Team
Tim Baran (he/him), New York Justice Initiatives Program Director
Tim Baran is the New York Justice Initiatives Program Director at Pro Bono Net where he oversees the management, strategy, and operations of LawHelpNY and related technology initiatives that empower New Yorkers in need to resolve their legal problems and to strengthen the work of advocates serving them. Tim was a former Library Director and Chief Marketing Officer serving the legal sector, and has a deep appreciation for Legal Tech and Justice Tech entrepreneurs gleaned from his experience building a Continuing Legal Education consultancy. Tim is a lifelong learner and an advocate for the public university system and the social mobility and economic empowerment that it affords, with undergraduate (Sociology) and graduate (Business Management and Leadership) studies at the City University of New York (CUNY). tbaran@probono.net
Patricia Malone, Esq. (she/they), New York Justice Initiatives Legal Director
Pat is the Legal Director of New York Justice Initiatives at Pro Bono Net. She leads legal and content strategy for LawHelpNY and across initiatives and programs. Pat has extensive experience working with partners, managing projects, and creating legal content for advocates and impacted communities. Her expertise includes writing "smart" interviews, plain language articles, legal updates, practice guides, and newsletters. She brings together experts to create webinars, podcasts, and other legal training materials for the field. Pat has a deep background in immigration law practice, training, and project management. Prior to LawHelpNY, she was at Pro Bono Net’s Immigration Advocates Network, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network in Washington DC and New York, AYUDA in DC, Proyecto Libertad on the Texas border, and the University of San Francisco School of Law. Though she has lived all over the country, Pat is a New Yorker at heart - growing up outside of Albany, attending SUNY Oneonta, and raising kids and dogs in northern Manhattan. pmalone@probono.net
Dennis Brink (he/him), New York Justice Initiatives Community Support Associate
Dennis Brink is the New York Justice Initiatives Community Support Associate at Pro Bono Net, where he assists in the day-to-day operations of LawHelpNY's Livehelp program. He specializes in conducting data analyses, to expand program goals and impact of the Livehelp program through research, data visualizations, and strategic project implementation. Prior to his current role, Dennis served as the New York Justice Initiatives AmeriCorps VISTA. Dennis has a deep appreciation and passion for advancing the public use of data to create innovative solutions within the social justice sector. Dennis currently holds a bachelor's degree from Arcadia University and is actively pursuing a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon's Heinz School of Information Systems and Public Policy. dbrink@probono.net
Yvonne Ngo, New York Justice Initiatives Program Associate
Yvonne Ngo is the Program Associate for the New York Justice Initiatives. Yvonne supports several projects, including state and national programs. Prior to joining Pro Bono Net, Yvonne volunteered for an organization dedicated to helping low-income communities in New York. She is eager to help expand access to justice by connecting those in need of legal help through Pro Bono Net's digital tools and resources. yngo@probono.net
Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, New York Justice Initiatives Senior Program Manager
Jeanne coordinates, develops and grows state and national digital initiatives that strengthen the work of legal advocates and pro bono attorneys helping communities with their legal problems, including for www.probono.net/ny. She transitioned to her current role after working on Pro Bono Net’s disaster relief initiatives for two years. Before joining Pro Bono Net, Jeanne provided free legal representation and employment discrimination litigation on behalf of low-income LGBT individuals in Puerto Rico and worked as a legal fellow with the Central Alabama Fair Housing Center. Jeanne is the volunteer Vice-Director for the American Bar Association Disaster Legal Services Program, a member of the New York City Bar Association Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee, and an ABA On the Rise Top 40 Young Lawyer. She is bilingual and admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and New Jersey. jortiz@probono.net
Wantee Ramkaran, New York Justice Initiatives Program Manager
Wantee joined LawHelpNY in May 2020 as a LiveHelp Program Associate. She received her J.D. from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 2020, and B.A. in Political Science from Queens College, City University of New York in 2017. As a law student, Wantee began volunteering with LawHelpNY in October 2017. As a LiveHelp volunteer, Wantee found her passion for using her law degree to assist disadvantaged individuals in our community and expanding legal access to justice. She is grateful for the opportunity to begin her law career at LawHelpNY. wramkaran@probono.net
Advisory Committee
- City Bar Justice Center
- Empire Justice Center
- The Legal Aid Society of Mid New York
- The Legal Aid Society of New York
- Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
- Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY)
- Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
- Legal Services NYC
- Nassau Suffolk Law Services Committee
- Neighborhood Legal Services
- New York State Bar Association
- New York Legal Assistance Group
- Pro Bono Net
- Volunteers of Legal Service