Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) announces Marie Richardson as permanent Project Director of Bronx Legal Services, a program of Legal Services NYC that provides high-quality free civil legal services to thousands of low-income Bronx residents each year. Richardson has served as Acting Project Director of Bronx Legal Services since late 2019.
“We could not be more thrilled to make Marie the permanent project director of our Bronx program,” said Raun Rasmussen, Executive Director of Legal Services NYC. “A veteran legal advocate, Marie came out of retirement in 2019 before the pandemic to temporarily head up our Bronx program and never looked back. Her leadership skills and power to unify is undeniable. All of Legal Services NYC, but especially our Bronx team, is lucky to have her at the helm as we continue to provide high-quality legal services to the Bronx communities who most need our help.”
Prior to Bronx Legal Services, Marie worked for more than 25 years at The Legal Aid Society in a variety of managerial and supervisory roles. providing advice and counsel to attorneys in a number of different areas, including bankruptcy, employment, consumer affairs, immigration, family, housing, health and public benefits. She also previously worked at the New York City Human Resources Administration’s Adult Services Litigation Division where she counseled the agency on legal issues involving homeless individuals and families. Ms. Richardson is a proud graduate of Lehman College, CUNY and New York Law School.
“We are so very pleased to have Marie Richardson lead Bronx Legal Services as the permanent Project Director,” said Evette Soto-Maldonado, Board Chair of Bronx Legal Services. “Her vast leadership experience, ability to uplift and motivate staff and clients, and thoughtful management style make her the best possible person for this role. She steadied the ship during the pandemic and I cannot wait to see what else she will do.”
“It has been an absolute pleasure to serve as Acting Project Director for such talented and dedicated staff at Bronx Legal Services and I’m excited to continue in this role,” said Marie Richardson, Project Director of Bronx Legal Services. “I have been blown away by staff’s creative lawyering, dedication to our clients, and resiliency over the last few years and continue to be inspired by our clients. I look forward to supporting this team as they continue to fight injustices at every level so that every New Yorker, not just some, gets the stability and life they deserve.”
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About Bronx Legal Services
Bronx Legal Services, a program of Legal Services NYC, fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For 50 years, Bronx Legal Services has challenged systemic injustice and helped clients meet basic needs for housing, access to high-quality education, health care, family stability, and income and economic security. Legal Services NYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country, with neighborhood-based offices across all five boroughs helping more than 110,000 New Yorkers annually.
For more information on Bronx Legal Services, please visit here.
