Jeff Stephens (he/him)
Senior Staff Attorney
Debt Relief Legal Program and Tenancy Program
Jeff is a senior staff attorney, and he defends tenants against eviction in VLJ’s Tenancy Program, leads VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program, and co-chairs VLJ’s internship program. Jeff is honored to serve VLJ’s mission by engaging in this necessary and rewarding work. His approach is personal, acknowledging that every client has a unique story and circumstances, a story that Jeff works to engender trust in the retelling. Trust that creates the greatest capacity for the most effective advocacy, allowing Jeff to work toward ensuring poverty is indeed transitory and defines no one.
Prior to joining VLJ, Jeff worked in the private sector at several New Jersey law firms advocating for the rights of clients including financial institutions, labor unions, union members, and ERISA funds. Jeff celebrates and believes in the power and necessity of volunteerism, having defended asylum seekers in deportation proceedings and having served as a first responder (EMT) on his township's emergency medical unit.
Prior to attending law school, Jeff was a Senior Project Manager at Safe Horizon in New York City. During his time at Rutgers Law School, Jeff was a member of the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic under Prof. Steve Gold and interned at the Environmental Protection Agency, New Jersey Superfund Enforcement branch. Jeff was also an editor on the Rutgers Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. Jeff graduated magna cum laude with degrees in Philosophy (Prof. Steven Ross, advisor) and Political Science from Hunter College.
Jeff is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Awards & Recognition
Click here to read Jeff’s profile as VLJ’s June 2023 Defender of Justice
Interviews
New Jersey Cancels $100M in medical debt for nearly 50,000 patients - PIX11, August 21, 2024
Publications
What to Do When Debt Collectors Come Calling — Pro Bono: From Passion to Practice Blog, June 18, 2024
Connect with Jeff
““Ensuring access to justice is a commitment to hearing each client’s story and then doing the work made necessary by the inequitable impact of our systems and historic injustices.””