About Human Rights First
Human Rights First is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization that began in 1978 as the Lawyers Committee for International Human Rights and adopted its current name in 2004. It describes itself as an advocacy and action organization, and it organizes its work into three areas: refugee and immigrant rights, U.S. democracy protection, and international human rights.
In refugee work, its Refugee Representation team provides direct representation to asylum seekers and partners with pro bono lawyers to help clients reach legal protections. Other programs include a Fighting Discrimination effort focused on hate crimes and Democracy Watch, an AI-driven monitoring tool that tracks federal and state legislation restricting rights. Its New York office is at 121 West 36th Street in Manhattan, and sources list its headquarters in New York City alongside a Washington, D.C. office.
| Type | Organization |
|---|---|
| New York offices | New York City |
| Phone | (212) 845-5200 |
| Website | humanrightsfirst.org |
| Registered NY attorneys | 11 |
Practice areas
Areas of work that Human Rights First describes on its own website. They describe the organization as a whole, not the practice of any individual attorney listed below.
Organization profile based on its official website and public sources (reviewed October 29, 2026). Attorney list from the New York State Unified Court System registration data. Not affiliated with Human Rights First.
Registered attorneys
Devon Chaffee Suspended Eleanor Acer Currently registered Joshua Colangelo-Bryan Currently registered Priti Patel Suspended Sharon Kelly Delinquent Inyoung Hwang Currently registered Piibe Jogi Currently registered Shala Gafary Currently registered Christina Asencio Currently registered Scott Johnston DelinquentRegistration status can change at any time. Confirm any attorney's current status through the official New York Attorney Search.