VLJ is elated to recognize Carmen Obando as our July 2022 Defender of Justice! Carmen joined VLJ three months ago as a legal assistant for the Tenancy and Debt Relief Legal Programs. In a matter of months Carmen has played an instrumental role in the eviction crisis that tenants are still facing while also assisting clients seeking debt relief. Carmen also provides much needed translation support to clients whose primary language is Spanish. By embodying VLJ’s mission of “Ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty,” Carmen’s efforts ensure community members can contact VLJ knowing we are actively working to ensure that our services are accessible and responsive to those in need.
“Change and challenges” may obstacles for some, but they are no mountain for Carmen, as she nimbly supports VLJ’s Tenancy Hotline; our Hotline receives call from tenants facing eviction including those having received a warrant of removal. Understandably, community members who contact VLJ’s Tenancy Hotline are experiencing distress and frustration; Carmen’s professionalism and compassion provide much needed hope. Indeed, Carmen is agile and adept in connecting clients with staff and volunteer attorneys who are quick to respond, providing critical legal help and support.
In addition to Carmen’s tenacious work on the Tenancy Program, Carmen has also been a driving force in VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program. As the courts and legal profession fully realize and transition to a new virtual world with constant technological changes and advances, Carmen effortlessly runs VLJ’s virtual legal clinics backed with the support of our partners including Lowenstein Sandler and Prudential. Carmen works with clients every day to ensure that they have the necessary information and guidance to help them move forward. While planning and running legal clinics is no easy feat, Carmen does so without breaking a sweat.
Prior to joining VLJ, Carmen lived in Miami, Florida, her home since she was five years old. While in Miami Carmen worked at a personal injury law firm where she first started as receptionist, and in only a few months, Carmen was being trained as a case manager. Carmen also worked for the New Jersey Office of Attorney General where she provided assistance for the Deputy Attorney General and the Assistant Deputy Attorney General, and similar to VLJ’s estate planning services, Carmen worked for a real estate firm where she provided assistance with wills and leases.
VLJ’s mission resonates with Carmen. When asked why she decided to join VLJ, Carmen responded:
“The mission [of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty], we work with the public and are able to change at least one person’s life. Although, the outcome is not always positive, especially with clients facing eviction, we do try our best to do what we can to help individuals in need. An example of this: we [recently] lost a tenancy case, and you would think that the client would be angry or disappointed, but when I called the client to deliver the news, she said ‘Thank you for all of your help and for taking my case, things happen for a reason and I want to thank VLJ for taking the time out to listen and help me out where other organizations did not.’”
Carmen went further, “I felt proud of what we do and it made me proud to be working for VLJ.”
When not wearing her superhero cape at VLJ, Carmen enjoys being outdoors hiking, taking nature walks as well as going the gym, reading mystery books, and spending time with her fur baby, Neena (a German Shepherd).
Carmen is a prime example of how a person can climb any mountain or challenge and go through seasons of change and still find purpose in providing help to those who need it. Thank you, Carmen, for being a true Defender of Justice!