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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice provides free civil legal services on certain New Jersey matters to people experiencing poverty. Apply online or over the phone.

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Volunteers help us deliver free civil legal help that protects rights, expands opportunity, drives economic mobility, and strengthens communities.

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Access to justice takes time, talent, and resources. Your support makes our work possible and empowers the belief that justice is a right, not a privilege.

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Rooted in the belief that justice is a right, not a privilege, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) envisions a New Jersey where people experiencing poverty have equal access to justice. Partnering with volunteers, we deliver free civil legal help that protects rights, expands opportunity, drives economic mobility, and strengthens communities.

In 2025, VLJ handled 2,062 cases, reaching 4,943 individuals, including 1,807 children. This record-breaking level of service was made possible by 24 experienced staff members and 633 committed attorney and non-attorney volunteers, who donated more than 6,700 hours of service valued at $2.2 million.

Learn more about VLJ
Celebrate VLJ's 25th Anniversary

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How We Do Justice Matters - Avoiding Eviction. Empowering Clients.

An eviction isn’t a one-off event. Beyond the impact the legal proceeding can have, trying to find a new place to live with an eviction on public record makes it nearly impossible, which is why tenants facing eviction often try to find a way to avoid a judgment of possession being entered against them so their future housing prospects aren’t cut off.

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VLJ's August 2026 Volunteer of the Month: Heidi I. Hansen

For Heidi I. Hansen, Chair of the Tax Practice Group at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, sharing her legal skills with communities that might not be able to afford them isn't simply a professional duty, it’s a powerful way to turn peace of mind into reality.

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How We Do Justice Matters - A Client's Second Chance to Live Their Dreams

Research shows that about only 6% of people eligible to expunge their criminal record do. That means millions of neighbors and community members never get a second chance, resulting in lost employment and housing opportunities, decreased wages, and limited reentry into where they live and work.

Realizing the complex and emotional nature of clearing a criminal record, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program works to ensure New Jerseyans experiencing poverty aren’t defined by their past. Thanks to our compassionate and professional community of volunteers, another client can pursue their dreams.

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Pro Bono: From Passion to Practice - Read VLJ’s Blog

Pro Bono: From Passion to Practice Blog
Corporate Social Responsibility in Action: BASF’s Commitment to Veterans and Access to Justice
Corporate Social Responsibility in Action: BASF’s Commitment to Veterans and Access to Justice

A company’s strength is often measured by its global reach, but true impact can be felt much closer to home in the communities where its employees live and work. For BASF Corporation’s Legal Department, which is led out of Florham Park, New Jersey, corporate social responsibility is not an abstract concept; it is an ingrained resolve to strengthening communities by giving back.

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How Law Firms and In-House Legal Teams Can Use Pro Bono Work to Drive Business Value
How Law Firms and In-House Legal Teams Can Use Pro Bono Work to Drive Business Value

By partnering with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) over the past 25 years, VLJ’s law firm and in-house partners have achieved so much on behalf of our pro bono clients, helping to level the playing field and create equal access to justice. With only 2.8 legal aid lawyers for every 10,000 individuals experiencing poverty, pro bono help is desperately needed and VLJ is so grateful for the private bar’s assistance in meeting this need.

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25 Years of Service. 25 Hours of Pro Bono. 1 Mission: Ensure Access to Justice. Take VLJ’s Anniversary Volunteer Pledge.
25 Years of Service. 25 Hours of Pro Bono. 1 Mission: Ensure Access to Justice. Take VLJ’s Anniversary Volunteer Pledge.

With 2026 in full swing, all of us at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) are reflecting on the incredible past year of pro bono made possible by our community of volunteer attorneys. While the new year means another year of ensuring access to justice, it also marks a milestone in VLJ’s history: our 25th anniversary, and as with any VLJ celebration, you’re invited!

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thank you to our Generous Supporters

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice thanks the firms, companies, and organizations that provide financial support to our programs. You make our work possible!