
Jerome Frierson, Esq., joined BronxWorks as the inaugural Vice President of Legal Services, as part of a vital programmatic expansion of the department. In this position, Jerome oversees the new Tenant Defense Program as well as other critical legal services offered by the organization. He comes to BronxWorks with over a decade of experience as a litigator fighting for New Yorkers struggling with housing stability and he is passionate about serving the Bronx community with these pivotal legal services.
Jerome is a proud native of the South Bronx, where many of his family and friends still reside. Growing up in the Bronx, he has seen firsthand the impacts of the longstanding housing crisis throughout New York City. Jerome developed a passion for public interest law as he pursued higher education after high school. He earned his J.D. at Tulane University Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of The Southern Journal of Policy and Justice, an affiliate of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). Before attending Tulane, he earned a double bachelor’s degree in Political Science and African & Afro-American Studies from Brandeis University.
Growing up in the Bronx, I saw the housing crisis up close—families struggling to stay in their homes, rising rents, and gentrification reshaping neighborhoods. Those experiences inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a difference.”
After earning his degrees, a desire to serve his community brought Jerome back to New York City. He first joined JPMorgan Chase as a Compliance Officer, but quickly transitioned to the public interest and joined Legal Services NYC as the Deputy Director and Supervising Attorney. In this role, he supervised teams that prevented forcible evictions, advocated for tenants in gentrifying neighborhoods, and won vital legal protections for families facing housing instability. At Legal Services NYC, Jerome was part of the first cohort of attorneys fulfilling the Right to Counsel law in New York City, providing low-income New Yorkers facing eviction with free legal representation. Jerome later transitioned to The Bronx Defenders as the Inaugural Director of the Right to Counsel Housing Team, once again working directly in tenant defense. During his time at The Bronx Defenders, Jerome led a team of attorneys with a 95% success rate in avoiding or delaying evictions.
Jerome came to BronxWorks motivated to leverage his experience and lead the development of the Tenant Defense Program. Alongside his passion for tenant defense, Jerome is enthusiastic about working with the staff to expand the organization’s overall legal services offered and connecting clients with existing eviction prevention services at BronxWorks.
Our clients who are facing housing instability oftentimes are also facing other challenges… BronxWorks has programs and resources in many areas, so my goal is to make the department work holistically so clients can come to BronxWorks and feel supported in every aspect of their lives.”
Outside of work, Jerome enjoys working out and loves to sing. He has spent many years of his life involved with gospel choirs, and he also often does karaoke with friends and family.