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SERVING 150,000 + FAMILIES

IN NYS & NJ SINCE 2018

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to bridge the gap between underserved communities and the legal system, especially for those impacted by language, culture, or economic barriers, with education, legal services, and empowerment.

Founders
hablamos español

We Speak Your Language

Hablamos Español – Estamos aquí para ayudarte.

Latina Operated

We are proud to be a latina-led organization, bringing a unique cultural perspective and a deep commitment to serving our community with integrity and care.

25 Yrs Experience

With over two decades of combined experience, our team has the knowledge and expertise to navigate any challenge, ensuring the highest quality service for our clients.

Bilingual:

We understand the importance of clear communication. Our bilingual team is ready to assist in both English & Spanish, making sure language is never a barrier to the support you need.

We’re Bridging the Justice Gap

Providing affordable legal help for underserved communities

0

Civil cases with at least one
self-represented party

0

Low-income people not confident
they could afford a lawyer

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Low-income people citing cost
as a barrier to legal help

Legal Empowerment, By the People—For the People

We’re a Latina-led, community-rooted organization redefining access to justice with heart, knowledge, and purpose.

Community Legal Support

Helping everyday people navigate legal systems with dignity and clarity.

Legal Education

Free bilingual workshops, resources, and events to empower communities.

Mentorship & Scholarships

Building the next generation of legal advocates through hands-on training.

💬 We started from personal experience—because no one should navigate the legal system alone! Learn why we exist.

📖 Read Our Story

Common FAQ's on Paralegals & Attorneys

What limitations does a Paralegal have?
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Paralegals cannot provide legal advice, represent you in court, or form a client-attorney relationship.

We can provide guidance, opinions, or suggestions based on our experience and assist attorneys with legal research and documentation.

What we can do for you
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We can do the following:

  • Drafting contracts, wills, and all other types of legal documents.
  • Conducting legal research and summarizing case law.
  • Organizing case files and evidence.
  • Filing papers in Court to commence or respond to a case.
  • Managing client communications.

Do I need an Attorney?
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This is a common misconception.

In the United States, everyone has the right to represent themselves in court, also known as "pro se" representation. This right is generally considered to be part of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, which also includes the right to an attorney if you choose to exercise it.

Depending on your case/situation, we can assist with drafting legal documents, filing documents, etc, all at a lower cost, for litigants representing themselves in Court.

Do I always need an attorney for legal matters?

Not always. Certain tasks, such as preparing straightforward legal documents (wills, contracts, or uncontested divorces), can be handled with the assistance of a paralegal or through self-help legal services.

What are some examples of cases where I don't need an Attorney?
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Small claims, uncontested divorces, name changes, and document preparation are examples of legal tasks that may not require an attorney. There's certainly other types of cases where we asses if you can proceed on your own and whether or not we can help.

When do I need an Attorney?
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When an Attorney May Be Needed

While we can assist with a wide range of document preparation and filings, there are situations where an Attorney may be necessary:

  • Court Appearances: For matters like contested divorces, child custody hearings, or anything requiring you to appear before a judge.
  • Disputed Cases: Where there are significant legal disagreements or potential litigation, legal representation is important.

If we begin your case and the situation changes, we may advise that you bring in an attorney. We work with attorneys in our network and can refer you at a reduced rate.

Examples include:

  • An uncontested divorce that becomes contested
  • A complex landlord & tenant eviction
  • If the other party hires an attorney
  • Disputes involving children
  • And other evolving legal situations
Cost comparison between Paralegals and Attorneys
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Paralegals generally charge significantly less than attorneys. You can save hundreds or even thousands by using a qualified paralegal for routine legal services.

OUR SERVICES

FEATURED ON

City&State
Univision 41
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MORE PRESS & EVENTS

FOR THE COMMUNITY

Paralegals
DIVERSE PROGRAMS

Our program encourages the growth of the paralegal profession, attesting to and encouraging a high level of achievement by providing one-on-one training in a legal setting.

Mentorship
MENTORSHIP

Our firm has partnered up with various schools, universities, colleges, and programs throughout NYC and New Jersey.

Community Engagement
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

For several years we have fostered and established relationships by hosting, attending, and creating workshops that mobilize the community.

Community Impact
COMMUNITY IMPACT

We have been able to assist hundreds of families in petitioning their loved ones from over 35 foreign countries, renew/replace their green cards, apply for work permits, and apply for citizenship.

REAL Reviews

from real clients

To our Perspective clients: As a woman and family-owned business, we truly take pride and an honest approach to providing valuable, efficient, and quality services to our community. You have come to the right place! Over the last few years our team has assisted hundreds of families from ten different states and 50 different countries fulfill their legal needs. The PFTC team takes their combined 25 years of experience in the legal field by understanding our client's objectives, and by meeting their expectations to the highest standards. Our clients are our number one priority and our success record and reputation prove that. Our Bilingual team is equipped to work with an array of people from the general public to law firms. Whether you are an individual, a family, a solo practitioner, a boutique, a large law firm, or an organization we got you covered. Paralegals FTC, model is simple, we maintain a professional, team-driven, ethical, and client-centered practice to ensure customer satisfaction. We are enthusiastic every day to use our platform as leaders in the community to empower and impact the underserved, youth, elderly, and families that come from all walks of life. Our continuity and readiness plans are in action to continue fostering our growing community. We encourage you to connect with us and thank you in advance.
Credentials and Certifications
  • Berkeley College, Bachelors of Science, Criminal Justice (2019)
Michel joined PFTC as an intern in 2018.  In 2022, she joined us as a part-time Legal Assistant and Biometric Technician.
Credentials & Certifications:     
  • New Jersey City University, Bachelor’s of Science- In Progress
  • Notary Public in the State of New Jersey (2021)
  • Biometric Enrollment Agent with the State of New Jersey (2021)
Daveliz joined the team in 2021 as a Legal Assistant and Biometric Technician for our Union City office. She has over five years of administrative and clerical experience.  Ms. Nova is the head biometric technician processing applicants for background checks and employment verifications in New Jersey.
Credentials and Certifications
  • Associates Degree from BMCC (2005)
  • Biometric Enrollment Agent with the State of New York (2019)
Vanessa joined the team in 2019 as our Biometric Technician and Legal Secretary. She is responsible for performing quality biometrics processing to include capturing electronic fingerprints, photographs, on a Federal level.  She also handles scheduling and managing the firms calendar.
Credentials & Certifications:     
  • University at Albany, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (2015)
  • University at Albany, Masters of Art in Criminal Justice (2016)
  • Social Media Management Platform-Product Pro Certification Levels I & II (2022)
  • Certified in LinkedIn and Google
Shakira Nova joined our firm in 2022 as our Marketing Manager. She currently holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany. In the past several years, she has worked for Nonprofit organizations in the Bronx where she advocated for clients in criminal court to be placed in alternative to incarceration programming. She truly enjoys making an impact within her own community by educating and providing resources to those around her. Within the last year, Shakira has worked towards combining her passion for marketing and legal services.
Credentials & Certifications:     
  • University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science in Political Science/Pre-Law (2010)
  • New York University, Paralegal Certification, (2014)
Elaine has 12 years of paralegal experience in asbestos claims and personal injury accident cases.  She brings her expertise in pleadings, trial preparation, motion practice and a variety of pre-litigation legal document preparation. In 2018, she helped founded Paralegals for the Community. She currently works as our head freelance paralegal and also provides mobile services in areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Credentials & Certifications:
  • Touro University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Hospitality (2011)
  • TCI College, Paralegal Certification, (2012)
  • Certified Tax Preparer in New York State and New Jersey (2012)
  • Certifying Acceptance Agent, IRS (2017)
  • Notary Public, State of New Jersey (2020)
Rachel brings more than 10 years of experience as a Paralegal.  She worked at an Immigration firm in Danbury, Connecticut for 6 years and helped hundreds of individuals/families complete and successfully submit various petitions to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Rachel oversees our Family, Immigration and Tax Department. She also has extensive knowledge on other legal procedures and practices. Her management experience coupled with her legal academia make her role in Paralegals for the Community that much more lucrative.  
Credentials and Certifications
  • Berkeley College, Paralegal Certification, (2006)
  • St. John’s University, Bachelor of Science in Pre- Law (2010)
  • St. John’s University, Masters of Science in Social Work (2014)
  • CUNY-Hunter College, Masters of Science in School Counseling (2017)
  • Notary Public, State of New York -Bronx County- Commissioned since 2013
Swannie brings 18 years of Paralegal experience to the team. From having worked at the United States Attorney’s Office, she assisted senior agents in enforcing the collection of criminal and civil debts owed to the United States to Binder & Binder, P.C., helping individuals get their SSI and SSD benefits granted by writing persuasive briefs. Swannie also worked at places like Bronx Housing Court assisting families with housing applications, and provided housing search, and rent stabilization support to homeless and at-risk families with children. From 6 years, she worked at a Personal Injury firm, she worked extensively in a wide variety of branches within personal injury such as asbestos litigation, pre-litigation motor vehicle and lead paint poisoning.  Swannie currently is the head of Operations, and runs the Bankruptcy and Estate Planning Departments in PFTC.

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