Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has the pleasure of introducing our second Fall 2023 Intern, Lisa Roe.
Lisa serves as an all-programs intern at VLJ, and she is currently pursuing a law degree at Seton Hall University School of Law. Prior to starting her law studies at Seton Hall Law, Lisa obtained a Master of Library & Information Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, both from Rutgers University. Lisa's journey with VLJ began during her summer internship with Seton Hall Law’s Housing Justice Project, where she had the privilege of working alongside former VLJ Staff Attorney Anne Kassalow who introduced her to VLJ.
Having a wealth of compassion, Lisa's commitment to pro bono work extends beyond VLJ: she volunteered as an advocate with the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman and also participated in various pro bono projects, including expungement clinics and a “Know Your Rights” on surprise medical billing and related medical debt with New Jersey Appleseed. Adding to her pro bono resume, Lisa was nominated for The American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Pro Bono and Access to Justice Section Pro Bono Honor Roll. Suffice to say, Lisa is deeply committed to promoting access to justice and giving back to her community.
Indeed, for Lisa, working with VLJ is both a personal and educational journey. On a personal level, she hopes to serve VLJ's clients and assist its attorneys. As a law student, she seeks a deeper understanding of the legal system and the complex issues VLJ addresses across various practice areas.
For those contemplating, but still on the fence about pro bono, Lisa has a few compelling reasons to consider. First, she believes pro bono work is an essential step toward achieving equal access to justice. Second, pro bono provides an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with clients along with real-life exposure to the needs facing our communities. Third, for aspiring attorneys, pro bono work can fulfill pro bono service requirements for admission to the bar. Last, but certainly not least, the intrinsic rewards of giving back and helping others can make you feel good. Harnessing the power of pro bono also aligns with Lisa’s goal of fighting for those who lack access to justice and legal help. After completing her law degree, Lisa plans to represent community members experiencing poverty, hopefully making a difference in their lives.
VLJ's mission of "ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty" resonates deeply with Lisa, as she has seen the life-changing impact addressing unmet civil legal needs can have. As Lisa tells it, “I witnessed first-hand the difference that representation makes to impoverished clients facing eviction. Landlords were represented, and tenants generally were not. Legal representation made the difference between a tenant staying in an apartment versus becoming homeless.”
Beyond her dedication to the law and lifting up others, Lisa recently achieved the impressive feat of visiting all 50 U.S. states in addition to running two marathons. As a pro bono superstar and an all-around “Wonder Woman,” Lisa’s commitment to ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty, along with her desire to make the legal system more accessible, are a few of the many reasons VLJ is grateful to have her as part of the team this semester.
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
““I witnessed first-hand the difference that representation makes to impoverished clients facing eviction. Landlords were represented, and tenants generally were not. Legal representation made the difference between a tenant staying in an apartment versus becoming homeless.”
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