Community Involvement

Active community involvement says a lot about an employment attorney. It says she has earned people’s trust -- that she understands community values -- and that she brings practical judgment to the table. It also says she is an effective advocate for the interests of others. In other words, there is a dimension to her practice that may be missing from those who view the role of advocate only as a job.


These are all valuable qualities that very much come into play as she helps clients successfully resolve employment law issues.


Attorney Helene Horn Figman’s community involvement extends over two decades — starting with leadership roles early in her career with the Plymouth County Bar Association. While she still finds time to conduct educational programs for the Bar Association, her main interest currently is focused on addressing the administrative and educational needs within the local Sharon community where she has lived for more than 20 years.

The Sharon Education Foundation
Along with five other community leaders, Attorney Figman helped launch the Foundation in 2000 to raise private funds for public education in response to budget cutbacks. As 2007 President and current board member, Attorney Figman has successfully spearheaded a number of programs to raise money for the Sharon school system, public library and other town agencies.

These programs include:

  • The Lee Flaxer Award Evening honoring outstanding individuals or businesses for their significant contributions to education. Attorney Figman co-chaired the 2007 event that drew record-setting attendance and donations.
  • Bee Spellbound, an adult spelling bee in which teams of three compete for the honor of being crowned the town’s best speller. Teams are sponsored by local businesses, Parent Teacher Organizations, and sometimes the participants themselves.
  • Scoops for Education, an Attorney Figman creation in which Crescent Ridge Dairy donates a percentage of a day’s ice cream sales to the Foundation. Held at the end of each school year, the event is highly anticipated and supported by local students.


Temple Sinai
As a member of the Temple's Personnel Committee, Attorney Figman has for many years worked with the president and administrative staff in a number of key personnel areas including advising them on wage and hour questions and helping draft contracts for professional staff. For 10 years as a member of the Confirmation Committee she has coordinated the Temple’s annual confirmation event. This includes everything from managing the budget and organizing logistics to choreographing the actual event itself to recruiting guest speakers — including several state senators and judges.

Professional Associations
Attorney Figman is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA), the Plymouth County Bar Association. the Northeast Human Resources Associaton (NEHRA), the Newton Needham Chamber of Commerce and the Business Alliance of New England. A popular speaker at the Plymouth County Bar Association, her most recent seminars have focused on such topics as “Current Human Resource & Employment Law Challenges Facing You and Your Client.” For the NEHRA she presented (with HR specialist Lauren Brenner) a seminar titled: “The Long & Winding Road to MCAD -- How to Avoid the Journey or Shorten the Road Trip.”