The Community and Economic Development (CED) Program at Brooklyn Legal Services Corp. A, founded by Paul J. Acinapura, has provided legal assistance and representation to more than 100 non-profit, community-based organizations in low-income neighborhoods since it opened its doors in 1976.
Acinapura, who started his career in Brooklyn A’s evictions prevention unit, recognized the need in those neighborhoods for the kind of high-quality representation corporate lawyers provide for their private-sector clients. By building relationships and gaining the trust and confidence of community organizers in some of New York City’s poorest neighborhoods, Acinapura built a program that would provide representation on complex revitalization and development projects. The projects require a broad range of expertise in corporate, tax, contract, real estate, licensing, and other business, commercial and regulatory matters.
