Averting the Crisis: Tentative Agreement Halts Legal Aid Society Strike

Plans for a strike by over 1,100 Legal Aid Society attorneys on July 25, 2025, have been called off—at least temporarily—following a tentative contract reached with their union.
Contract Ratification Next Week
The new deal comes just before the union’s scheduled strike. These attorneys, members of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys – UAW Local 2325, had been seeking improved salaries, manageable caseloads, enhanced retirement benefits, and greater job protections since their last contract ended in June.
Negotiations had earlier collapsed, leading the union to cancel its agreement and signal a walkout. That action has now paused as members decide whether to accept the contract in a vote planned for next week.
Progress, with More Work Needed
Union president Jane Fox highlighted significant steps forward with new protections for staff retention, a first-of-its-kind student loan program, lengthy parental leave, and retiree health care. Still, she criticized both Mayor Adams and Legal Aid for falling short on salary and pension demands, but noted the contract allows for further negotiations in 2026.
Statements from Organization and Officials
Twyla Carter, the Legal Aid Society’s CEO, greeted the breakthrough, saying it ensures legal services for financially strained New Yorkers will continue. Carter noted that staff pay lags behind other fields, due to many years of underinvestment.
City officials, including Deanna Logan of the Mayor’s Office for Criminal Justice, praised the tentative agreement and the prevention of disruptions in the justice system.
Persistent Funding Gaps
Despite a $20 million budget increase for legal services this year, many attorneys argue more resources are needed to handle heavier caseloads. Union leaders are still pushing Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council for greater investment to help keep up with rising demand.
Had the strike gone ahead, New York’s main legal aid provider would have been shut down. Other legal services groups also face labor disputes, and smaller strikes involving hundreds of legal professionals are ongoing in multiple boroughs.