Staff

Hamra Ahmad, Esq.

Director of Law and Policy

Hamra joined Her Justice in 2017. As Director of Legal Services, Hamra Ahmad is responsible for managing the 18 staff attorneys and legal assistants who recruit, train and mentor the volunteer attorneys who provide access to legal services for women living in poverty in New York City.

Hamra brings a rich depth of experience to her position, having recently been past Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Justice Center (HVJC), a nonprofit organization providing civil legal services to immigrants. She has also served as Director of the Center for Legal Services at My Sisters’ Place, a nonprofit organization working with victims of domestic violence and human trafficking where she implemented the Immigration Project, assisting battered immigrant women file self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act, battered spouse waivers, U visas, T Visas, as well as a host of other immigration issues.  A leading expert in the area of Immigration and Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking in Westchester County, she conducted trainings and presentations to law enforcement and social service agencies.

Hamra also implemented the Immigration Project of the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, providing a variety of immigration services to the large East African resettlement population. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School and her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin Madison and is licensed to practice law in New York and Minnesota.

Amy Barasch, Esq.

Executive Director

Amy joined Her Justice as Executive Director in 2014. Responsible for leading the organization, defining its strategic direction, hiring and managing the staff and liaising with all key stakeholders and board members, she has devoted most of her career to the issue of women’s rights, in particular intimate partner violence, at nonprofits, government agencies, and law firms.

Until fall, 2012, Amy served as the Executive Director of the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the only State agency of its kind. During her tenure, she was central to the implementation of improvements made to New York’s response to intimate partner violence, such as the launch of a statewide database of police-reported domestic incidents; the inclusion of domestic violence as a high-priority issue in all State-level anti-crime initiatives; the creation of a State-level Fatality Review process; the issuance of domestic violence and the workplace policies in all state agencies; and ensuring responsive and up-to-date training for local governmental employees in the areas of child welfare, public safety, temporary assistance, healthcare, and probation.

Prior to joining state government, Amy was a member of the New York City Office to Combat Domestic Violence where she designed and ran an interagency high risk case conferencing program in Brooklyn and the Bronx, which became the basis of the Brooklyn Family Justice Center (FJC). Amy led the operational design team and ran the Brooklyn FJC until she joined the State.

Prior to joining the City, Amy represented low-income women in family court in order of protection, custody and visitation, and abuse and neglect cases, in private practice, and as the creator and director of a law student externship program in Westchester, New York at the Pace Women’s Justice Center. Prior to joining Pace, Amy was an associate with the law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.

She has published and spoken publicly about gender bias and partner violence throughout her career; she has served as Chair of the NYC Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Committee, as a member of the New York State Domestic Violence Advisory Council, and as a member of the NYS Sentencing Commission.

Amy is currently co-chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Pro Bono committee and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law. She earned a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Margie Bechara, Esq., MBA

Staff Attorney

Margie originally joined Her Justice as Staff Attorney in December 2006 and was promoted to Managing Attorney two years later. In her current position, she serves as key liaison to major law firms and in-house counsel to facilitate placement of cases with volunteer attorneys in New York City, whom she also mentors and supports.

Margie oversees the Her Justice office at the Manhattan Family Justice Center (MFJC), including supervision of the legal staff and interaction with the City administrative staff as well as overall Family Justice Center coordination between the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) and Her Justice. She also manages intake of potential new clients from all sources, including the Her Justice Legal Help Line and referrals, as well as the recruitment of legal interns and volunteers, assists in all aspects of preparing and presenting Continuing Legal Education (CLE) trainings, assesses clients for placement and provides legal advice and/or brief services within her caseload of family and immigration matters.

Prior to Her Justice, Margie was a Law Clerk/Associate Attorney at the Law Offices of Betsey Nathan where she conducted a variety of activities related to issues in family and matrimonial law practice. She was recently appointed to the Board of VIP Mujeres (Violence Intervention Program).

Margie graduated from Fordham University with a B.A. in Spanish literature, an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business and obtained her J.D. from the School of Law at St. John’s University in 2002.

Rachel L. Braunstein, Esq.

Director, Policy

Rachel began her career at Her Justice as a Fried Frank Fellow from 2005-2007 and joined the staff in 2011. As Managing Policy Attorney since 2016, she leads and coordinates the organization’s policy efforts relating to access to justice and economic justice, advises clients on matrimonial and family law matters, mentors volunteer attorneys, creates materials and acts as faculty for trainings for attorneys.

Prior to Her Justice, Rachel was an Associate, Litigation Department at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. Rachel was Chair of the Sex and Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association from 2008 to 2011, and continues to work with the Committee. Rachel is also Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the YWCA Brooklyn.

Rachel graduated with a B.A. in English from Boston College and obtained her J.D. at Brooklyn Law School in 2003.

Catherine V. Curry, Esq.

Director, Institutional Relations

Cathy joined Her Justice in 2007. As Director of Institutional Relations, Cathy oversees relationships with our Corporate Partners, reaches out to new law firms and corporations to expand our network of firms providing pro bono services to Her Justice clients and solicits financial support from law firms, corporations and foundations.

Previously an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Cathy also worked as Advertising and Promotion Manager at New York University Press prior to attending law school. Cathy graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. She obtained a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, magna cum laude, and earned an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Virginia.

Timothy A. Fallon, Esq.

Supervising Attorney

Tim joined Her Justice in 2015. In his role as Senior Immigration Attorney, Tim represents clients in Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petitions, Applications for Adjustment of Status, I-751 Petitions, Petitions for U Nonimmigrant Status, Applications for T Nonimmigrant Status, removal proceedings, Applications for Naturalization, consular processing, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Applications for Employment Authorization. He also develops and presents educational materials for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) trainings, mentors pro bono attorneys on immigration matters, assesses and reviews cases for pro bono placement, advises clients of their rights and collaborates with other advocates to provide legal and social services to clients at the Bronx Family Justice Center.

Prior to Her Justice, Tim was a Managing Attorney of the Immigration Unit at My Sisters’ Place. He graduated with a B.A. from University of Notre Dame and obtained his J.D. from Loyola University-New Orleans College of Law in 2005.

Diane Feniello, Esq., MSW

Supervising Attorney

Diane joined Her Justice in 2010. In her role as Supervising Attorney and Externship Coordinator, she supervises in-house pro bono corporate and litigation attorneys, including externs, who represent clients in contested matrimonial and family court actions, mentors volunteer corporate and litigation attorneys at over 25 law firms regarding litigation strategy, changes in the law and legal procedures, and supervises volunteer law students working on legal research, client assistance and other advocacy projects.

Apart from her caseload of 50-60 clients to whom she provides legal advocacy, advice and services, Diane also develops and implements training programs in divorce and family law for volunteer attorneys and collaborates with other advocates to provide legal and social services to clients at the Queens Family Justice Center. Prior to Her Justice, Diane was associated with the firms of Tabat, Cohen, Blum & Yovino, LLP, and Schlissel Ostrow Karabatos, PLLC, where she practiced exclusively in the areas of contested matrimonial and family law litigation.

Diane graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Hofstra University and jointly obtained her J.D./M.S.W. at Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and The State University at Stony Brook, 2003.

Benis Guzman, Esq.

Supervising Attorney

Benis began his career at Her Justice as a Staff Attorney/Immigration Paralegal from 2006 to 2009. He rejoined the organization as Senior Staff Attorney, Urgent Legal Care Project in 2016 where he manages clients in urgent need of immediate legal assistance, regardless of the availability of volunteer attorneys.

Much as an emergency room medical team triages and stabilizes incoming patients, Benis prioritizes urgent cases and provides limited-scope representation until a pro bono legal team can be mobilized. Prior to Her Justice, Benis was a Staff Attorney at The Safe Center LI.

Benis graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and obtained his J.D. at St. John’s University School of Law in Jamaica, New York.

Esther H. Limb, Esq.

Supervising Attorney

Esther joined Her Justice in 2008. She is currently responsible for collaborating with a team of staff attorneys, pro bono coordinators, and volunteer attorneys to provide advice, legal advocacy services, and free legal representation to women living in poverty in NYC in the areas of matrimonial, family law, and immigration claims pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Specifically, Esther trains and mentors approximately 80 volunteer attorneys at more than 20 law firms regarding immigration cases with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), litigation strategy, and changes in the law and legal procedures. She also develops and implements Continuing Legal Education (CLE) training programs for volunteer attorneys, directly represents 10-20 in-house clients on immigration matters, manages a caseload of 50-60 clients seeking free representation and advice, and collaborates with advocates and other community-based organizations to provide legal and social services to clients at the New York City Family Justice Centers.

Upon graduating from law school Esther was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center in Washington D.C. Prior to Her Justice, Esther held the position of Supervising Attorney, Courtroom Advocates Project with Sanctuary for Families, Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services. Esther graduated with a B.A. in Politics from Pomona College in 1997 and obtained her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 2004.

Susanna Saul, Esq.

Director, Immigration Practice

Susanna originally joined Her Justice in July 2008-2011 as a Staff Attorney. After a year’s hiatus, she returned in the position of Senior Staff Attorney and was promoted to Managing Attorney in January 2014.

Susanna manages a team of four attorneys and three legal assistants including one Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) accredited representative in the immigration practice focusing on gender-based immigration relief, including U/T Nonimmigrant Status, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petitions and Battered Spouse Waivers. Susanna trains and mentors pro bono attorneys providing free legal representation to undocumented women who are survivors of gender-based violence seeking to stabilize their immigration status in the U.S. Susanna also provides advice, legal advocacy services and free legal representation to women living in poverty in NYC regarding immigration claims pursuant to VAWA, divorce matters and family law issues. Managing a caseload of 50-60 clients, she also conducts crisis intervention, needs assessment and expectation management.

Prior to Her Justice, Susanna worked as a Staff Attorney at Staten Island Legal Services. She graduated with a B.A. in International Relations from Mount Holyoke College and obtained her J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law in 2004.

Martha Vargas

Assistant Director, Pro Bono Management

Martha joined Her Justice in 2016. As Senior Pro Bono Coordinator, Martha is responsible for working with clients of Her Justice to place their matrimonial, family law or immigration case with a volunteer attorney at one of the over 80 New York City law firms with which we work.

Martha is responsible for writing special appeals to circulate to volunteer lawyers that compellingly describe the specific legal needs of clients awaiting pro bono representation, follow-up with pro bono volunteers who have attended in-house, live or video continuing legal education (CLE) trainings with potential cases for representation, identifying creative means to increase the quantity of pro bono volunteers and case placements and maintaining strong relationships with law firm contacts.

Martha is also responsible for ensuring placement of clients on the waiting list, coordinating the process of obtaining volunteer attorney and client evaluations, assessing evaluations and providing reports, serving as liaison for referrals between law firms, pro bono attorneys and clients and assisting in resolving referral delays or delays in communications that may arise between Her Justice clients and their pro bono attorneys.

Martha is a native Spanish speaker which is critical to the more than half of our clients who are Latina. Prior to Her Justice, she was a Senior Revenue Cycle Management Specialist with IO Practiceware. Martha obtained her B.S. in Human Development from Cornell University, College of Human Ecology in 2011.