UnLocal, Inc. was founded in 2008 and originally conceived as an online resource for immigrant New Yorkers to provide information about New York-based social services. UnLocal, Inc. volunteers conducted a needs assessment by organizing a meeting of immigrant leaders and services providers, wrote a business plan in collaboration with NYU’s Stern School of Business and created an internship program at the International High School of Prospect Heights, in which recent immigrant teens participated in the business plan process.

After a pause, in 2011, UnLocal became active once again and secured 501(c)(3) status with the support of CUNY School of Law’s Community Legal Resource Network (CLRN) Incubator for Justice, an incubating space for individuals and non-profits aimed at serving communities underserved by legal services. With CLRN’s support, UnLocal revised its mission and became a direct legal services provider and community education organization for New York’s City’s immigrants.