For the final installment of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Summer 2024 intern spotlight series, we are thrilled to welcome Debora Perez to the team.
Bringing excitement and energy with her, Debora will support VLJ’s Divorce Program, New Jersey Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program, and Tenancy Program. A rising 3L at Cardozo School of Law, Debora earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Debora’s summer internship with VLJ is not her introduction to ensuring access to justice or pro bono. Previously, Debora was a volunteer legal intern at Sanctuary for Families, where she worked on the Uncontested Divorce Project, helping a survivor of domestic violence navigate the complex process of divorce. Echoing her commitment to justice, during her 2L year, Debora interned with the Innocence Project. Even more impressive, Debora will capstone her last year in law school as a clinic legal intern with Cardozo's Criminal Defense Clinic.
While at VLJ, Debora aims to improve her client-facing skills, especially when working with clients experiencing crisis. She also seeks to broaden her legal horizons by gaining experience in landlord-tenant court and other areas of the law that will only bolster her future ensuring access to justice. As a vocal advocate for all things pro bono, Debora finds the experience once gains undertaking pro bono is priceless: “The experiences and skills that I’ve gained through meeting and working with clients who normally face multiple barriers in the justice system are invaluable. Pro bono provides the opportunity to interact with clients facing a wide range of legal issues and to use your legal education to help those who are aren’t able to advocate for themselves for different reasons.”
And when it comes to VLJ’s mission, Debora offered, “Ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty means I should use my legal education to advocate and uplift voices that are commonly unheard due to the financial barriers in the legal system. It means bridging the gap between legal services and poverty through clinical programs like the programs VLJ has to offer and elevating those programs to make legal services more accessible for people of differing socio-economic backgrounds.”
We're honored to have Debora with us this summer, and we look forward to being part of her journey becoming a pro bono superstar of tomorrow. Welcome, Debora!
Connect with Debora on LinkedIn