To move closer to achieving justice by connecting trained non-lawyer volunteers with community members needing assistance with common legal problems.
OUR MISSION
Legal Hand provides free legal information and assistance to anyone who contacts us, regardless of income or immigration status. We operate with the help of community volunteers and students from local law schools to ensure that our centers are connected to the people they serve and are able to offer tailored localized resources. We empower our visitors to resolve common legal problems, to navigate government agencies, to keep issues out of the courts when possible, and to connect visitors to local legal and social services.
Expanding Access to Justice
The U.S. Constitution guarantees legal counsel in criminal cases, but not for civil issues like housing, family, debt, immigration, or employment. As a result, most low- and moderate-income people struggle to access affordable legal help for these life-changing challenges. Legal Hand, founded by Helaine Barnett in 2015, was created to help address this justice gap.
Our team
Helaine M. Barnett
Founder, President and Chair
Helaine is the former head of the civil division of the Legal Aid Society of New York and former President of the Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D.C. She was also appointed by the Chief Judge of the State of New York to serve as Chair of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice. Recognizing the important role that non-lawyer volunteers can play in providing greater access to justice and resolving common legal problems, Helaine created Legal Hand, Inc.
Judge Fern A. Fisher
Executive Director
Judge Fern A. Fisher is the Executive Director of Legal Hand, Inc. and a Visiting Associate Professor of Law at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. Until July of 2017, she was Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for New York City Courts and also served as the Director of the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program. She was in charge of the New York City Housing Court for twenty-one years.
Erica Maldonado
Director of Administration
Erica joined the Legal Hand team as Center Manager for the Legal Hand Neighborhood Storefront Center in Tremont, South Bronx. Erica is passionate about helping marginalized groups and is committed to continue work that will help create meaningful impact that improves opportunities for low-income communities.
Tiffany Butters
Director of Sites
Tiffany is the former Center Manager for the Legal Hand Neighborhood Storefront Center in Jamaica-Queens, who wanted the opportunity to give back to different communities in a way that can affect real community change.
Sandy Guillaume
Director of Community Outreach
Sandy Guillaume leads Legal Hand’s community outreach and engagement activities, including social media, marketing, and communication. Sandy is a community advocate and public service professional dedicated to advancing health equity and justice for underserved populations. With more than 14 years of experience, she has led harm reduction initiatives, coordinated HIV research and outreach programs, and developed services supporting people impacted by incarceration, homelessness, and substance use. Sandy has secured grant funding, supervised multidisciplinary teams, and built partnerships across government, health care, and nonprofit sectors. She earned her Master of Public Administration from the City College of New York.