Partners in Law, Partners in Service ~ Helene Herbert, Helayne Weiss & WRIC

Attorneys Helene Herbert and Helayne Weiss have been law partners for over 32 years. Their fast friendship began the first week of law school and led them to start a law practice upon graduation. Herbert & Weiss, LLP focused on family law, domestic violence, employment discrimination, county and municipal government, tax appeals, and municipal court. While maintaining their busy practice at Herbert & Weiss and getting involved in local politics, they both focused on advocating for and protecting victims’ rights. Out of their commitment to representing all people, especially women and victims, for the last 32 years, along with a strong core group of Women Lawyers in Bergen volunteer attorneys, they have managed a pro bono legal consultation program offering legal consultations on domestic violence, matrimonial, custody, parenting time, and child support issues, within the FM, FD, and FV docket for the Women’s Rights Information Center clients. The attorneys have also assisted countless women who had not filed an action in the Superior Courts but were in crisis or had questions on how to start the legal process. At first, the 30-minute legal consultations were in person at night in the Center, but during COVID they transitioned to telephone consultations. It is noted that although it is a women’s Center, the attorneys have also provided consultations to men. Helene Herbert and Helayne Weiss have also been intimately involved in the Center’s Legal Project, providing representation for family matters.

BACKGROUND OF THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS INFORMATION CENTER

In 1973, in a small, donated Hackensack office, Attorney Phoebe Seham and a few other dedicated women activists created the Women’s Rights Information Center. This small organization focused on supporting women in transition. By 1975, they moved to Teaneck, hired staff, and focused on helping women find temporary jobs. Soon after, in 1976, a second organization was started by a group of committed attorneys known as Women Lawyers in Bergen (WLIB). The core members of Women Lawyers in Bergen started the legal consultations at the Women’s Rights Information Center. The two organizations have remained intertwined because the Women Lawyers in Bergen Bylaws require a Standing Committee for the Women’s Rights Information Center.  

By 1982, the Women’s Rights Information Center bought a run-down funeral home in Englewood. The Center, along with the purchase of the funeral home, drew the attention of many volunteers, and through them transformed the building into what it is today, where the WRIC offices have remained.  

By the 1990s, WRIC grew into a well-known Displaced Homemaker program and created and restocked, through donations, a robust “Career Closet” for all. Simultaneously, their focus shifted to Domestic Violence issues, addressing sexual abuse, and they worked with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Early on, WRIC took a strong position against violence against women.

WRIC programs further address human trafficking crisis intervention and support services, outreach to the LGBT+ community, computer training, crisis counseling, ESL and citizenship classes. Today, WRIC is a New Jersey certified job training provider. Specifically, WRIC offers:

• Career Services – Including Displaced Homemaker and Single-Parent Services and Education Services. Technology training, job readiness, entrepreneurship seminars, resume development, ESL, citizenship, financial literacy classes, and access to the Career Closet, which provides professional clothing for low-income job seekers.
• Housing Assistance – Shared housing placement, housing search support, and referrals for other housing needs.
• Supportive Services – Case management, health and wellness programs, self-development workshops, and support groups. 
• Victim Services – Trauma-informed support, advocacy, and legal services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and gun violence.
• Wellness and Trauma-Amelioration Services – Emotional and physical wellness support, including trauma-amelioration therapies, such as Equine-Assisted Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.

Over the years, WRIC has also been very active helping families during the holiday season, and this year is no different. Please see the link for the 2026 WRIC holiday wish list, gift guide, and donation drive: https://www.womensrights.org/wish-lists.  

The Center and WLIB need attorneys to assist with the monthly consultations. Please call either Helene Herbert or Helayne Weiss at their office at 201-440-6300 to volunteer your time for legal consultations at the Women’s Rights Information Center. The time commitment is typically once a month, on a Monday afternoon for two hours, and all consultations are by telephone.