GAAP currently operates with one full time paid staff person and one part time attorney, as well as the support of more than 50 volunteers from the community and nine Bay Area colleges and law schools, including two Bonner Leader/AmeriCorps placements from St. Mary’s College of California.

William Hart

Executive Director

Mr. Hart is a formerly homeless client of GAAP and is well-known throughout the community for his tenacity in advocating on behalf of GAAP clients. He started at GAAP as a community volunteer in January, 2001 and then was hired as an advocate in December 2001. Mr. Hart designed and initiated GAAP’s formal outreach program in 2002. He advanced to the position of Advocacy Director in May 2003 and was promoted to Executive Director in March 2004. During an earlier phase in his life, Mr. Hart was employed in management positions in the insurance and banking industries for over 20 years. He has a master’s degree in business administration and attended law school for two years.

Catherine Nguyen

Supervising Attorney

Catherine Nguyen is the supervising attorney at GAAP. Prior to joining GAAP, she worked as an attorney with the Dependency Advocacy Center, a non-profit organization that receives court appointments by the Santa Clara County Dependency Court to represent primarily parents in child welfare law cases. Ms. Nguyen also currently serves as a court-appointed attorney on the San Francisco Dependency Panel representing parents and children in child abuse and neglect cases. Catherine received her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine in 2001 and her J.D. degree from California Western School of Law in 2005. While in law school, she was Co-President of the Amnesty International chapter, Public Relations Chair of the Environmental Law Society, and completed two Pro Bono Honors Programs, clerking with the San Diego Superior Court Family Law Facilitator and Alternate Public Defender. In addition to being licensed to practice law in California, Ms. Nguyen is licensed to practice in New Mexico, where she worked at a private full service law firm for two years.

Get involved by volunteering with GAAP today. GAAP’s volunteer program offers a unique opportunity for students and community members to make a difference.

GAAP relies on the generosity and strength of our volunteers to staff the drop-in clinic and provide the majority of our essential services. Volunteers are encouraged to commit to three hours per week at the clinic, open every day, except Wednesdays, from 9am-12pm, and 1:30pm-4pm.