Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

Cathy Keenan (she/her)
Executive Director

Cathy began her role as Executive Director of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in 2017. Ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty has been the center of Cathy’s 30-year legal career. Today, Cathy works with VLJ’s Board of Trustees to set the strategic vision for VLJ, solidifying VLJ’s role as a pro bono leader in New Jersey. While effective client service is at the forefront of Cathy’s work, she also takes innovative approaches to engaging pro bono volunteers and community partners as allies in the fight for justice. Cathy attributes the success of the organization to the talent of the staff at VLJ and is humbled to lead this committed team.

Cathy began her work at VLJ in early 2012, holding central management and leadership roles prior to becoming the Executive Director. During her tenure, Cathy has overseen a significant growth of the organization, including sizable increases in the number and experience of staff, trustees, and the organization’s budget, as well as the depth of legal programming.

Cathy brought a wealth of pro bono expertise to VLJ having led a large-scale pro bono program at Legal Aid Services of Oregon (Portland, OR) for close to 10 years and serving as a pro bono volunteer for 5 years while in private practice as a family attorney. Cathy has served on numerous committees aimed at increasing access to justice and pro bono legal services. Cathy is currently a member of and previously chaired the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Committee, serves on the GreenLight Fund of Newark's Selection Advisory Committee and served on the Oregon State Bar Pro Bono Committee and the Oregon Supreme Court’s Self-Represented Litigant Committee.

Cathy is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.