Kaitlyn E. Stone, Esq.
“There are people who need our help, and we are in a position to give it. An equation doesn’t get much simpler than that for me.”
This month’s VLJ Volunteer of the Month is no stranger to being recognized for their above and beyond contributions to pro bono and ensuring access to justice. Indeed, our August 2023 Volunteer of the Month was VLJ’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Month in July 2017, and currently serves on VLJ’s Board of Trustees (after having served as Co-Chair of VLJ’s Generation Now Committee), giving a sense of just how dedicated and passionate they are. VLJ is thrilled to recognize Kaitlyn (“Kate”) E. Stone, Esq. as this month’s Volunteer of the Month for her exceptional dedication to pro bono, VLJ, and helping New Jerseyans with their unmet civil legal needs.
Kate is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, having joined the firm in September 2022. At Barnes & Thornburg, Kate has a broad-based litigation practice with experience in virtually all phases of product liability and complex business and commercial litigation, from fact and expert discovery through trial to verdict and appeals. She counsels major pharmaceutical, medical device, and health and life sciences companies in product liability and mass tort matters, focused primarily on prescription medications, medical devices, and consumer goods. She also has experience advocating for clients in complex business, commercial, and real estate litigation, including intellectual property, insurance defense, business tort, redevelopment, environmental and public contract disputes. Kate is an active member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), and is a widely published thought leader in the areas of effective crisis management, creative cross-border litigation tactics, and fostering meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.
Kate's origin story began at the University of Rhode Island, where she earned a B.A., summa cum laude, in writing and rhetoric and in English language and literature. Kate served as a writing tutor in URI’s Writing Center and as an intern to the Provost during her undergraduate studies. Kate then earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law (class of 2013). Kate’s early days of volunteering at VLJ saw her regularly support VLJ’s ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program to give second chances to community members with criminal records. At the time of her July 2017 Pro Bono Attorney of the Month spotlight, Kate volunteered over 70 hours of her time working on over 50 matters. Today, over the course of her volunteer journey with VLJ that began in 2016 with ReLeSe, seeing Kate become one of VLJ's foremost expungement experts, she has assisted over 115 clients and generously donated over 500 hours of her time (not including her time as a board trustee).
Kate’s favorite aspect of volunteering with VLJ lies in the people involved. Throughout her tenure, Kate has been impressed by the organization's ability to assemble a cohesive team of experts and professionals, fostering an environment where questions are welcomed, dialogue is encouraged, and support is readily available. Kate has often said, “If you told me I have one week to move a mountain, my first call would be to the team at VLJ.” In addition, Kate has found volunteering with VLJ to be an opportunity for personal growth and skill development. Beyond the professional benefits, Kate also emphasizes the personally fulfilling and psychological boost that comes from making a tangible difference in the lives of community members. This “tangible difference” is captured in one of the pro bono cases she worked on:
“I have had the pleasure to work with many clients at VLJ. In one particular case, I worked with a client who had been involved in human trafficking. I vividly remember the first time I spoke with the client. It was a difficult meeting because as an attorney, I was focused on drilling down on the facts to assess the legal issues and the client’s practical needs involved in the case. It was an opportunity to strive for that balance between ensuring my job as an attorney didn’t overshadow my obligations as a compassionate human being. I was deeply moved by how strong the client was when asked to described their experiences and perspectives, particularly in light of the fact that the underlying events were fairly recent and exceptionally devastating. I remember concluding the call and thinking about how the client went through these horrible experiences, and yet was not resigned to their fate—I learned more about courage and perseverance during that one phone call than I had in a lifetime of my own experiences. To serve a client who has gone through such unspeakable things was memorable and paints a portrait of the real, tangible impact that pro bono can have both on the clients we serve and as attorneys.”
Kate's commitment to pro bono is not only rooted in personal fulfillment, but also in a deep understanding of the moral imperative for lawyers to contribute to the greater good. She firmly believes that lawyers, as active participants in the legal system, have a responsibility to ensure access to justice for everyone, and she takes this obligation seriously. For those considering pro bono, Kate says, from a practical perspective, “It is an opportunity to refine and expand your skillset by either taking a matter in an area in which you already practice or taking on a matter in an area you don’t, enabling you to learn new skills that may benefit your practice in the long run. A huge benefit to lawyers who volunteer is that we know we are working in a market where firms really focus on pro bono, and firm clients want to see attorneys dedicated to doing excellent work, including pro bono work. In terms of your marketability, especially in New Jersey, it is critical to show you are engaged in pro bono and can articulate why pro bono is important to you, to the legal community, and to the community at large.” And, from her personal perspective, she adds, “There are people who need our help, and we are in a position to give it. An equation doesn’t get much simpler than that for me.”
Beyond her professional pursuits, Kate leads a vibrant life outside of work. She has been involved in the martial arts since the age of six and has earned a second-degree black belt in Isshin Ryu Karate. She has recently developed an interest in birding, and she uses the Merlin app to identify bird songs—a passion that connects her with nature. Kate also cherishes her time at the Jersey Shore on Long Beach Island and, above all, treasures spending quality time with her family and fiancé, whom she described as her best friends. If you’re ever on Jeopardy and are asked the Greek word for “a lover of cheese”, you can thank Kate for being a turophile. (The next time you see her, be sure to ask about her Instagram page dedicated to her love of cheese!)
To Kate, for your outstanding commitment to pro bono, embodiment of compassion and justice, exemplary contributions to the practice of law, and for always willing to mentor, to teach, to learn, and to make a difference, we thank you. When it comes to ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty, there is a reason Kate has been VLJ’s Volunteer of the Month more than once.
Connect with Kate on LinkedIn