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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Jonathan Acampora

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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Jonathan Acampora

For the final installment of our Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight series, we are delighted to introduce Jonathan Acampora. Jonathan is spending his summer internship supporting VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program and Tenancy Program.

With an impressive academic journey, Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree of Music in Oboe Performance and English from the University of Hartford, a master's degree in Teaching of English from Teachers College, Columbia University, and he is currently pursuing his Juris Doctor at Seton Hall Law.

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Sneha Desai, a VLJ board trustee and volunteer, recently profiled in Reuters’ Practical Law — The Journal August 2023 In-House Counsel File

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Sneha Desai, a VLJ board trustee and volunteer, recently profiled in Reuters’ Practical Law — The Journal August 2023 In-House Counsel File

Sneha Desai, Chief Legal Counsel, Global Litigation & Employment at Stryker and a Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) board trustee and volunteer, was recently profiled in Reuters’ Practical Law — The Journal August 2023 In-House Counsel File.

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VLJ July 2023 Supporter of the Month: McCarter & English, LLP

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VLJ July 2023 Supporter of the Month: McCarter & English, LLP

As the saying goes, “Home is where the heart is,” and VLJ’s home in Newark is generously made possible by our July 2023 Supporter of the Month, McCarter & English, LLP.

McCarter & English could have stopped there, but going above and beyond in 2022, 72 attorney and non-attorney staff from McCarter & English volunteered nearly 1,307 hours of their time. The already impressive 1,307 volunteer hours really hit home the power of pro bono when one considers the corresponding “value in service” (calculated using individual billable rates) means over $498,000 in free legal assistance was donated to VLJ and its clients. McCarter & English's unwavering partnership with VLJ empowers us and our work, and it shows the commitment to ensuring access to justice runs deep in Newark and across New Jersey.  

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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Fotini Sisois

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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Fotini Sisois

The next spotlight on VLJ’s four exceptional Summer 2023 interns is Fotini Sisois. Fotini's dedication and diverse skills are happily welcomed in the VLJ programs she supports during her internship: South Ward Promise Neighborhood, Driver's License Restoration, Children's Representation, and Human Trafficking.

Fotini received a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Florida, and she currently attends Rutgers Law School-Newark.

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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Chase O'Brien

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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Chase O'Brien

Continuing with our Summer 2023 new intern spotlights, VLJ is excited to spotlight Chase O'Brien who is spending his summer supporting VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program and Divorce Program. Chase received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Fairfield University, and he currently attends the George Washington University Law School.

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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Elena Schwartz

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VLJ Summer 2023 Intern Spotlight: Elena Schwartz

As summer kicks into high gear, VLJ shines a spotlight on our four Summer 2023 interns. First up, VLJ is thrilled to introduce Elena Schwartz who is interning with VLJ’s ReLeSe Program and Veterans Legal Program. Elena received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and she is a rising 2L at Brooklyn Law School.

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VLJ June 2023 Defender of Justice: Jeff Stephens

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VLJ June 2023 Defender of Justice: Jeff Stephens

“Ensuring access to justice is showing up,” whether that is at the courthouse or on the neighborhood block. For VLJ’s June 2023 Defender of Justice, “showing up” is his “just getting started.” For this month’s Defender of Justice, VLJ recognizes and honors the commitment, compassion, and dedication of Jeff Stephens.

Jeff is a senior staff attorney in VLJ’s Tenancy Program and also oversees VLJ’s quarterly Estate Planning Clinic and co-leads VLJ’s internship efforts. Jeff received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science at Hunter College and his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law-Newark.

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VLJ June 2023 Supporter of the Month: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation

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VLJ June 2023 Supporter of the Month: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation

For this month's inaugural VLJ “Supporter of the Month” series, we are delighted to recognize the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Foundation whose generous funding has made a significant impact on VLJ’s Divorce Program and its clients.

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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 April 2023 Defender of Justice: Eilleen Ingram-Willis

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VLJ April 2023 Defender of Justice: Eilleen Ingram-Willis

“If we want a beloved community, we must stand for justice.” – bell hooks

That quote from author, cultural critic, and professor bell hooks is an apt summary of one of VLJ’s many “whys” to our work. It acknowledges that “community” and “justice” must always go in the same sentence, hand in hand. This quote is not just philosophical at VLJ, it takes corporeal form and is embodied by our staff. Indeed, for VLJ’s April 2023 Defender of Justice, this quote encompasses the passion, commitment, and unwavering zeal for the communities we serve. It is then we honor, cheerlead, and champion our newest Defender of Justice, Eilleen Ingram-Willis.

With VLJ since November 2021, Eilleen is a managing attorney where she leads VLJ’s South Ward Promise Neighborhood (SWPN) and Human Trafficking Programs. Eilleen completed undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania, and she received her Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School-Newark.

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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 February 2023 Defender of Justice: Alexandra Bravo

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VLJ February 2023 Defender of Justice: Alexandra Bravo

VLJ can’t properly ring in the new year without another installment of our Defender of Justice series. VLJ’s February 2023 Defender of Justice is a name and face many know and appreciate, and she is a tour de force for our veterans: Alexandra Bravo. Alexandra is a staff attorney who oversees VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program and handles issues relating to child support as they arise in other programs. Alexandra is no stranger to VLJ, having interned with the organization during law school (summer 2016) prior to joining as a staff attorney in October 2019. Alexandra received her bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University, graduating magna cum laude, and she graduated from Rutgers Law School-Newark in 2017.

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VLJ AT&T Spring 2023 Intern Spotlight - Adaneka Witter Judge

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VLJ AT&T Spring 2023 Intern Spotlight - Adaneka Witter Judge

It’s not always the case that someone knows they want to become an attorney so early, but fortunately for VLJ and the Newark community, our new AT&T Spring 2023 intern had that box checked years ago. VLJ warmly welcomes Adaneka Witter Judge, a 2L at Rutgers Law School-Newark, who will be spend her spring semester with VLJ supporting several programs, starting out with VLJ’s Divorce and Debt Relief Programs. In true Adaneka fashion, she hit the ground running, taking full advantage of interning in different practice areas.

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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.

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VLJ Spring 2023 Intern Spotlight - Elias Bull

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VLJ Spring 2023 Intern Spotlight - Elias Bull

New year, new law school semester, which means a new intern! VLJ welcomes Elias Bull as an intern assigned to VLJ’s Tenancy Program. A graduate of Rutgers – New Brunswick (2016) with a BS in mechanical engineering, Elias is currently a 2L at Rutgers Law – Newark. Elias comes to VLJ hoping to gain experience on and insight into New Jersey’s eviction crisis as well as the many issues that tenants face, especially those that raise the risk of housing instability.

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VLJ December 2022 Defender of Justice: Jaclyn Kramer

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“Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving.” Those words from Hank Rosso capture many elements of what it takes to raise support for a worthy cause: gentleness, art, teaching, joy, and giving. One would argue that those five elements, or more precisely, characteristics, are what make a great fundraiser. Ask anyone at VLJ about our fundraising and the response would be, “Yes, we have those five characteristics here, and her name is Jaclyn Kramer.” Gentleness, art, teaching, joy, giving, and more are what bring VLJ to honor, recognize, and appreciate Jaclyn Kramer as VLJ’s December 2022 Defender of Justice.

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American College of Bankruptcy Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice to Help New Jerseyans Struggling with Consumer Debt

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American College of Bankruptcy Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice to Help New Jerseyans Struggling with Consumer Debt

Newark, NJ - With the lingering effects of COVID-19, inflation, and limited wage growth wreaking havoc on the family pocketbook, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) has seen an increase in the number of individuals requiring help with consumer debt matters including bankruptcy. To aid VLJ in its efforts to assist more clients with consumer debt and bankruptcy issues, the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation (ACBF) recently awarded a $10,000 grant to VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP).