How We Serve

Open Hands Legal Services is a New York not-for-profit corporation that utilizes a network of volunteer attorneys, law students, and paralegals to provide legal services to individuals who cannot otherwise afford to hire their own attorney.  Open Hands partners with existing community-based organizations that serve as host sites where we provide legal services. Motivated by our faith, Open Hands also provides spiritual support and encouragement to those in need through a ministry of prayer.

Where We Serve

Open Hands is currently partnering with The Father’s Heart Ministries, a faith-based not-for-profit ministry located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan created to demonstrate God’s love through practical expressions of compassion. We have established a pro bono legal aid desk at their soup kitchen and food pantry. Every Saturday morning (except the first Saturday of the month), the soup kitchen serves an all-you-can-eat hot breakfast to approximately 500 to 600 guests. The Father’s Heart makes a very conscious effort to restore a sense of dignity to those relegated to food lines.

Our legal aid desk provides legal counseling and referral services to the guests of the Father’s Heart soup kitchen in the areas of tenants’ rights, access to public housing and eligibility for food stamps. As our capabilities expand, we plan to offer services in additional areas of the law (such as Medicaid and immigration law) and, eventually, at additional sites in New York City.

Who We Are

• Richard L. Chen, Arnold & Porter LLP
• Marian J. Hutchins, Father’s Heart Ministries
• Glen Kleinknecht, Here’s Life Inner City
• Yoo-Kyeong Kwon Kudo, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
• Haejin A. Shim, London Fischer LLP
• Eric S. Yoon, K&L Gates
• Eliot Samuels, MExchange
• Karen I. Wu, Perlman & Perlman LLP 

 

• Roger Brooks, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
• Jenny Chang, Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City
• David Fuller, Bosworth, Gray & Fuller
• Pete Rathbun, American Bible Society

 

 STAFF

• C.J. Masimore,  Executive Director
• Sandy Stefanski,  Program Coordinator
• Paul Clewell, Deputy Director of Spiritual Outreach
• Mark Chang, HFNY Team Leader
• Emily Lee, HFNY Team Leader

How to Contact Us

Please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions or would like to be added to our electronic mailing list.  Please note that because of our limited resources, we are only able to assist clients of Father’s Heart Ministries soup kitchen and food pantry.