Karen Robinson, Esq.
“VLJ’s mission is short and sweet, and each word packs a punch. I like when we start team meetings with mission moments so we can center and ground ourselves in our purpose. Our mission is ambitious, but it is something we can make significant strides toward. Not only do we provide direct legal services, we are committed to advancing progress at systemic, institutional and generational levels. It’s really inspiring to work at VLJ.”
Dedicated to Justice. Determined to Ensure Justice. Defender of Justice.
Three phrases to describe one incredible person, so incredible it would be a disservice not to shine a much-deserved spotlight on her. For Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s December 2023 Defender of Justice, we celebrate a pillar of our organization: Karen Robinson.
Karen, a managing attorney overseeing the ReLeSe Program (Reentry Legal Services) and New Jersey Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program, is a historical figure at VLJ. Karen’s journey with VLJ began nearly 15 years ago as a legal intern during her 1L summer at Seton Hall Law. Reentry legal work originally wasn’t on her radar. In fact, Karen fully expected to enter the world of immigration after spending a year of service with Catholic Charities through Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Nashville, TN working on refugee resettlement. In reflection, Karen sees parallels between refugee and reentry work as two communities who are marginalized, but remain resilient in seeking a fresh start.
Witnessing VLJ's evolution over the years, Karen is grateful for the growth of the organization and breadth of legal issues it addresses. For example, tenancy was a critical legal need that wasn’t initially in VLJ’s wheelhouse, but when too many residents in Essex County needed help with evictions, VLJ stepped up. Karen finds VLJ doesn’t shy away from hard issues:
“I appreciate how responsive VLJ is. After Super Storm Sandy, VLJ was onsite with FEMA responders asking ‘How can we help?’ ‘What do people need?’ VLJ is always looking to meet unmet needs and that is what keeps the work so interesting to me. Even my record clearing practice has expanded from traditional expungements to include vacatur relief for survivors of human trafficking.”
In recent years, advocacy outside the courtroom has become a passion for Karen, particularly in addressing expungement delays that has seen her collaborate with partners like the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, Rutgers, ACLU-NJ, and Legal Services of New Jersey to effect systemic change and fight against bureaucratic barriers to justice. Karen values the collaborative spirit at VLJ, and while she may be hesitant to brag on herself (even when being a published author in New Jersey Lawyer), she sees every individual success as a team win.
For Karen, there are many things that keep her at VLJ, but the one that shines the brightest: the people. “I think we have the best team there is between staff and volunteers. VLJ’s leadership team always has our well-being in mind and that has helped me avoid burnout. We are not just billable hours to them, we are actual people.” Feeling valued and respected with a life-work balance to boot, Karen cherishes her time at VLJ and at home with her husband and two young children. She loves watching the world through her sons’ eyes as they experience different activities and discover new places. As Karen put it, “It has never been more apparent for me how quickly time passes than watching my kids grow. I don’t want to miss these young, formative years, and at VLJ, I don’t have to.”
Karen's commitment to justice aligns seamlessly with VLJ's mission of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. In her words, “VLJ’s mission is short and sweet, and each word packs a punch. I like when we start team meetings with mission moments so we can center and ground ourselves in our purpose. Our mission is ambitious, but it is something we can make significant strides toward. Not only do we provide direct legal services, we are committed to advancing progress at systemic, institutional, and generational levels. It’s really inspiring to work at VLJ.”
VLJ's history is embodied in people like Karen, a history maker dedicated to rectifying racial, social, and economic injustices. Ultimately, ensuring access to justice is less about philosophy and more about people, and VLJ is immensely fortunate to have people like Karen working every day to make New Jersey a more just place to live. From her infectious laugh and team spirit, to her care for clients and coworkers, Karen is a tour de force for justice, kindness, and compassion.
To Karen, our amazing December 2023 Defender of Justice, thank you!
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn