Key points
- Reporting discrimination to the New York State Division of Human Rights and filing a complaint there are free and need no attorney, and the NYC Commission on Human Rights says its services are free of charge.[1][2]
- The State's sexual harassment hotline, printed in the State's 2023 model policy as 1 (800) HARASS3, can refer a caller to a volunteer attorney for limited free assistance and counsel over the phone; the State's worker FAQ gives the Division's Call Center, (844) 697-3471, for the same referral.[3][4]
- Legal Services NYC says it gives free legal advice, referrals and representation to low-income workers, subject to capacity and location; its intake line is 917-661-4500.[5]
- The New York City Bar Legal Referral Service, 212-626-7373, refers callers to screened lawyers for an initial meeting of up to 30 minutes that costs $35 or nothing, depending on the type of case.[6]
- Looking for help does not pause a deadline: the State Division and the City Commission both say a report is not yet an official complaint.[7][8]
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.[9] After a sexual assault or other violence, the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is 800-942-6906 (text 844-997-2121), confidential and available 24/7.[10] The national sexual assault hotline is 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).[11]
Several sources of free or low-cost help are open to a New York worker dealing with harassment, discrimination or retaliation. The State Division of Human Rights says reporting discrimination and filing a complaint are free and need no attorney, and the NYC Commission on Human Rights says its services are free of charge.[1][2] The State runs a sexual harassment hotline that can refer a caller to a volunteer attorney for limited free advice by phone.[3] Legal Services NYC says it gives free advice, referrals and representation to low-income workers, subject to capacity and location, and the New York City Bar's referral service arranges first meetings of up to 30 minutes for $35 or nothing.[5][6] This page lists each resource, what it does, and the contact details published on its official page as of October 2026.
Government help that costs nothing
| Resource | What it does | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Division of Human Rights | Takes discrimination reports and prepares the formal complaint under the State Human Rights Law; free, no attorney needed | Call Center (844) 697-3471, or the online form on its Report Discrimination page[12][1] |
| Division of Human Rights sexual harassment hotline | Information about filing a sexual harassment complaint; referral to a volunteer attorney for limited free assistance by phone | 1 (800) HARASS3, as printed in the State's 2023 model policy; the State's worker FAQ gives (844) 697-3471 for the same referral[3][4] |
| NYC Commission on Human Rights | Takes reports and complaints under the City Human Rights Law; services are free | 311 (say "human rights") or 212-416-0197[8][2] |
| EEOC | Takes charges under the federal statutes; its mediation program charges neither side | 1-800-669-4000[13][14] |
| New York State Attorney General | Investigates complaints about wages, benefits, paid leave, job safety, discrimination and harassment | Helpline 1-800-771-7755[15] |
Addresses, hours and the regional offices are in the agency directory. How the three agencies differ is covered in EEOC, State Division, City Commission or court.
What agency staff can and cannot do
An agency is not your lawyer. The State Division says its investigators are neutral fact-finders who represent New York State, are not advocates for either side, and cannot give legal advice to any party.[1] Agency intake also is not the same as filing: the Division says a discrimination report is not an official complaint yet, and the City Commission says its limitations period does not stop until a verified complaint is signed, notarized, and mailed or personally delivered.[7][8] Under the State and City Human Rights Laws, filing with an agency also has a legal consequence: a complaint filed with the State Division or the City Commission generally prevents a court suit on the same State or City claim.[16] That rule is explained in election of remedies.
The State's sexual harassment hotline
New York State law directs the Division of Human Rights to operate a toll-free confidential hotline, during regular business hours, that gives people with workplace sexual harassment complaints counsel and assistance. The Division recruits experienced attorneys to help callers without charge, and those attorneys may not solicit further representation of the people they advise.[17] The same law says information about the hotline belongs in the sexual harassment materials employers post or hand to employees.[17]
The State's 2023 model sexual harassment prevention policy prints the number in letters, as 1 (800) HARASS3, and describes what a caller gets: more information about filing a complaint, and a referral to a volunteer attorney experienced in sexual harassment matters who can provide limited free assistance and counsel over the phone.[3] The State's worker FAQ says the same information and referral are available by calling the Division at 844-NYS-DHR1, (844) 697-3471.[4] What both sources describe is limited assistance by phone, not ongoing representation.[3][4]
Legal aid and nonprofit legal services
- Legal Services NYC. Says it provides free legal advice, referrals and representation to low-income workers facing problems that include loss of employment, unemployment benefits, unpaid wages, employment discrimination, and medical and family leave. Intake: 917-661-4500, Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Help is subject to capacity and location. Details are on its workers' rights page.[5]
- The Legal Aid Society, Employment Law Unit. Assists individuals, typically low-wage and unemployed workers, with employment law problems. It says most of its cases involve wage violations, workplace discrimination, sick, family and medical leave, unemployment insurance, and labor trafficking. This page does not list an intake number for the unit, so start from the unit's own page.[18]
- LawHelpNY. A website for searching free legal services across New York State, with topics that include employment and workers' rights and civil rights and discrimination: lawhelpny.org.[19]
- A Better Balance. A nonprofit legal advocacy organization with a free and confidential legal helpline, 1-833-NEED-ABB (1-833-633-3222). Its own page lists the helpline's subjects as sick leave, family and medical leave, pregnancy discrimination and pregnancy-related accommodations, caregiver discrimination, scheduling and equal pay, and says its consultations are for information only.[20]
- Other organizations the State lists. New York State's page for workers on combating sexual harassment lists non-government resources that also include the City Bar Justice Center, Legal Momentum and Lambda Legal, and says the list is not comprehensive.[21]
None of these sources promises that a given caller will be represented; Legal Services NYC says its help is subject to capacity and location.[5]
Bar association referral services
A referral service does not represent you. It matches you with a private lawyer for a first meeting.
- New York City Bar Legal Referral Service. Call 212-626-7373 or request a lawyer online through its Get Legal Help page. It refers callers to screened lawyers; initial consultations are $35 or free, depending on the type of case, and last up to 30 minutes. Employment and labor law is one of the listed areas.[6]
- New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service. 1-800-342-3661, the number given on the Association's own site and on the State's worker page.[22][21]
What New York's rules say about lawyers' fees and first meetings
These New York State court rules and statutes apply to any lawyer a worker consults or retains.
- A New York lawyer may not charge or collect an excessive fee.[23]
- A fee may depend on the outcome (a contingent fee). Promptly after being hired on that basis, the lawyer must give the client a writing that states the percentage or percentages, the expenses to be deducted, and whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated.[24]
- The Statement of Client's Rights says you are entitled to have the lawyer explain at the outset how the fee will be computed, and that you may refuse a fee arrangement you find unsatisfactory.[25]
- Under the New York State Human Rights Law, a court or the Commissioner may in its discretion award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing or substantially prevailing party.[26]
- Even when no client-lawyer relationship follows a consultation, the lawyer may not use or reveal what was learned in it, except as the rules would permit for a former client.[27]
These points are developed in how employment lawyers charge, who pays the lawyers and do I need a lawyer?
Support after sexual assault or violence
Where harassment involves an assault, safety and support come before any legal filing. The U.S. Department of Justice tells people in immediate danger to call 911.[9] The NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is 800-942-6906, or text 844-997-2121; the State's Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence says conversations are confidential, secure and available 24/7 in most languages, and its survivors page offers live chat.[10] The Department of Justice lists the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network hotline as 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).[11] The legal side is covered in when workplace sexual misconduct is also a crime.
Do not let the search for help use up your time
The clocks keep running while you make calls, and they differ by layer. Under federal law, the EEOC's New York District Office says a charge is due within 300 days from the date of the alleged harm.[28][29] Under the New York State Human Rights Law, a complaint to the Division of Human Rights is due within three years after the alleged practice.[30] Under the New York City Human Rights Law, a complaint to the Commission on Human Rights is due within one year, or three years for a claim of gender-based harassment.[31] Some deadlines are far shorter: a complaint of retaliation for a workplace safety complaint under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act is due within 30 days.[32] The full table is in every deadline for a New York workplace claim.
Before you call
The offices on this page are likely to ask similar questions, because the answers bear on which law applies. Employer size is one example: federal Title VII covers only employers with 15 or more employees, while the New York State Human Rights Law covers all employers within the State.[33][34] Having the answers ready makes a short call useful.
- Your employer's legal name, address and approximate number of employees.
- Where you work, including the borough or county, and whether you work remotely.
- A dated list of what happened, who was involved and who saw it.
- Whether you reported it at work, to whom, and on what date.
- Anything you signed: an offer letter, handbook acknowledgment, arbitration agreement or severance offer.
- Whether you belong to a union or work for a government employer.
- Anything you have already filed with an agency or a court.
The reasons each of these matters are set out in a decision checklist: ten questions before you act, and preparing for a consultation has a fuller document list.
Common questions
Can I file a discrimination complaint in New York without a lawyer?
Yes. The State Division of Human Rights says reporting discrimination is free and that you do not need an attorney to submit a report or file a complaint.[1] The NYC Commission on Human Rights says its services are free of charge.[2] The Division also says its investigators are neutral fact-finders who represent New York State and cannot give legal advice to any party.[1]
Is there a free hotline for workplace sexual harassment in New York?
Yes. State law directs the Division of Human Rights to run a toll-free confidential hotline during regular business hours for people with workplace sexual harassment complaints, with attorneys recruited to give free assistance.[17] The State's 2023 model policy prints the number as 1 (800) HARASS3 and says the hotline can refer a caller to a volunteer attorney for limited free assistance and counsel over the phone.[3] The State's worker FAQ says the same referral is available by calling the Division at (844) 697-3471.[4]
Who gives free legal help to low-income workers in New York City?
This page lists two nonprofit providers. Legal Services NYC says it provides free advice, referrals and representation to low-income workers on problems that include employment discrimination, and takes calls at 917-661-4500, Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.[5] The Legal Aid Society's Employment Law Unit assists individuals, typically low-wage and unemployed workers, and says workplace discrimination is among its main case types.[18]
How much does a bar association lawyer referral cost?
The New York City Bar Legal Referral Service says initial consultations are $35 or free, depending on the type of case, and last up to 30 minutes.[6] The Service's page does not say which of the two applies to employment matters, so ask when you call 212-626-7373. The consultation charge is for the first meeting only; any later fee is a matter of agreement between lawyer and client, and New York's Rules of Professional Conduct bar an excessive fee.[23]
Who can I call after a sexual assault at work?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.[9] The NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is 800-942-6906 (text 844-997-2121), and the State says conversations are confidential and available 24/7 in most languages.[10] The national hotline run by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).[11]
Sources
- N.Y.S. Division of Human Rights, "Report Discrimination" — New York State Division of Human Rights
- NYC Commission on Human Rights, "Complaint Process"; "Contact Us" — New York City Commission on Human Rights
- NYS Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy (2023 version), p. 10 — State of New York
- NYS, *How Workers Can Combat Sexual Harassment* (FAQ, For Workers, Q6) — State of New York
- Legal Services NYC, "Workers' Rights" (page read Oct. 5, 2026) — legalservicesnyc.org
- New York City Bar Association, "Get Legal Help" (page read Oct. 5, 2026) — nycbar.org
- N.Y.S. Division of Human Rights, "Report Discrimination" and "What To Expect" — New York State Division of Human Rights
- NYC Commission on Human Rights, "Contact Us"; "Report Discrimination" (pages read Oct. 5, 2026) — New York City Commission on Human Rights
- U.S. Dep't of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, *Sexual Assault* ("How To Get Help") — U.S. Department of Justice
- NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, *Survivors & Victims* — State of New York
- U.S. Dep't of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, *Sexual Assault* — U.S. Department of Justice
- N.Y.S. Division of Human Rights, "Report Discrimination" (dhr.ny.gov/report) — New York State Division of Human Rights
- EEOC, "How to File a Charge of Employment Discrimination" (read 5 Oct 2026) — U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- EEOC, "Mediation" — U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- N.Y.S. Office of the Attorney General, "Workers' rights"; "Civil Rights Bureau"; "Labor Bureau" (pages read Oct. 5, 2026) — New York State Office of the Attorney General
- N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(9); N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-502(a)-(b) — New York State Senate, Laws of New York
- N.Y. Exec. Law § 295(18) — New York State Senate, Laws of New York
- The Legal Aid Society, "Employment Law Unit" (page read Oct. 5, 2026) — legalaidnyc.org
- LawHelpNY home page (read Oct. 5, 2026) — lawhelpny.org
- A Better Balance, "Get Help" (page read Oct. 5, 2026) — abetterbalance.org
- NYS, *How Workers Can Combat Sexual Harassment* ("Find Support") — State of New York
- New York State Bar Association, "Pro Bono Services in New York State" (page read Oct. 5, 2026) — nysba.org
- N.Y. Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(a) (22 NYCRR Part 1200) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- N.Y. Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(c) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 22 NYCRR § 1210.1 — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(9), (10); N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-502(a); 42 U.S.C. § 1981a(b) — New York State Senate, Laws of New York
- N.Y. Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.18(a)-(b) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- EEOC, New York District Office, "Timeliness" (read 5 Oct 2026) — U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(5) — New York State Senate, Laws of New York
- N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-109(e) — New York City Commission on Human Rights
- 29 U.S.C. § 660(c)(2) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(b) — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- N.Y. Exec. Law § 292(5) — New York State Senate, Laws of New York