This month, we would like to highlight Rachel, a LiveHelp Volunteer for LawHelpNY.
LawHelpNY.org helps underpaid New Yorkers solve their legal problems. LiveHelp is our real-time online chat service. It is run by dedicated volunteers who help guide users to self-help materials, legal aid organizations, and court information. Rachel, a student at “Columbia Law School,” shares her story and reflects on her recent experience as a LiveHelp volunteer.
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
I grew up with a bunch of lawyers in my family, so for a long time I wondered whether I was interested in law because of my family background. I spent 5 years in marketing before ultimately deciding to pursue law. In the end, law felt like the right fit because it marries impact with something I was interested in, while giving me the opportunity to help people solve problems everyday. I decided to join the family tradition and become a litigator.
What has been the most rewarding part of volunteering?
The most rewarding part has been getting to apply some of the things I’ve learned in school to real world situations and help people. It’s one thing to learn in the classroom, but it’s another to see how we can use that knowledge to help people who are facing real challenges.
Has your experience with LiveHelp changed the way you think about access to justice?
Going into law school, I felt like I understood that there is a gap between the legal resources available and the people who need them but can’t afford them. Through LiveHelp and Scale Justice, I have been able to encounter people who are desperately in need of legal services but don’t know where to start or don’t have the resources for them. It’s been cool to be a part of helping bridge that gap and to come across organizations that are trying to fill that need, along with all the nonprofits and lawyers available through the website, some of which I had heard of before.
What do you think law students can gain from volunteering with LiveHelp?
It’s good to start practicing what we are learning in school. Obviously we are not giving formal legal advice or anything like that, but starting to be confronted with people who are dealing with real legal issues and in an environment where I can learn as well. LiveHelp does a good job of training us and providing resources, so I am learning things outside of what I’ve learned in class. It’s an opportunity to help people and put the skills learned in the classroom and apply them to real life, and to also be a better, empathetic listener when talking with the visitors who come to the website.
Thank you, Rachel!