The most prevalent image of Habitat for Humanity International is volunteers wielding hammers and nails to build houses, so the group lawyers must do a brisk business in waivers and construction accident cases, right?

Not exactly, explains Hilary Harp, Habitat’s vice president for legal and general counsel. She says that the Georgia-based nonprofit supports close to 1,200 local affiliates in the U.S. and other entities in 70 countries. The locals organize the building and selling of houses to low-income residents–so they handle legal matters stemming from the building activities.