Every semester Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is incredibly fortunate to welcome new interns to the team—interns who bring compassion, skill, and a zeal for social justice—and this semester is no different. Joining VLJ’s Tenancy Program for the Spring 2024 semester is Jonathan (“Jon”) Nendze.
Having majored in English literature at Seton Hall University, Jon was motivated to attend law school thanks to an internship during his senior year with the ACLU of New Jersey. That motivation is still going strong as Jon approaches the finish line in his last semester at Rutgers Law School. Speaking to how fortunate VLJ is to have Jon with us this semester, while Jon heard about VLJ thanks to Rutgers Law’s emphasis on nonprofit and public interest work, he first became acquainted with VLJ while researching our expungement work (ReLeSe Program) that interested him during his time with the Rutgers Law Constitutional Rights Clinic. On what Jon aims to take away from his semester spent with VLJ’s Tenancy Program, he said he hopes to learn more about contemporary issues in tenancy law, enabling him to become an effective and competent advocate for tenants.
While policy and procedure can be taught, it’s hard to teach someone how to have a passion for justice and pro bono. Thankfully, Jon comes to VLJ full to the brim with the spirit of pro bono, stating, “I think pro bono work is important because, as VLJ’s mission statement says, it ensures access to justice for people experiencing poverty. There are many aspects of our legal system, mainly cost, that effectively close the courthouse doors to people who would otherwise have great cases. And, if someone is on the fence about pro bono work, I would 100% recommend it. Out of all the spaces I have interned, pro bono workplaces have always been the most patient and allowed for the most hands-on experience. Not to mention, the people you meet in pro bono fields tend to be awesome!”
With a passion for pro bono, it should come as no surprise that Jon has passion for many other things in life, and one such passion is travel. Prior to law school, Jon lived in Alaska for a summer, and after graduation from Rutgers Law, he is moving to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a judicial clerkship.
As Jon writes his last chapter at Rutgers Law, we are grateful he chose to spend his remaining time with VLJ harnessing the power of pro bono for tenants facing eviction. Welcome, Jon, and thank you!
Connect with Jon on LinkedIn
““I think pro bono work is important because, as VLJ’s mission statement says, it ensures access to justice for people experiencing poverty. There are many aspects of our legal system, mainly cost, that effectively close the courthouse doors to people who would otherwise have great cases.”
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