Tenancy Program
If you are looking for free legal help in Essex County, NJ regarding an eviction, please click here. For other civil legal matters, please click here to apply online for VLJ’s services.
Attorneys who volunteer with VLJ’s Tenancy Program have the power to change outcomes for families facing eviction. Volunteer attorneys provide meaningful advice and representation to tenants who are behind in rent and worried about eviction, tenants who have already had an eviction complaint filed against them, and/or tenants who are experiencing habitability issues in their home. Intervention by an attorney can be a huge help for tenants who are unfamiliar with their legal rights, especially when more often than not, they are up against their landlord who is represented.
Court/Docket: Special Civil Part
Format: Virtual Clinic via Zoom or Remote representation
Volunteer attorneys meet with pro se litigants 1:1 to help identify relevant issues and deadlines, develop case strategy, negotiate settlement, and attend hearings. For volunteers who are representing clients in landlord-tenant court, representation is remote, and VLJ staff are available to help with document collection and signing.
Time Commitment: Virtual Clinic (3 hours); Tenancy case (~ 3 - 10 hours)
Experience NOT Required: Prior experience in landlord-tenant law or with matters in the Special Civil Part is not required to volunteer with this program.
Training Available: VLJ has training materials (written & video) on landlord-tenant procedure, as well as sample pleadings and forms. Volunteers without prior experience are required to review the training materials before volunteering for the first time.
Mentoring: A VLJ staff attorney is present at all legal clinics to provide assistance and support to volunteers. VLJ also holds weekly “drop-in” hours via Zoom for volunteer attorneys to get advice about a case they are handling, and VLJ staff attorneys are available to mentor volunteer attorneys handling their first tenancy case with VLJ.
How to sign up?
Complete VLJ’s Volunteer Form (below).
If you work at Prudential or Lowenstein, please talk to your pro bono coordinator about how to get involved.