News & Updates
Get to know Daniela Geraldo, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s December 2024 Defender of Justice. Daniela, a dedicated staff attorney on VLJ’s Tenancy Program, has been championing access to justice with VLJ since October 2022. Daniela’s passion for empowering clients is evident in every aspect of her work.
Newark, NJ – As economic challenges continue to strain families across New Jersey, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) remains committed to aiding residents facing significant financial challenges. Thanks to a recent grant award of $12,500 from the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation (Foundation), VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP) will continue providing critical legal assistance to New Jerseyans experiencing poverty who are struggling with consumer debt issues, such as bankruptcy, medical bills, and lawsuits from creditors.
Dorian Bernard remembers his family's old apartment in Irvington, New Jersey, fondly.
The neighborhood was a quiet and close-knit one where he would frequently run into friends he knew from high school when he came back to visit. Growing up there with his brothers, he remembers awards and other keepsakes his mother and father used to display, giving it an atmosphere that was charming, though a little dated, according to Bernard.
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is thrilled to announce that it has successfully met the $500,000 match goal for its Legacy of Justice Endowment Campaign. This achievement was made possible through the generous support of 43 donors who collectively contributed $519,750 to the campaign, surpassing the match goal.
On November 21, 2024, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s (VLJ) Executive Director Cathy Keenan was interviewed by Michael Hill on Newark Today. During her interview, Cathy introduced VLJ to Newark Today listeners and the organization’s efforts to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty.
Meet Yasmine Boto, one of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice's (VLJ) dedicated staff and a familiar face who has been with the organization since 2022. Yasmine's journey with VLJ began as an intern for the ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, Veterans Legal Program, and driver’s license restoration efforts during her 3L year at New York Law School. After graduating from law school, Yasmine joined VLJ as a Wilf Public Interest Fellow, expanding her work to the Tenancy Program and Children’s Representation Program. Now, Yasmine focuses her efforts on the ReLeSe Program, Divorce Program, and estate planning for veterans.
Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) proudly hosted its annual Arts & Eats for Justice Gala on October 8, 2024, in a celebration of the organization’s commitment to ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty across New Jersey. The event, held at The Park Savoy Estate, was a resounding success, raising $750,000 in support of VLJ’s mission and programs.
Newark, NJ — In response to recent efforts by the State of New Jersey to provide medical debt relief and protections to its residents, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Jeff Stephens, Senior Staff Attorney and Program Lead for VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program, was interviewed on August 21 by PIX11 about the impact this relief has, especially for those communities most impacted by medical debt and those least likely to seek medical care because of the cost.
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is proud to announce that Michael A. Conforti, an associate at Gibbons P.C. in the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation Group and a dedicated volunteer with VLJ, has been honored with the 2024 Distinguished New Lawyer Award by the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA). This prestigious award recognizes the exceptional pro bono contributions and leadership of lawyers who have been in practice for 10 years or less.
For our August 2024 Defender of Justice, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is thrilled to spotlight Margo Katz Rosenberg, a staff attorney whose dedication and passion are inspirational. Margo's journey with VLJ began in October 2021 as a volunteer attorney, and recognizing her immense potential and commitment, she quickly transitioned to a staff attorney role in the Tenancy Program in January 2022. Almost three years later, her impact continues to grow. As she aptly puts it, "Time flies when you're having fun!"
For the final installment of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Summer 2024 intern spotlight series, we are thrilled to welcome Debora Perez to the team. Bringing excitement and energy with her, Debora will support VLJ’s Divorce Program, New Jersey Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program, and Tenancy Program. A rising 3L at Cardozo School of Law, Debora earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Continuing with our Summer 2024 new intern spotlight series, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is elated to welcome Caroline Sigler. Caroline completed her undergraduate studies at Hunter College and is now pursuing her law degree at Rutgers Law School-Newark (class of 2026). During her summer internship Caroline is supporting VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program and Veterans Legal Program.
As summer kicks off, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) spotlights our three Summer 2024 interns. First up, Yuki Kyu. Yuki brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and creativity to VLJ’s Children’s Representation Program, ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program.
NEWARK, NJ – Prudential Financial (Prudential) has been named a recipient of the American Bar Association’s 2024 Pro Bono Publico Award. The award “seeks to identify and honor individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession that have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services to our nation's poor and disadvantaged. These services are of critical importance to the increasing number of people in this country living in a state of poverty who need legal representation to improve their lives.” Prudential’s enthusiastic embrace of pro bono has set a “gold standard” for volunteerism and supporting communities that have been historically underrepresented and under-resourced, especially in Newark, New Jersey, where the company has been headquartered for nearly 150 years.
At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), stories of resilience, compassion, and commitment to justice abound. So much so VLJ never hesitates to share the voices and experiences that encompass the transformative power of pro bono. For VLJ’s June 2024 Defender of Justice, we pull the curtain back to spotlight one staff member who helps bring those stories to you: Eric W. Hughes.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Executive Director Cathy Keenan talks with Comcast Newsmakers host Candace Kelley about mobilizing private practice attorneys from across New Jersey to volunteer to support vulnerable populations and people who really need to have their voice amplified or heard in the legal system. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Executive Director Cathy Keenan talks with Comcast Newsmakers host Candace Kelley about mobilizing private practice attorneys from across New Jersey to volunteer to support vulnerable populations and people who really need to have their voice amplified or heard in the legal system.
For Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s April 2024 Defender of Justice, dedication, compassion, and empathy are as much a part of her job as helping clients, supporting programmatic efforts, and ensuring access to justice are. This month, VLJ celebrates Jill Heredia Lopera.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice congratulates Tracey Salmon-Smith, a VLJ board trustee, and Leonard V. Jones, a member of VLJ’s Generation Now Committee, for being honored by the Garden State Bar Association.
NEWARK, NJ – Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C. (NFC), a leading employment law firm headquartered in New Jersey, has been recognized as a 2024 NJBIZ Leaders in Law-Pro Bono honoree. This prestigious accolade celebrates NFC's unwavering commitment to harnessing the power of pro bono to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty in New Jersey. A 100% women-owned firm, NFC has consistently demonstrated a deep-seated dedication to giving back to the community, and through their robust pro bono initiatives, NFC embodies the belief that access to justice is a right, not a privilege.
NEWARK, NJ – Prudential Financial has been named the recipient of the Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award by the Essex County Bar Association. The award is a distinguished honor bestowed upon individuals, law firms, legal departments, and institutions within the legal profession for their outstanding contributions to providing volunteer legal services in Essex County. Since 2010, Prudential’s Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs (LCBE) Voluntary Pro Bono Committee has been committed to helping some of the most vulnerable populations in the state, especially in the Essex County, NJ area, where the company has been headquartered for 148 years.
