Team

Thank you for visiting the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County, Inc. (LASRC) Web site. Since 1966, LASRC has represented low-income residents of Rockland County, New York in civil legal cases addressing our clients’ most fundamental needs.

The mission of the Civil Division is to provide high quality legal representation to low income families and individuals in Rockland County in civil cases that most directly and immediately affect our clients’ lives: shelter, food, safety, public benefits and medical care.

The mission of the Children’s Rights Division is to provide high-quality legal representation to children assigned to the program by the Rockland County Family Court in cases of abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and PINS petitions, custody cases, family offenses, and termination of parental rights.

Together, the Civil Division and Children’s Rights Division help Rockland County children, families and individuals with life’s most basic needs.

Legal Aid Society of Rockland

Alexander Bursztein

Executive Director

About Alex

Alexander Bursztein

Alex has served as the program’s Executive Director since 1985. During his tenure, the Legal Aid Society expanded its staff from four to twenty and its funding from a quarter to more than two million dollars. During his twenty-six years at the Legal Aid Society, Alex has represented thousands of clients in housing (his area of expertise) and public entitlements cases.

"As a child growing up in Eastern Europe I witnessed injustice, oppression and anti-Semitism resulting from the actions of the government and the entrenched power elite. There was no rule of law. I came to the United States in 1968. The rule of law is an American ideal and one of the cornerstones of our society. But it is an ideal that has meaning and vitality only when laws are applied equally to all, regardless of the litigants' economic and political power. I became a legal services lawyer to try to do my part, no matter how small, to ensure that the rights of the less powerful are protected in our courts. "

Education:

JD – University of Michigan Law School (1977)
BA, Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit

Professional Organizations:

New York State Bar Association
Rockland County Bar Association

Children's Rights Division

Candice A. Whatley

Deputy Director

About Candace

Candice A. Whatley

Candice represents children in abuse, neglect, delinquency, custody, visitation, guardianship, family offense, special immigration juvenile status, persons in need of supervision, and education proceedings. Prior to joining LASRC in September 2019, Candice was a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Practice in the Bronx, NY for eleven years. Candice has litigated hundreds of cases through the various stages of family court proceedings and obtained favorable outcomes for clients.

“Children are our future. So, we must ensure that all children are provided with an environment that promotes growth and the tools necessary for success. I am committed to making certain that the child’s voice is heard in court matters and to advocating for all of the child’s needs to be met.”

Education:

JD, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (2008)

BA, Cum Laude, State University of New York at Albany (2005)

Bar Admissions:

New York

Professional Associations:

New York State Bar Association

Rockland County Bar Association

Rockland County Women’s Bar Association

New York State Defenders Association

Shannon Kiernon

Paralegal

Nicole DiGiacomo

Staff Attorney

About Nicole

Nicole DiGiacomo

Education:

JD – Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law (2019)
BA, Philosphy- Saint Thomas Aquinas College (2016)

Bar Admissions: New York

New York

Jacqueline Sands

Staff Attorney

About Jackie

Jacqueline Sands

Jackie has been with the Children’s’ Rights Unit since 1990.

Education:

JD – Columbia Law School

Bar Admissions:

New York

Lauren Steil

Social Worker

About Lauren

Lauren Steil

Lauren is a member of an interdisciplinary team who is dedicated to advocating for children and adolescents involved in Family Court.

Education:

Licensed Master Level Social Worker – New York State
MSW, Social Work – Boston College
BA, Psychology – Seton Hall University

Christopher T. Widholm

Staff Attorney

About Chris

Christopher T. Widholm

Chris represents children in abuse, neglect, custody, delinquency, PINS Family Offense, and termination of parental rights proceedings.

Education:

JD – SUNY Buffalo Law School, 1995
BA, Political Science – George Washington University, 1990

Bar Admissions:

New York

Awards:

Recipient of Distinguished Service Award from Rockland County
Certificate of Merit from the Town of Ramapo
Certificate of Merit from the Town Clarkstown

Civil Division: Basic Needs

Jack Vega

Attorney

About Jack

Jack Vega

Jack represents individuals at Administrative Law Hearings who have been denied Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSD/SSI). Jack also assists low and moderate income individuals who have legal issues with the Social Security Administration.

Education:

JD – University of Connecticut School of Law
BA, History – Fordham University

Victoria Carlone

Legal Advocate

About Victoria

Victoria Corlone

Education:

Paralegal Certificate-State University of New York at Rockland Community College (2017)
BA, Political Science-State University of New York at New Paltz (2017)

Civil Division: Housing

Derek S. Tarson

Deputy Director
Foreclosure Project Director

About Derek

Derek S. Tarson

Derek represents mortgage loan borrowers who are facing foreclosure, helping them to find ways to save their homes through loan modifications, legal defenses to foreclosure, and bankruptcy. He also represents consumers facing wage executions or garnishments to help them avoid the challenges of seemingly insurmountable debt. Prior to joining the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County, Inc. in 2010, Derek was a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP.

Education:

JD – Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, NJ, 2004
BA, Mathematics – Colby College, Waterville, Maine, 1984

Bar Admissions:

New York

Professional Organizations:

National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy

Anastasia Goldin

Eviction Staff Attorney

Susan Mills Richmond

Foreclosure Staff Attorney

About Susan

Susan Mills Richmond

Susan represents clients who have HIV/AIDS in various kinds of legal representation, including eviction avoidance and housing rights, disability and social security benefits, public benefits and entitlement law, foreclosure defense, preparation of health care proxies, living wills and powers of attorney, and legal matters involving health, life and disability insurance.

Susan also represents clients in the general population who are facing eviction. Prior to joining the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County, Inc. in 2016, among other things, Susan was in house Senior Counsel at ADP/ CDK Inc., had her own practice in Rockland County, was Senior Staff Attorney at Lexow, Berbit & Associates, was associated with Kaye, Scholer and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, and clerked for a Bankiruptcy Judge.

Education:

JD With Distinction, Hofstra University School of Law, Managing Editor of the Hofstra Law Review
BA, Political Science and Spanish, SUNY at Stony Brook

Bar Admissions:

New York, SDNY, EDNY, U.S. Supreme Court

Related Legal Experience:

Certified as Impartial Hearing Officer, NY State Department of Education; Arbitrator and Mediator for American Arbitration Association, FINRA, and other groups.

Ben Bedell

Foreclosure Staff Attorney

Jacqueline Grannum

Foreclosure Paralegal

About Jacqueline

Jacqueline Grannum

Jacqueline provides administrative support to staff attorneys in the Civil Division; her duties include preparing documents, filing papers at court and maintaining files.

Education:

MS, Organizational Leadership – Nyack College, 2006
BS, Organizational Management – Nyack College, 2004

Norma Nieves

Eviction Legal Assistant

About Norma

Norma Nieves

Norma provides assistance to staff attorneys in the Civil and the Children’s Rights Division; her duties include preparing documents, client intake, filing papers and maintaining client files.

Education:

BA – State University of New York – College at Purchase, 1983

Civil Division: Special Projects

Angela G. McSweeney

Staff Attorney

About Angela

Angela G. McSweeney

Angela represents women referred by the Rockland County Women’s Shelter who are victims of domestic violence and are seeking to file for divorce.

"I decided I wanted to be an attorney because I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. I feel that working at the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County has given me that. I have dedicated myself to representing women who have been abused by their spouse. There is no greater feeling than knowing that you have helped someone, and perhaps brought them some level of security, happiness and relief at the solution of their legal problems."

Education:

JD – Newark School of Law, Rutgers University, 2001
BA, Political Science – Rutgers University, 1993
Certificate Paralegal Studies – Fairleigh Dickerson University, 1993

Bar Admissions:

New York

Support

Susan Amenta

Accountant & Grant Administrator

About Susan

Susan Amenta

Education:

BA – Manhattanville College

Alisa Cahn

Controller

About Alisa

Alisa Cahn

Education:

BS, Business & Economics – Lehigh University

Certified Public Accountant
Chartered Global Management Accountant

Laraine Marra

Office Manager

About Laraine

Laraine Marra

Laraine has been with the Legal Aid Society for 25 years. Over the years Laraine has been a secretary, Office Manager, and the Paralegal for the Children’s Rights Division.

Joshua Wojehowski

Director of Development

Yohelina Camilo

Receptionist

Get in Touch

Legal Aid Board of Directors

Team

Legal Aid Society of Rockland

Alexander Bursztein

Children's Rights Division

Candice A. Whatley

Shannon Kiernon

Nicole DiGiacomo

Jacqueline Sands

Lauren Steil

Christopher T. Widholm

Civil Division: Basic Needs

Jack Vega

Victoria Carlone

Civil Division: Housing

Derek S. Tarson

Anastasia Goldin

Susan Mills Richmond

Ben Bedell

Jacqueline Grannum

Norma Nieves

Civil Division: Special Projects

Angela G. McSweeney

Support

Susan Amenta

Alisa Cahn

Laraine Marra

Joshua Wojehowski

Yohelina Camilo

Get In Touch!

Emergency Contact

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