Andrew Scherer To Step Down as Executive Director and President of Legal Services NYC

NEW YORK, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Legal Services NYC announced today that Andrew Scherer, Executive Director and President of Legal Services NYC for the past nine years, has decided to resign, effective upon selection of an Interim Director by the Board.

Mr. Scherer said that he is leaving his post to pursue other interests. Under his leadership, the organization has gained a sound financial footing, a stable infrastructure and an enhanced capacity to provide high quality legal services to low-income New Yorkers, and is now well positioned to take on future challenges.

"Working at Legal Services NYC has been challenging, exciting and highly rewarding.  Throughout my tenure, I've been honored to work with people who have extraordinary talent and the deepest commitment to access to justice.  The mission of Legal Services NYC – to provide the most effective civil legal representation to New York's low income communities – could not be more important," said Mr. Scherer.

He continued, "I am enormously proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure as Executive Director and will always be proud of my long association with Legal Services NYC.  I'm taking this action, after lengthy consideration, because I think it's a good time for the organization and for me to pursue new directions."

Mark G. Cunha, Chairman of the Board, said, "The Board wishes to express its enormous gratitude for Andy's life-long devotion to Legal Services and to the underserved people of New York. His commitment and his passionate work have made a palpable difference in the lives of tens of thousands of New Yorkers who have relied on Legal Services."  

Mr. Cunha added, "Andy led Legal Services NYC through a period of growth and change.  He began his tenure at a critical time, when the organization was implementing a major restructuring and New York City was reeling from the impact of the September 11th attacks.  Under his leadership, the organization increased funding and staff size, launched new offices and programs, and widened its impact.  Andy has graciously agreed to stay on until an Interim Executive Director is put in place, which we expect will be soon.  We wish him well in his new endeavors."

In the course of Mr. Scherer's 31 years with Legal Services NYC, he served the organization in many capacities, starting as a housing attorney, later becoming Housing Law Coordinator in and then Director of its Legal Support Unit.  Mr. Scherer is the author of the treatise, Residential Landlord-Tenant Law in New York, and numerous articles, reports and contributions for a variety of legal and other publications. He is also an adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and has taught at CUNY Law School, NYU Law School and Bennington College.

SOURCE Legal Services NYC