Shain Filcher

Shain Filcher is a staff attorney with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley in White Plains, N.Y., where they lead its LGBTQ+ Legal project, which is dedicated to representing the LGBTQ+ communities and ensuring that their basic necessities of life are being met. They work on a wide variety of legal issues specific to members of the LGBTQ+ communities, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, court-ordered name changes, accessing affirming healthcare, and recognition of legal parentage. In addition, they develop and teach continuing legal education courses, mentor pro bono legal fellows and volunteers, operate name-change clinics, collaborate with the organization’s development team regarding fundraising, and testify at public hearings. Active in the legal community both locally and nationwide, Shain spends a great deal of time working within bar associations dedicated to promoting justice in and through the legal profession for all LGBTQ+ people. They are the current president of the LGBT Bar Association and Foundation of Greater New York (LeGaL).Additionally, they have previously served on the National Conference of Bar Presidents MembershipCommunications Committee and Membership and Diversity Committee of the National LGBTQ+ BarAssociation. Shain were named to the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s “Best LGBTQ+ LawyersUnder 40 Class of 2021.” They received their B.A. in 2008 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and their J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law.