Natalie Dallavalle, Esq.
“Veteran clients are so appreciative and often come to VLJ with real life-changing issues. A volunteer attorney may not think much of driver’s license issues, but having a valid driver’s license means veterans can get to their VA medical appointments and have stable employment. You are fulfilling a real need for people and you are seeing real results in real time. You can see what positive impact you had for them. I love being able to see the outcome and what ultimately happened to the clients.”
In the world of corporate law, one may not always have the time to do pro bono. Yet, for Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s November 2023 Volunteer of the Month, pro bono service to others is her lodestar. This month, VLJ recognizes Natalie Dallavalle, Associate Counsel - Litigation with PSEG, whose selfless service for those who served is a testament to the power and impact compassionate people can have when they undertake pro bono. Natalie earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from The College of New Jersey and her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law; Natalie is also a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association.
As part of PSEG’s litigation group, Natalie represents the company on complex commercial and environmental matters, both individually and with outside counsel. Her work extends to environmental concerns, property, and contract disputes. She's the ultimate fixer, striving to ensure the lights stay on and the gas keeps flowing for the countless community members who rely on PSEG's services.
When asked about her choice to work at PSEG, where she serves as co-chair of PSEG’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, Natalie's response is as profound as it is heartwarming: PSEG serves a fundamental need in people's lives, and the significance of this service often goes unnoticed until it's gone. Her commitment to addressing disputes, despite the challenges and complexities involved in litigation, is driven by her dedication to ensure a positive outcome for the company and its customers.
What sets Natalie apart is her realization that, in the legal system, lawyers are "professional problem solvers." Attorneys like her dedicate themselves to fixing problems and piecing together solutions, ensuring justice prevails and rights are protected. This passion for resolving issues and seeking justice goes well with her pro bono efforts. Since 2019, Natalie has served 23 clients and donated over 35 hours through VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program, volunteering on a wide range of issues, from child support to driver's license restoration, expungement, and consumer debt. Of course, this is far from her first pro bono rodeo; prior to joining PSEG, when Natalie was with Lowenstein Sandler LLP, she would regularly volunteer hundreds of hours in support of Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) advocating for young asylum seekers.
With Natalie’s father being an Army veteran of the war in Vietnam and her brother-in-law having served in the Marines (currently serving as a Major in the Reserves) including a deployment to Iraq, their service instilled in her the importance of giving back to those who have made sacrifices for our country. In fact, Natalie said volunteering for veterans reminds her of helping others like her father and brother-in-law: “Veteran clients are so appreciative and often come to VLJ with real life-changing issues. A volunteer attorney may not think much of driver’s license issues, but having a valid driver’s license means veterans can get to their VA medical appointments and have stable employment. You are fulfilling a real need for people and you are seeing real results in real time. You can see what positive impact you had for them. I love being able to see the outcome and what ultimately happened to the clients.” Natalie’s volunteering for veterans is her way of saying “Thank you!”, especially considering the real commitments veterans say “Yes” to.
Natalie speaks passionately about the tangible impact pro bono has on veterans' lives, and how she believes lawyers have a responsibility to give back to their community and to use their skills to make a real difference in the lives of those with unmet legal needs:
“Organizations like VLJ make volunteering seamless with training and support; they pair you with mentors and make it as easy and digestible as possible. You can take something you are interested and passionate in and find the corresponding legal need. Lawyers have a special gift and skills that we can give to people, whether it’s our attention to detail or problem solving. It is our duty to give back to our community. It is a lawyer’s responsibility to pay it forward.”
For clients, Natalie sees the immense need for legal help from those without the financial means to hire an attorney, exacerbated by the fact the legal system can be frightening and intimidating, often working against those experiencing poverty. Through VLJ and the power of pro bono, Natalie finds these barriers can be overcome, allowing people to seek justice and know hope in the face of adversity.
In the world of corporate law, Natalie is a true exemplar of what it means to be a professional problem solver, a selfless advocate, and a source of hope. Her passion for serving those who served and her unwavering dedication to pro bono are a reminder that—no matter your title, job duties, or skillset—there's always room to make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Thank you, Natalie, for harnessing the power of pro bono to ensure access to justice for those who served!
Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn