Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - VLANY

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) is the leading legal aid and education organization dedicated to New York artists and its arts and cultural organizations. VLA strives to protect the artistic community’s livelihoods, businesses, and creative works through access to dedicated legal representation and focused education programs.

VLA provides legal services to the arts community in every discipline, including: acting, animation, architectural design, bookmaking, choreography, composition, computer design, costume design, craft and folk arts, dance, directing, fashion, film, graphic design, installation art, literary arts, modeling, multimedia, music, photography, playwriting, poetry, printmaking, screenwriting, songwriting, theater, three-dimensional design, video arts, video game design, visual arts, and web design.

Legal Assistance

VLA serves the artistic community’s need for legal services by providing access to free or low fee legal services. Qualifying artists can request legal assistance on all arts-related legal matters. See the Artists’ Legal Services page here for details.

VLA can be reached by phone at 212-319-2787, ext.1 or through our online application links found below.

For-Profit Entities

Non-Profit Entities

501(c)(3) Incorporation

CLASSES

VLA plays an important role in educating artists, professionals within arts and cultural institutions, attorneys, students, and the general public about legal and business issues that affect artistic and creative endeavors. We provide industry specific classes and workshops as well as core legal classes on copyright, contracts and non-profit formation. Dates and times can be found on our calendar.

View Our Classes

“ Many artists, perhaps most famously Mark Rothko, leave no will or a weak will. Their estates can be left to manage lengthy trials, and I did not want that to happen to my art. VLA’s Artists Over Sixty program met my legal needs perfectly. VLA connected me with a professional, patient lawyer who represented me for free. The saying goes, “You get what you pay for,” but this could not be further from the truth in my dealings with VLA. I am now confident that my art will be protected after my death and I have VLA to thank for that. ”

VLA Testimonial: Ben Henderson

“ I am an artist and wanted to establish a business. I joined VLA, and they helped me enormously. The staff was supportive and sincerely interested in providing the great legal advice. VLA helped me to understand the legal aspects of my endeavors. I encourage all artists who need legal and business advice to see the help of VLA. It is a wonderful organization! ”

VLA Testimonial: Joan Lengel

“ I created The Love Bench, an artwork on Greenwich and 7th Avenues, in response to the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 and The Tiles for America project. VLA has provided me with many legal and business services that I never could have afforded as a struggling artist. VLA and its volunteers have helped me with Love Bench as well as other matters over the years. I am truly grateful for VLA’s assistance! ”

VLA Testimonial: Paul Mcclure

Would you like to help us offer more VLA legal services and educational programming?

Please show your support by making a secure online donation today:

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

1 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
1 (212) 319-2787 ext. 1
vlany@vlany.org