Hispanic Heritage Month
My name is Nicholas Ramirez … As a Puerto Rican who grew up poor on the West Side of Buffalo, I know firsthand that my fellow Latinos, Hispanics, and Boricuas and I were raised to believe lawyers would not help us because many of us had never seen their benefit. First, we could not afford lawyers, and even if we knew of legal service providers, someone else had used them and shared stories of uncaring individuals who did not bother to hear us or contact us, except at court. Second, even if we could get a lawyer to help us, the people we would be up against had lawyers who made sure we would not have any legal options because that is what they are paid to do. And third, the lawyers for the other side were able to do this because the system itself did not care about us and was inherently designed to protect only those with money and power.
I am proud to be a consumer defense attorney with the Western New York Law Center’s pro se consumer debt clinic, CLARO Buffalo, where we provide free legal assistance to people who need consumer debt representation and cannot afford to hire a market-rate attorney. We strive to educate our visitors about their consumer rights and help them navigate the legal process. This includes providing legal advice, drafting legal documents, reviewing credit reports, offering bankruptcy advice, submitting credit report disputes, and appearing in court alongside clinic visitors. We even have a trained credit repair paralegal who pulls our visitors’ credit reports and provides guidance on improving and rebuilding their credit. By providing our visitors with the opportunity to understand credit, build their credit, and receive legal advice tailored to their individual situation, we are helping to move them out of poverty and into financial security. For instance, helping to improve our visitors’ credit score, they can qualify for car loans, home mortgages, insurance, and even get a job. In addition, with enhanced money management skills, our visitors can plan their monthly expenses better, allowing them to make informed financial decisions and avoid potential shocks and undue stress.
We are not just attorneys who show up for our visitors in court, and often wear many hats - as confidants, teachers, and problem solvers. We hope that our visitors feel heard when they share with us about sudden job loss, family strife, or an illness that has affected their ability to provide for their family. Our clinic strives to provide access to anyone who needs legal assistance with their consumer debt case. We offer in-person legal clinic sessions, held every Tuesday at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library and every Friday at Buffalo City Court. So while the system may indeed be stacked against my fellow Latinos, Hispanics, and Boricuas, CLARO Buffalo is a tremendous resource here in Western New York for my Hispanic community.
