2023 Recap

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VLJ’s Alexandra Bravo Selected as One of the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2023 Diverse Attorneys of the Year

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VLJ’s Alexandra Bravo Selected as One of the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2023 Diverse Attorneys of the Year

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is proud and honored to announce our very own Alexandra Bravo, a staff attorney leading VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program, was recently selected as one of the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2023 Diverse Attorneys of the Year.

The New Jersey Law Journal’s Diverse Attorneys of the Year honors diverse attorneys in New Jersey making an impact at a law firm, courtroom, in-house legal department, government agency or public interest organization. Further, the Diverse Attorneys of the Year recognizes the impact these attorneys have on the profession in all its forms, whether it is resolving a significant case or transaction, leading a department through a difficult stretch, or helping change policy. The New Jersey Law Journal sought to highlight the honorees’ accomplishments over the past two years, with demonstrable excellence and accomplishment during that time frame being key to a strong nomination. The New Jersey Law Journal, in their email to Alexandra announcing her selection as one of its Diverse Attorneys of the Year, said, "We received a number of impressive nominations. The recognition is well earned."

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NJ’s courts and the unfulfilled promise of eviction reform

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NJ’s courts and the unfulfilled promise of eviction reform

On Sept. 1, the New Jersey judiciary walked back its effort to reform the eviction process, increasing the already uneven odds against tenants.

Every day, landlords and their lawyers file eviction complaints that do not comply with the law. They fail to provide proper notice, demand illegal rent and fees, and claim as arrears rent that has already been paid. Moreover, the rent they seek is often for property that is dilapidated, leaky, and infested. Most tenants have nowhere to go when rents are high and conditions are appalling; the rental market is the tightest it’s been in years.

Access the entire opinion piece on NJ.com

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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Profiled in Univision 41 Nueva York Interview

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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Profiled in Univision 41 Nueva York Interview

On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, Univision 41 Nueva York came to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Newark office for a Spanish-language interview on VLJ’s services and how we work to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. VLJ Staff Attorney Alexandra Bravo represented VLJ, and two former VLJ clients spoke about how our services, along with the power of pro bono, impacted their lives.

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The New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking Awards VLJ with NJ Freedom Award

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The New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking Awards VLJ with NJ Freedom Award

On Wednesday, May 17, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) was presented with a NJ Freedom Award for its work ensuring access to justice for survivors of human trafficking in New Jersey. The awards were presented by the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT) at its annual New Jersey Freedom Gala. At the Gala, which was held at the Bridgewater Manor, NJCAHT awarded several recipients with its NJ Freedom Award, an award that recognizes the compassion, courage, impact and reach of individuals and organizations to prevent human trafficking in New Jersey and help those affected by it.

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VLJ Staff Member and Board Trustee Published in NJSBA's New Jersey Lawyer - April 2023

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VLJ Staff Member and Board Trustee Published in NJSBA's New Jersey Lawyer - April 2023

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice staff member Jessica Kitson (Director of Legal Advocacy) and Board Trustee Jessica Hodkinson (Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Panasonic Corporation of North America) had their article, The Power of Pro Bono Partnerships, published in the New Jersey State Bar Association’s New Jersey Lawyer April 2023 edition.

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We Hate Poverty—A Call to Action by VLJ Executive Director Cathy Keenan

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We Hate Poverty—A Call to Action by VLJ Executive Director Cathy Keenan

Are you tired of seeing poverty in America? Are you fed up with the fact that poverty is considered a routine social ill? Something that has come to be expected and accepted. At VLJ, we are tired of seeing poverty and we are fed up with accommodating it, generation after generation, broken promise after broken promise.

Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director, recently attended a talk by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and sociologist, Matthew Desmond, in advance of his new book, “Poverty, by America.” Desmond’s talk left Cathy energized and reinvigorated and now she has a call to action for the larger VLJ family.

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VLJ Highlighted in Psychology Today Article on Human Trafficking

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VLJ Highlighted in Psychology Today Article on Human Trafficking

Volunteers Lawyers for Justice was recently highlighted in a March 29, 2023, article from Psychology Today. The article discussed the criminals records-impact survivors of human trafficking face. Also featured in the article are VLJ volunteer Michelle Stegmann and the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

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VLJ Staff Published in NJSBA's New Jersey Lawyer - February 2023 Edition

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VLJ Staff Published in NJSBA's New Jersey Lawyer - February 2023 Edition

Volunteers for Justice staff Adelina Herrarte (Senior Staff Attorney), Melanie Zelikovsky (former intern), and Karen Robinson (Managing Attorney) recently had articles published in the New Jersey State Bar Association’s New Jersey Lawyer February 2023 edition.

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FurtherJustice Foundation Awards $100,000 Legal Accelerator Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

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FurtherJustice Foundation Awards $100,000 Legal Accelerator Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

FurtherJustice Foundation Awards $100,000 Legal Accelerator Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice to Address Legal and Social Issues That Contribute to Housing Instability in Essex County

Newark, NJ – According to recent reports, Essex County leads New Jersey with the largest backlog of eviction filings (at more than 15,000). Exacerbating the backlog is a long-standing fact that New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in the U.S. for renters, with the fair market value of a two-bed apartment far exceeding most households’ ability to afford. This means more families in New Jersey, especially Essex County and Newark, are unable to afford safe, quality housing. Realizing that unconventional times call for unconventional measures, and to aid VLJ in its efforts to help more tenants in Essex County stay housed at home, FurtherJustice Foundation recently awarded a $100,000 Legal Accelerator Grant to VLJ’s Tenancy Program.