LiveHelp NY Volunteer Spotlight
This month we would like to highlight Christina Barta, a LiveHelp Volunteer for LawHelpNY.
LawHelpNY.org is a website designed to help low-income New Yorkers solve their legal problems. Dedicated volunteers power LiveHelp, our real-time online chat service, guiding users to self-help materials, legal aid organizations, and court information. Barta shares with us a little bit about her journey and her recent experience as a LiveHelp volunteer.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law school/career journey.
My name is Christina, and I am a third-year law student at Columbia Law School. I'm involved with the Columbia Law mediation clinic, which helps parties at the Bronx Civil Court reach settlements that fit their needs. I wanted to use my skills to help other New Yorkers facing difficult legal issues.
Why did you choose to volunteer as a LiveHelp Operator?
I chose to volunteer as a LiveHelp Operator to help people solve the legal problems in their lives. As a volunteer, I was able to really listen to people, give them information and options, and empower them to make decisions about their future. I was also able to save people time—court forms can be difficult to find if you don't know where to look.
How has working as a LiveHelp Operator impacted you?
It was a privilege to learn about the challenges that people were facing from all over the state. People frequently ask about child custody, divorce, housing, discrimination, and employment disputes. I'm grateful that I can be a small help during these pivotal moments. It makes a big difference when you can help someone in a stressful situation figure out their next steps forward.
What advice would you give to future volunteers?
I highly recommend applying! The entire experience was streamlined, interesting, and a great way to help out fellow New Yorkers, and you can do it from the comfort of your home!