News & Updates
At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, staff like Katiana Guerrier are dedicated to empowering community members with compassion, grace, and professionalism—helping them realize a second chance—because every expungement is a step toward a brighter, kinder tomorrow.
Because how we do justice matters.
In a newly released report, Unjustified Residential Evictions in New Jersey, a coalition of tenant advocates including the Housing Justice Project of the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law School, the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest at Lowenstein Sandler, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, and the Housing Justice Program at Rutgers Law School, urges the New Jersey courts to improve their process for reviewing residential eviction complaints. The report is based on data collected and analyzed by the coalition that suggests that eviction judgments or defaults are entered against as many as 29,000 tenant families each year in cases where the court lacks jurisdiction.
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) announces that Amy Woltman joined its Board of Trustees in September. Amy, Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Retirement Strategies, joined Prudential Financial in December 2013. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served four years as a 98G, Voice Interceptor (Arabic), including a six-month deployment to Kosovo. Amy also previously served as President of VETNET, Prudential’s business resource group focused on raising veterans’ issues as they relate to the workplace and representing Prudential within the veteran community.
Meet Yasmine Boto, one of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice's (VLJ) dedicated staff and a familiar face who has been with the organization since 2022. Yasmine's journey with VLJ began as an intern for the ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, Veterans Legal Program, and driver’s license restoration efforts during her 3L year at New York Law School. After graduating from law school, Yasmine joined VLJ as a Wilf Public Interest Fellow, expanding her work to the Tenancy Program and Children’s Representation Program. Now, Yasmine focuses her efforts on the ReLeSe Program, Divorce Program, and estate planning for veterans.
During our October 8, 2024, Arts & Eats for Justice Gala, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice debuted a new video providing a glimpse of the names and faces involved with our efforts ensuring access to justice.
Because how we do justice matters.
Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) proudly hosted its annual Arts & Eats for Justice Gala on October 8, 2024, in a celebration of the organization’s commitment to ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty across New Jersey. The event, held at The Park Savoy Estate, was a resounding success, raising $750,000 in support of VLJ’s mission and programs.
This month, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) proudly recognizes Afiya Jordan, Associate General Counsel at Panasonic Corporation of North America, as our September 2024 Volunteer of the Month. Afiya’s commitment to serving the community and using her legal talent for the greater good exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism that makes VLJ’s work not just possible, but powerful.
NEWARK, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is proud to announce the election of two current trustees to the executive leadership team of its Board of Trustees: Sneha Desai as Vice Chair and Kaitlyn E. Stone as Secretary. The elections were made at VLJ’s May 21st board meeting.
At Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Michael Campolongo (“Mike”) is a force in the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital group, skillfully drafting and prosecuting patent applications for a wide range of technologies. Yet, it’s Mike’s dedication to using his legal talent to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty that has earned him the title of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s (VLJ) August 2024 Volunteer of the Month.
Newark, NJ — In response to recent efforts by the State of New Jersey to provide medical debt relief and protections to its residents, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Jeff Stephens, Senior Staff Attorney and Program Lead for VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program, was interviewed on August 21 by PIX11 about the impact this relief has, especially for those communities most impacted by medical debt and those least likely to seek medical care because of the cost.
American Bar Association's 2024 Award Recipient video for Prudential Financial. Prudential received the ABA's 2024 Pro Bono Publico Award (Volunteer Lawyers for Justice nominated Prudential for the award).
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is proud to announce that Michael A. Conforti, an associate at Gibbons P.C. in the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation Group and a dedicated volunteer with VLJ, has been honored with the 2024 Distinguished New Lawyer Award by the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA). This prestigious award recognizes the exceptional pro bono contributions and leadership of lawyers who have been in practice for 10 years or less.
For our August 2024 Defender of Justice, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is thrilled to spotlight Margo Katz Rosenberg, a staff attorney whose dedication and passion are inspirational. Margo's journey with VLJ began in October 2021 as a volunteer attorney, and recognizing her immense potential and commitment, she quickly transitioned to a staff attorney role in the Tenancy Program in January 2022. Almost three years later, her impact continues to grow. As she aptly puts it, "Time flies when you're having fun!"
As a new mother and after a high-risk pregnancy, “Dalia” needed to stay home to care for her newborn and herself. Unfortunately, not long after her child was born, Dalia was served with a collection complaint seeking over $2500. Although Dalia’s spouse worked, with only one income in home, they were unable to pay this debt, meaning a likely judgment and further collection action, compounding an already difficult time for Dalia.
Dalia came to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice seeking help.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s July 2024 Volunteer of the Month is a familiar face, both in the Veterans Legal Program and as our December 2018 Volunteer of the Month. Celebrating a volunteer whose dedication to serving veterans sets a high bar, VLJ recognizes Matt Jokajtys as this month’s Volunteer of the Month.
For the final installment of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Summer 2024 intern spotlight series, we are thrilled to welcome Debora Perez to the team. Bringing excitement and energy with her, Debora will support VLJ’s Divorce Program, New Jersey Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program, and Tenancy Program. A rising 3L at Cardozo School of Law, Debora earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Continuing with our Summer 2024 new intern spotlight series, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is elated to welcome Caroline Sigler. Caroline completed her undergraduate studies at Hunter College and is now pursuing her law degree at Rutgers Law School-Newark (class of 2026). During her summer internship Caroline is supporting VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program and Veterans Legal Program.
As summer kicks off, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) spotlights our three Summer 2024 interns. First up, Yuki Kyu. Yuki brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and creativity to VLJ’s Children’s Representation Program, ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program.
NEWARK, NJ – Prudential Financial (Prudential) has been named a recipient of the American Bar Association’s 2024 Pro Bono Publico Award. The award “seeks to identify and honor individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession that have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services to our nation's poor and disadvantaged. These services are of critical importance to the increasing number of people in this country living in a state of poverty who need legal representation to improve their lives.” Prudential’s enthusiastic embrace of pro bono has set a “gold standard” for volunteerism and supporting communities that have been historically underrepresented and under-resourced, especially in Newark, New Jersey, where the company has been headquartered for nearly 150 years.
