Daniel D'Alessandro, Partner at McCarter & English, LLP, Joins Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Board of Trustees
Daniel D'Alessandro
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2024
CONTACT
Eric W. Hughes
Bershad Director of Communications
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
(973) 233-5724
ehughes@vljnj.org
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) heartily announces that Daniel D'Alessandro (“Dan”) of Hoboken recently joined its Board of Trustees. Dan, a partner at McCarter & English, LLP, is a fervent and longstanding volunteer with VLJ whose substantial experience in complex contractual, financial, and regulatory matters will undeniably add to the expertise and strength of VLJ’s board.
Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts from Lafayette College in 2002 and his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law in 2006. While at Seton Hall Law, Dan was a senior editor of the Seton Hall Law Review. Dan’s journey as a volunteer with and supporter of VLJ began in 2014 shortly after joining McCarter & English. Over the years, Dan has represented clients with their expungement petitions through VLJ’s Reentry Legal Services (ReLeSe) Program and, more recently, his volunteer efforts include supporting victims/survivors of human trafficking with their trafficking-related criminal record clearing through VLJ’s New Jersey Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program. In fact, Dan’s efforts fighting human trafficking saw him, along with former VLJ board trustee and current volunteer and McCarter & English partner Geoffrey Rosamond, obtain the first vacatur relief (removal of a criminal conviction as if the person had never been found guilty of an offense) for a victim/survivor of human trafficking under New Jersey’s human trafficking law. Since Dan began volunteering with VLJ in 2014 he has generously donated his time and talent to the tune of 368 hours, valued at $147,200.
It is hard to argue with the notion that Dan embodies VLJ’s mission of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. His dedication to pro bono, VLJ, and ultimately, those seeking justice are guided by his thoughts on what it means to ensure access to justice: “Access to justice means having access to effective legal advice and assistance. It is a basic—and critical—need for a person to be able to understand their legal rights and protections, and to have the law work for them to overcome obstacles that impact everyday life. A person should not feel silenced or stuck because of the belief that legal assistance is not attainable due to financial constraints.” Dan noted he finds undertaking pro bono “incredibly rewarding with VLJ’s staff attorneys being a wonderful resource throughout each matter, providing the support and teamwork necessary to obtain a favorable result for a client. The clients are appreciative to have someone in their corner working to obtain relief that will have a positive and meaningful impact on their life.”
Being mindful of his commitment to New Jerseyans with unmet civil legal needs, Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director, had this to say on Dan’s appointment to the board: “A decade of service, 368 hours generously donated, and a passion for our mission, Dan D'Alessandro is a perfect fit for our board. While he continues McCarter and English’s steadfast partnership with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice and brings an impressive resume and skillset to the board, what I most look forward to during his tenure on the board is Dan’s powerful perspective as someone who has talked the talk and walked the walk of pro bono. From criminal record expungement to vacatur relief, Dan not only knows the power of pro bono, he knows what happens when dedicated attorneys use their bar license to open doors to justice, doors for so many that have been long shut, and the transformative power that holds for our clients and the communities they call home.”
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn
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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ)
VLJ is an award-winning, comprehensive nonprofit legal services program based in Newark, NJ, with a statewide reach. VLJ's mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. The Newark-based organization ensures fair access to the legal system through partnerships with corporations and hundreds of volunteer attorneys. In 2022, VLJ’s work impacted nearly 4,561 people—including 1,714 children—and its volunteer attorneys provided $2.4 million in free legal services.