About Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) is a New York nonprofit legal service organization, founded in 1969, that serves artists and arts and cultural organizations. It holds 501(c)(3) status and connects low-income artists and arts nonprofits with volunteer attorneys who take matters on without charging for their time. Eligibility for pro bono help depends on financial need, and members with a qualifying issue can book clinic appointments at no cost.
The organization's services span contract drafting and negotiation, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and corporate formation and governance, and it also offers classes on copyright and contracts. Mediation and advocacy on behalf of artists are part of its activities, and it trains lawyers to serve the arts community. Its office is listed at 729 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, though some directories give 1 East 53rd Street instead, and its free services are described as reaching artists across New York State.
| Type | Nonprofit legal services |
|---|---|
| New York offices | New York City (Manhattan) |
| Phone | (212) 319-2787 |
| Website | vlany.org |
| Registered NY attorneys | 5 |
Practice areas
Areas of work that Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts describes on its own website. They describe the organization as a whole, not the practice of any individual attorney listed below.
Organization profile based on its official website and public sources (reviewed October 30, 2026). Attorney list from the New York State Unified Court System registration data. Not affiliated with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.
Registered attorneys
Timothy Jensen Suspended Kathryn Wagner Currently registered Amy Lehman Currently registered Marcus Barahal Currently registered Lauren Woods Currently registeredRegistration status can change at any time. Confirm any attorney's current status through the official New York Attorney Search.