner law firms and corporations, respectfully urges Governor Hochul to include full spending authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in her forthcoming 30-day amendments to the 2027 Executive Budget.
City Bar Justice Center Urges Governor to Fully Fund IOLA to Support New Yorkers at Risk
New York, February 13, 2026 – The City Bar Justice Center applauds and echoes the New York City Bar Association’s respectful urging of New York Governor Kathy Hochul to include full spending authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in her forthcoming 30-day amendments to the 2027 Executive Budget.
RE: Request for Full Spending Authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in the 30-Day Budget Amendments
Dear Governor Hochul,
We, the 132 undersigned organizations and individuals, write to ask you to include full spending authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in your forthcoming 30-day amendments to the SFY 2027 Executive Budget. This action is essential to maintaining stability in New York’s civil legal services delivery system and ensuring that low-income New Yorkers continue to receive the assistance they need during a period of unprecedented demand
Civil legal services face funding loss in new state budget, advocates say
Civil legal services for New Yorkers could be severely reduced in the coming years if the governor does not increase the spending authority for a public fund that keeps legal nonprofits afloat, advocates warned this week.
Statement from the New York Legal Services Coalition on the Governor’s Executive Budget and IOLA Funding
ALBANY, NY – The New York Legal Services Coalition, a statewide organization representing civil legal service providers throughout New York State, released the following statement from President Kristin Brown in response to the Governor’s Executive Budget, which did not include full appropriation authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund, a critical, non-taxpayer funding source for civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers:
IOLA FAQs
Full Spending Authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account Fund
2024
Last-minute ‘sweep’ undermines low-income New Yorker’s Access to Justice, according to the New York Legal Services Coalition
Governor, Legislature assure legal community it is a one-time occurrence
In a last-minute move during budget negotiations, lawmakers have agreed to a one-time, $55 million “sweep” from the Interest on Lawyer Accounts (IOLA) Fund to cover the cost of the state’s foreclosure prevention program (HOPP) at $40m and eviction prevention services at $15m. The proposal was put forth by the Governor in the final hours of negotiations. While legislators pushed back -- given that IOLA funds are not tax levy dollars, and the sweep would reduce the net amount of funds available to provide civil legal aid to low-income New Yorkers -- the move was ultimately agreed to so that critical programs were fully funded.
RENEWED NYS BUDGET ‘SWEEP’ OF IOLA FUNDS WOULD BE DISASTROUS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – April 17, 2024. A late breaking proposal from Governor Kathy Hochul would ‘sweep’ $55 million from the Interest on Lawyers Account Fund (IOLA). The initial executive budget proposed a sweep of $100M from IOLA to the general fund, which was rescinded in the 30-day amendments on February 15. This diversion of non-taxpayer dollars has been resurrected.
Civil Legal Service Community Thanks Governor For Rescinding Proposed ‘sweep’ Of Funds Earmarked To Help Low-income New Yorkers Access Justice
February 16, 2024
The civil legal services community applauded Governor Hochul for rescinding the proposed ‘sweep’ of $100 million earmarked to support low-income New Yorkers’ civil legal needs into New York’s the General Fund. The sweep of the Interest on Lawyers Account (IOLA) was originally proposed in the executive budget and was rescinded in the 30-day amendments released late in the day on February 15.
Community Letter Opposing Transfer of IOLA Funds
Dear Governor Hochul:
The undersigned urge you to issue a 30-day amendment to the FY25 Executive Budget, rescinding the proposed transfer of $100 million from the IOLA Fund to the State General Fund.
Wage gap between state-funded attorneys, government peers is driving an employment crisis in New York’s Civil Legal Services":
Proposed “sweep” in the Executive Budget would put Civil Legal Services further at risk