Andy Cohen heads nonprofit law group Andy Cohen heads nonprofit law group (July 13, 2005)

** Retired judge takes helm at Community Legal Services, which offers free legal help to low-income residents.

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

He's approached the bench, wielded the gavel and cast the votes. Now Menlo Park City Councilman Andy Cohen is taking on a new role: executive director of a nonprofit.

This month, he took the top position at Community Legal Services, an East Palo Alto organization offering free legal help to area residents who have low incomes or feel underserved by the judicial system.

The move seems apt for the retired workers' compensation judge and attorney who has volunteered for Meals on Wheels and once worked on Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign.

"It's a perfect fit. It's helping people, the people who can least afford it; and it's in my area, which is legal" said Mr. Cohen, 65.

Noting that the position is part-time with "modest" pay, he added: "I guess it's what I always wanted to do, but I had to make a living."

A graduate of Stanford University's law school, Mr. Cohen was the presiding judge on the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board from 1989 to 1994. He was elected to the council last fall, which alone guarantees a busy retirement.

At Community Legal Services, Mr. Cohen will focus on fundraising and program planning. The organization, which has one full-time attorney and paralegal and also gets volunteer help from law students and other lawyers, mainly assists with immigration and housing matters.

Mr. Cohen named one area of immigration practice that he's particularly concerned about: cases involving domestic violence.

"The spouse, normally the wife, does not have legal status in this country and the husband does nothing to get her status, and also abuses her," he said. "We help getting protection and legal status for that person. It's very important work."

Last year, the nonprofit worked with 1,167 families and individuals and also trained 47 law enforcement officials on the rights of immigrants in domestic violence situations, Mr. Cohen said.

Barbara Mouton, a former East Palo Alto mayor who serves on the organization's board of directors, said Mr. Cohen "has the charisma that we were looking for" and is "flexible and caring."

And the fact that he's a retired judge? Ms. Mouton chuckled. "That was just like manna from heaven."

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