The Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project in the Eastern District of New York provides litigation assistance to self-represented individuals who seek to file, or have filed, a civil suit. 

Sarah Park, Senior Counsel at the Hearst Corporation, first volunteered with the City Bar Justice Center about ten years ago when she was an associate at a firm. At the time, she volunteered with our Refugee Assistance Project, now our Immigrant Justice Project, and assisted a family seeking asylum. She formed a meaningful relationship with that family and continues to maintain contact with them. Sarah was a staunch advocate then, and continues to be.

The Justice Center was delighted when Sarah connected with us last year seeking to get involved again with our pro bono work. Since then, her initiative and leadership have been instrumental in engaging her team in three of our projects, including our Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project in the Eastern District of New York. During this time, Sarah and her team have served at the project’s Pro Bono Consultation Clinics, with service amounting to a cumulative 112 hours. As the project’s main point of contact, Sarah carefully reviews case summaries to create teams of volunteers to match with litigants. In addition to consultations, Sarah and her team draft stellar case notes documenting their meetings, and provide consistent, high quality legal analysis and recommendations for next steps to be taken by the litigants and the Project.

The services provided by Sarah, as well as her team, have been invaluable in helping the project connect with litigants who seek the opportunity to talk through important issues with experiences attorneys. Having access to Sarah and her team, who are passionate and reliable volunteers, has allowed the project to better serve litigants.

We are honored to present Sarah with a 2025 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award.