Jill Heredia Lopera
“At VLJ, there is also a lot of talk about taking care of ourselves in such an exhausting line of work, but if there’s one thing everyone here is going to do—it’s show up. ‘Eighty percent of success is showing up,’ and I feel like a majority of the work that has been accomplished here has been due to everyone continuously showing up.”
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.
Jill joined VLJ in June 2023 as a legal assistant supporting VLJ’s Divorce Program and New Jersey Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program, and in February of this year, Jill brought her talents to VLJ’s Tenancy Program, adding yet another dimension to her portfolio of expertise. A 2022 graduate of Rutgers University-Newark, Jill has put her economics degree and minor in legal studies to good use for clients and coworkers. Jill’s biggest accomplishment at VLJ is mastering professional Spanish to a degree where she seamlessly facilitates attorney-client meetings without breaking a sweat. Jill believes it is incredibly important to express the stories and sentiments of VLJ’s Spanish-speaking clients, and her linguistic growth has helped clients stay in their homes, leave abusive partners, and clear their criminal records.
It then makes sense that one of Jill's standout qualities is her genuine appreciation for human connection, be it cherishing the daily interactions with clients that leave her grateful to hear their stories and help them in every way she can or learning from her colleagues. While Jill is no longer in school, she said she learns something new every day being surrounded by some of the most intelligent and best people she’s evet met. Jill is inspired by the culture at VLJ of treating clients with humility, kindness, and respect, elaborating, “VLJ is such a unique place in that everyone is so passionate about the work. They truly care about making a difference and recognize that there is more to ensuring access to justice directly on a personal client level, but also through broader policy initiatives that can change the lives of many. At VLJ, there is also a lot of talk about taking care of ourselves in such an exhausting line of work, but if there’s one thing everyone here is going to do—it’s show up. ‘Eighty percent of success is showing up,’ and I feel like a majority of the work that has been accomplished here has been due to everyone continuously showing up.”
Outside VLJ, Jill’s passion for people and justice extends to volunteering with the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Latino Caucus' social media team, and when not volunteering, she is studying for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and preparing her law school applications.
Jill stands as a bright testament to the transformative power of empathy, compassion, and showing up, embodying what it means to be a Defender of Justice. Thank you, Jill, for bringing your full, amazing self every day to ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty!
Connect with Jill on LinkedIn