Jason Holt, Esq.
“We’re all just human beings trying to live the best life we can with the tools we have. Our job as volunteers is to help them get to that plateau where they feel they’re living their highest and best life.”
In the midst of the August summer heat, we honor a volunteer who always keeps his cool, Jason Holt, Esq. Jason is a member with Chiesa Shaninian & Giantomasi (CSG) where he works with the Real Estate, Development and Land Use practice group and the firm’s cannabis law team. He draws upon his background navigating the political and economic challenges of New Jersey to assist CSG Law in representing its varied portfolio of clients. Jason is a recently appointed Co-Chair of CSG’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee. He also serves on several leadership teams and diversity committees for business, bar and community associations. Jason graduated from Cornell University and Rutgers Law School.
Public service has always been at the forefront of Jason’s career having held a number of governmental roles including corporation counsel, municipal business administrator, and municipal court judge. This background makes him particularly valuable to VLJ’s ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program where he reviews criminal background information. Jason’s familiarity with the complexities of the judicial system, particularly municipal court, gives him a keen perspective of VLJ clients being in the wrong place, getting caught up in a sweep, and charged with offenses that may or may not get downgraded merely depending on the jurisdiction in which an event took place.
One of the reasons Jason enjoys volunteering with VLJ is the opportunity to help people, who don’t know how to address inequities, to actually address them. “We’re trying to level the economic playing field so they can function in society the way they would like to function and not be held back for something that happened 10, 15 years ago, or before a level of maturity was reached,” Jason says. He finds it very satisfying to help someone who is fighting to grow. As he explains, “New growth is painful. When a new seed is planted, it has to push up from the soil. That process can be challenging.”
Jason reserves judgment and realizes that a client seeking an expungement for something they did years ago is not who they are today. “If they were the same person, they wouldn’t be sitting at the clinic,” he shares, “because they wouldn’t be out of the old thought patterns and willing and able to ask for help. Someone who is asking for help shouldn’t be made to feel worse.” Jason reflects, “We’re all just human beings trying to live the best life we can with the tools we have. Our job as volunteers is to help them get to that plateau where they feel they’re living their highest and best life.”
Without exception, every clinic Jason has participated in (and there have been many!), he and his teammates show patience when reviewing confusing records, take the time to be knowledgeable about the case, and strive to give the right advice. “No one brushes issues to the side, even though record review can be tedious and frustrating, because you really want to help the person you have in the clinic.” Jason also notes the professionalism of VLJ staff puts volunteers in the prime position to assist the clients. “Most of us like to stay in our comfort zones, but it’s important to stress that VLJ clinic staff are there to assist and support you as you help the VLJ clients. Simply stated - the VLJ clinic staff are excellent.”
VLJ is grateful to Jason for stepping out of his comfort zone and so are the countless clients who have benefitted from his legal skills, empathetic understanding, and hopeful optimism that not only pushes them through the soil, but enables them to truly blossom.
On behalf of VLJ’s clients, staff, and board, we celebrate Jason and his tireless advocacy ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. Thank you, Jason!