Attorney finds ways to give back

When Erin O’Brien isn’t practicing law, she is using her knowledge as an attorney to help others. Her volunteer work recently earned her an Extraordinary Woman award from Nassau County.

A dozen women were recognized at a ceremony at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive Building on March 26 led by County Executive Ed Mangano and his wife, Linda. Mangano described the group, who came from across the county, as outstanding neighbors, friends and community members. He additionally thanked them for their selfless acts and personal sacrifices.

O’Brien, 32, grew up in Bellmore and has lived in Seaford for a year. She purchased and renovated a home that was damaged by Superstorm Sandy. After living in Washington, D.C., Miami and Long Beach over the past several years, she wanted to move closer to her family.

She is an attorney with Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, specializing in commercial litigation and immigration law. It is the latter area when O’Brien has volunteered her time to help others.

O’Brien does pro-bono work for political asylum candidates. She assists people who have come to the United States to escape persecution in their home country and are seeking refugee status. Her primary work is with women who have faced severe violence, and those who were persecuted for their sexual orientation.

“You’re helping someone in the most difficult part of their life,” she said. “They’re seeking safety and I’m helping them navigate this very complex area of law. It’s incredible to just be a part of their journey.”

Many of the people she helps eventually look to become permanent U.S. residents, and O’Brien is there to help with that first step. In the past, she has assisted with Iraqi refugees who were deemed traitors because they served as interpreters for the United States.

O’Brien is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She does fundraising for the group and is co-chair of its New Members Division for the New York City Chapter. She is also involved in the Nassau County Bar Association.

Her volunteer work doesn’t stop there. She spends one hour every Wednesday afternoon mentoring a fifth-grade student at Walnut Street School in Uniondale through the Lawyers Involved in Kids Education program, or LIKE.

O’Brien and other attorneys meet with the students in the library. They talk and play educational games. “I find it really rewarding because you get to know an individual child one on one,” she said. “You really develop a nice strong relationship. The kids, they enjoy it. They enjoy the attention from the mentor.”

Through the American Immigration Council, O’Brien had the students take part in a writing contest. The theme was “Why I’m Glad America is Nation of Immigrants.”

O’Brien said she is glad to work for a law firm that not only allows her to take time for these volunteers efforts, but strongly encourages it. “It fits my vision beautifully,” she said. “To work with a group that has such a philanthropic eye is very incredible. I appreciate that they encourage me and allow me to do the work that I do.”

Donna Korth, a partner in the law firm, said O’Brien’s passion for immigration law is evident. “She is very happy to donate her time,” Korth said. “We as a firm are very proud to support her in this. We encourage all our attorneys to do pro-bono and charitable work. We have to give back to the community.”

Korth added that O’Brien gets great satisfaction when she achieves a result she feels does justice for her clients.

Every Thanksgiving, O’Brien also volunteers at the Bowery Mission soup kitchen in New York City.

She is a graduate of Holy Trinity High School, and she earned her bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate from Hofstra University. She also holds a master of laws, or LLM degree, in immigration law and policy from the American University Washington College of Law, which she received in 2012. Last year, she was named to the New York Metro Super Lawyer’s Rising Stars list.

In her free time, which is rare, O’Brien enjoys yoga, going to the beach and boating. She is a member of St. Barnabas Church in Bellmore.

O’Brien said she does not know who nominated her for the award, but was grateful. She enjoyed the opportunity to meet the 11 other recipients and learn what they do to aid their communities.

“It was a real honor,” O’Brien said. “I do the work that I do because it gives me great personal satisfaction to help people.”