Fairbridge Investor Rights Clinic Client Eligibility Standard
Click here for Eligibility Questionnaire (Word or PDF).
The Fairbridge Investor Rights Clinic (formerly the Securities Arbitration Clinic) of John Jay Legal Services, Inc. (JJLS), a not-for-profit organization operating at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, provides assistance to small investors in arbitrations or mediations who are unable to obtain legal representation because of the small amount of their claims. Law students, under the supervision of a faculty member, represent customers in handling their disputes with broker-dealers. JJLS and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University are educational institutions and have no affiliation with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
The Investor Rights Clinic has the following eligibility guidelines:
- Your household’s annual income should not exceed $100,000.
- Your claim should not exceed $100,000.
- You should not have any major assets (e.g., vacation homes, other non-retirement investments) except your home, your car, and the investments that led to the losses in dispute.
- You should be a resident of New York State now or have been a resident of New York State when the disputed transactions occurred.
In certain circumstances, the Investor Rights Clinic will make an exception and consider representing investors who do not meet all of the criteria listed above. If you have not already contacted other attorneys or a lawyer referral service, we may ask you to do so.
If you believe that you meet our guidelines and you wish to consider student representation of your claim, please complete the attached questionnaire and send it to the Fairbridge Investor Rights Clinic at John Jay Legal Services, Inc. If it appears that your case may be suitable for student representation, a law student will call you to learn more about your case, and to arrange an interview at the law school. After that meeting, if both you and the Clinic agree that the Clinic may appropriately represent you in this matter, you and the Clinic will enter into an agreement authorizing the Clinic to represent you. If, based on the questionnaire, your matter does not appear suitable for the Clinic, you will be notified by the Clinic. General information about the securities arbitration process is available on FINRA’s website.
Investors are responsible for all costs, other than legal fees, incurred in an arbitration and/or mediation, such as filing and hearing fees. The client must pay these fees directly to the forum at the prescribed times. Upon demonstration of hardship, the Clinic may be able to assist in defraying costs. The Clinic does not charge legal fees for its services. Preference will be given to senior citizens.
The Clinic lacks the resources to accept every eligible case. A decision not to take your case is not a decision about the merits of your particular matter.
Click here for the Investor Rights Clinic Brochure.
Click here for the "Investor's Guide to Securities Industry Disputes: How to Prevent and Resolve Disputes with Your Broker," Pace Law School / FINRA Educ. Found. (2017) (with J. Gross, et al., eds.).