Gavin Pereira
“Ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty looks like a critical way to uphold justice and human dignity in the NJ community. VLJ’s mission recognizes the inherent worth of every individual and the myriad financial, language, education and systemic barriers that impact their ability to seek redress.”
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is thrilled to spotlight Gavin Pereira as our June 2024 Volunteer of the Month. Gavin, Corporate Counsel at Audible, plays a pivotal role in supporting the company's rapidly evolving content initiatives. As part of the Content Legal team, Gavin’s responsibilities include advising on a variety of content issues, structuring and negotiating acquisition and development agreements, and collaborating with cross-department stakeholders such as creative, business affairs, production, marketing, and PR.
Gavin’s journey in the law began at Jindal Global Law School in India, where he obtained his first law degree. Last year, he furthered his education by graduating with a master’s degree in law from Columbia Law School. Additionally, Gavin is an active member of several professional groups and associations, including being a proud member of the Asians@ affinity group at Audible and serving as a Legal DEI Ambassador at Amazon. Gavin is also involved with the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY).
Gavin’s pro bono story with VLJ started when he joined Audible in September 2023. He credits his colleagues, Suemyra and Anna, for introducing him to VLJ. Gavin has since become a dedicated volunteer supporting VLJ’s ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program’s Expungement Clinic, helping pro se litigants clear their criminal records. Beyond his work with VLJ, Gavin volunteers with NJ LEEP, mentoring high school students in Newark for their annual constitutional law debate, and helps Afghan asylum seekers obtain work authorization documents through Human Rights First’s Project: Afghan Legal Assistance.
Volunteering with VLJ resonates deeply with Gavin as it aligns with Audible’s People Principle “Activate Caring”. He believes in the importance of giving everyone a second chance, and VLJ provides a platform for him to see the direct impact of his pro bono efforts. Gavin finds it incredibly rewarding to witness how expunging a client’s record can significantly aid in their reintegration into society, allowing them to secure employment and access essential services. One of Gavin’s favorite memories from his time with VLJ involves a client seeking to expunge a 15-year-old record. The client shared her motivation was to become a role model for her newly born grandchild. Gavin found it heartwarming to tell her that her case was eligible for expungement, helping her take a significant step toward her goal.
Growing up in India, Gavin saw firsthand how inaccessible the judicial system can be for many, particularly for historically vulnerable groups and communities. He views pro bono as a vital means of bridging that gap and ensuring access to justice. Gavin encourages others to engage in pro bono work, emphasizing the unexpected learning opportunities it presents:
“You’d be surprised by how much you end up learning along the way, and by that I don’t mean the legal issues and complexities that underpin the pro bono case you’re involved in. I mean learning about the extent of systemic racism that contributes to disproportionately higher rates of incarceration for persons of color. Or the important stories from participants in the clinic about the myriad ways they’ve tried to rebuild their lives, families, and identities. Or learning new ways of working from the accomplished attorneys you’re paired with at each clinic.”
To Gavin, VLJ’s mission of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty "looks like a critical way to uphold justice and human dignity in the NJ community. VLJ’s mission recognizes the inherent worth of every individual and the myriad financial, language, education and systemic barriers that impact their ability to seek redress.”
Concluding with a “fun fact,” despite their reputation as the “lowest form of humor,” Gavin enjoys making puns and appreciates a good pun whenever he hears one. (Why don’t lawyers play hide and seek? Because good luck hiding from someone who finds loopholes for a living!)
Thanks to Gavin, no ladders are needed for pro bono to reach new heights, and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is immensely grateful to and for him; Gavin’s dedication, compassion, and enthusiastic embrace of pro bono are a testament to what happens when one “activates” caring.
Connect with Gavin on LinkedIn