Free Legal Services
(212) 815-1111

DC 37’s Health and Security benefit package includes the largest prepaid legal services office in the country. More than 65 staff lawyers offer legal advice and representation, and prepare legal documents for members on a wide range of civil legal matters. MELS lawyers work exclusively for the union. Social workers are also available to counsel you on case-related personal and family problems.

The MELS Benefit covers only employees and retirees residing in New York State and the geographic area covered by MELS is limited to the following zip codes:

New York City
Brooklyn - 112
Bronx - 104
Queens - 110, 111, 113, 114
Manhattan - 100, 101, 102
Staten Island - 103

New York State
Nassau County - 110, 115, 116, 117, 118
Suffolk County - 117 except 11719, 11764, 11778, 11786, 11789 and 11792
Westchester County - 105, 106, 107, 108
Rockland County - 109

To determine your eligibility for the benefit call MELS at (212) 815-1111.

[Note: Local 371 Members and members and retirees of Local 375 are covered separately.]

[Employees and retirees of the DC 37 Cultural Institutions Health and Security Plan Trust are not eligible for the MELS benefit - see below.]


MELS Can Help Full-Time and Part-Time Employees and Retirees with:

• Preparation of wills
• Debt matters, including bankruptcy (amount in dispute must be over $500)
• Disputes with sellers of goods and services if the amount in dispute is over $500
• Correction of inaccurate credit reports
• Billing disputes with utilities (gas, electric, phone)
• Landlord actions that could result in your eviction
• Entitlements from government agencies, like Social Security, food stamps, etc.
• Divorce, separation and annulment
• Defense in a civil law suit against you, if more than $500, and you have no legal representation under insurance policies
• Citizenship matters
• Review by a lawyer of a legal document
  

Additional Benefits for Full-Time Employees and Retirees:

• Buying or selling your one-family house, co-op or condominium if it is your primary residence
• Disputes over custody and visitation of children
• Representation where you are the parent in a child abuse, neglect, or foster care case (representation of foster parents is limited to those having had custody of the child for more than 24 months)
• Orders of protection in cases of spouse abuse and other domestic violence (representation will not include cases brought in Criminal Court)
• Adoption
• Name Change

MELS does not accept criminal cases, or handle business problems. Representation is also not available for defense of tort claims, such as libel, slander and personal injury caused by negligence.

Local 371 Social Service Employees Union members are covered by the local’s Legal Services Fund, 817 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. Call (212) 777-9000.

Local 375 Civil Service Technical Guild members and retirees are covered by the local's Professional Employees Legal Service, 125 Barclay St., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Call (212) 815-7530.

Active employees and retired members covered by the DC 37 Cultural Institutions Health and Security Plan Trust, are not eligible for the MELS benefit effective July 1, 2009.