It’s not always the case that someone knows they want to become an attorney so early, but fortunately for VLJ and the Newark community, our new AT&T Spring 2023 Intern had that box checked years ago. VLJ warmly welcomes Adaneka Witter Judge, a 2L at Rutgers Law School-Newark, who will spend her spring semester with VLJ supporting several programs, starting out with VLJ’s Divorce and Debt Relief Programs. In true Adaneka fashion, she hit the ground running, taking full advantage of interning in different practice areas.
Adaneka is no stranger to Northern New Jersey, having graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies and a Masters in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Adaneka was called to law school with aspirations to be an elder law attorney. Adaneka has a passion for working with and serving older adults, a passion fueled by her work with and membership in the Newark branch of the NAACP. Adaneka has met many NAACP members who are retired and living their life, still fighting and serving. Adaneka loves being in spaces with older adults who readily share their personal and community knowledge, and the sage counsel of community elders is invaluable, both in the context of how far communities have come and how long the road ahead is to realizing justice.
Adaneka’s work in the greater Newark community repeats truth seen throughout the world and experienced by those living that truth: older adults have specific legal needs, and unfortunately, a significant number do not have a plan to age in place and with grace, nor do they know what elder law attorneys do and how they can help. In pursuit of becoming an attorney who makes a difference, Adaneka is always looking to gain experience in elder law, and she is excited to participate in and support VLJ’s upcoming launch of its quarterly estate planning legal clinic. When not involved with the NAACP, law school studies, or her internship at VLJ, Adaneka is a member of the Rutgers Association of Black Law Students, Rutgers Minority Student Program, Student Bar Association, and Women’s Law Forum.
Adaneka joined VLJ February 1, and since day one, she has been learning, observing, and absorbing. The first attorney Adaneka sat with was Michael DeSimone, Vice President, Corporate Counsel at Prudential Financial, in the Divorce Program’s legal clinic, and Michael gave her great advice. Adaneka remarked that Michael’s willingness to mentor, to guide, and to be a resource to her left a lasting impression.
VLJ’s model of meeting volunteers and supporters where they are is often the same for interns, in hopes that connecting their interest(s) with an opportunity to serve might spark the realization of “Wow, so this is my superpower?!”. A lot of those realizations happen in VLJ’s legal clinics, and so it should come as no surprise that Adaneka joyfully stated, “I love the clinic aspect.” Adaneka elaborated that even a few weeks in, this is the best internship she has had. One of the contributing factors is how Adaneka is gaining legal experience in real time while serving Newark’s neighbors and community members. In fact, Adaneka said VLJ’s legal clinics have given her more than she could have ever imagined, and she has worked with two dynamic attorneys who gave her an appreciation for the balance they have as in-house counsel who give back to the communities where they live and work. This balance and dynamic has instilled within Adaneka the feeling that when she becomes an attorney she can always come back to VLJ to do pro bono (the philosophy at VLJ goes, “Once a member of the VLJ family, always a member of the family.”).
Realizing what brings people to VLJ is likely more art than science, VLJ makes it a point to ask about the importance of pro bono. Mirroring her experience at VLJ thus far, Adaneka responded that pro bono is important because, “You are being a resource to someone, sharing knowledge with someone who wouldn’t know how to navigate through a legal issue (especially for someone who can’t afford legal help). When you take the time and energy to be a resource for someone, the impact is immeasurable.”
VLJ would be remiss to not also ask Adaneka about what ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty means; Adaneka replied, “Ensuring access to justice looks like ensuring residents of housing projects, and other low-income communities know their rights. It’s allowing these residents to know and understand that someone is here to help whenever they are faced with an issue. Justice is obtainable and not out of their reach simply because they cannot afford an attorney. There is a team of people willing to help and these residents do not have to suffer in silence.”
While Adaneka is a self-proclaimed introvert and homebody who enjoys spending time with her husband and fur baby, she is a powerful force for good. When members of the bar quip about the “next generation,” VLJ sees the power and opportunity of the next generation in Adaneka and our other interns. A passion and drive for service, for community, for justice, VLJ is proud to play our part in the stories of rising changemakers and champions of justice.
Thank you, Adaneka, for harnessing the power of pro bono every day, and we watch your journey with joy as you work to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. Welcome, and cheers to a wonderful spring semester at VLJ!
“You are being a resource to someone, sharing knowledge with someone who wouldn’t know how to navigate through a legal issue (especially for someone who can’t afford legal help). When you take the time and energy to be a resource for someone, the impact is immeasurable.”