News & Updates
Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) announces with gratitude and appreciation that the PSEG Foundation recently awarded VLJ a grant of $85,000 to support its Veterans Legal Program. VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program helps New Jersey Veterans with certain civil legal issues, including criminal record expungement, driver’s license restoration, bankruptcy, consumer debt defense, eviction defense, child support modification, and estate planning.
VLJ’s October 2022 Defender of Justice is Tracy Griffinger Nelson, VLJ’s Director of Finance. Tracy started volunteering at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in 2008 after she and her partner sold their organic baking company to a distributor. Tracy was looking for meaningful work when her cousin Michael Griffinger, a renowned attorney at Gibbons P.C., told her, “I have the place for you!”
Following up on last month’s official start of the New Jersey Housing Justice Corps fellowship program, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is excited to shine a spotlight on two familiar faces who are participating in the fellowship program: Nina DePalma, Esq. and Margo Katz Rosenberg, Esq.
Newark, NJ – Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Mountain Ridge Country Club on an ideal New Jersey fall evening, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) returned in person, after an extended pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to its annual Arts & Eats for Justice gala for a night of community, celebration, and justice. The Arts & Eats for Justice gala is not only VLJ’s largest fundraising event, it is also its largest celebration of those whose time and talent raise the bar on ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. For this year’s gala, VLJ was particularly proud to honor Audible (Community Vision Award), Joseph T. Boccassini, Esq. (Partner in Justice Award), and Richmond Rabinowitz (Champion of Justice Award).
VLJ’s October 2022 Volunteer of the Month joined us just a couple years ago amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and her tenure as a volunteer supporting VLJ’s Trafficking Program has personified “Taking cases. Changing Lives.”
Michelle Stegmann, Esq. has built a career over the past three decades as an attorney and Insurance Claims Senior Vice President, with experience in various lines of business, including environmental, transportation, general liability, professional liability, surety, construction, construction defect, employer’s liability, asbestos and mass tort, crisis management, and E&O claims. Her responsibilities have encompassed attracting, developing and retaining talent, as well as achieving financial goals and sustaining profitability. She is currently with Crum & Forster, based in Morristown, NJ.
VLJ’s September 2022 Volunteer of the Month is fairly new to VLJ, but is no stranger to pro bono and volunteering his time and talent to help others. VLJ is ecstatic to recognize and celebrate Nuo Jiang, Esq. as this month’s Volunteer of the Month. Nuo is a litigation associate at Capehart Scatchard where he focuses his practice, in federal and New Jersey courts, on creditors’ rights, business collection, tort defense, premises liability and products liability defense, Tort Claims Act defense, construction, estates, employment and professional malpractice.
VLJ’s August 2022 Defender of Justice is Adelina Herrarte, Esq. A recent addition to the VLJ family, Adelina joined VLJ in late April 2022 and hit the ground running as the Senior Staff Attorney for the Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP) and Divorce Program. In just over four months Adelina has played an instrumental role overseeing VLJ’s consumer debt, bankruptcy, and divorce services while also expanding VLJ’s reach by providing legal help in English and Spanish. For those who know Adelina, none of this should come as a surprise as she is a lifelong public interest attorney with experience at various legal services organizations. Adelina has been aptly described as a great leader and mentor for both programs. Adelina completed both undergrad and law school studies in New York City. In 2001 Adelina earned her bachelor’s degree from New York University, and in 2004 she received a Juris Doctor from the City University of New York School of Law.
In the midst of the August summer heat, we honor a volunteer who always keeps his cool, Jason Holt, Esq. Jason is a member with Chiesa Shaninian & Giantomasi (CSG) where he works with the Real Estate, Development and Land Use practice group and the firm’s cannabis law team. He draws upon his background navigating the political and economic challenges of New Jersey to assist CSG Law in representing its varied portfolio of clients. Holt is a recently appointed Co-Chair of CSG’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee. He also serves on several leadership teams and diversity committees for business, bar and community associations.
Rounding out the “Fantastic Four” Summer 2022 interns, VLJ shines a spotlight on intern Ryan Campbell. Ryan attended Fordham University for undergrad where he double majored in Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in Peace & Justice studies. Putting his undergraduate education and experience to good use, Ryan held roles in law and politics since graduating. Currently, Ryan is a rising 2L at Rutgers Law-Camden. During his internship Ryan supports VLJ’s Tenancy Program.
VLJ is proud to spotlight Summer 2022 intern Mariah Agbonkpolo. Mariah graduated with a bachelors in history from the University at Buffalo in 2020, and she is a rising 2L at Fordham University School of Law. As part of her summer internship, Mariah works in VLJ’s Human trafficking, Children’s Representation, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Programs.
VLJ proudly spotlights Summer 2022 intern Melanie Zelikovsky. Melanie is a rising 2L at Rutgers Law - Newark (class of 2024); She received her B.A. in Classics with honors from NYU in 2013 and a M.A. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Arizona in 2016. During her time at VLJ Melanie supports the Debt Relief Legal and Divorce Programs.
VLJ proudly features Nina Peckman, Esq. as our July 2022 Volunteer of the Month. For over sixteen years Nina, a staff attorney with Advocates for Children of New Jersey (“ACNJ”), has provided legal assistance to parents, including advice, representation in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and at mediations. Nina earned her Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University.
In 2012, "Shonda"* underwent a medical procedure at a local hospital. Shonda received Charity Care and believed the bill to be fully covered because she was without employment. Sometime after Shonda's procedure, the hospital filed suit against her, but she never received notice.
Nine years later, in 2021, Shonda was blindsided by a bank levy of $872.86, all the money she had in her checking account at the time. In December 2021, Shonda came to VLJ's Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP) clinic for help. In speaking with Shonda, VLJ learned that the hospital had obtained a default judgment against her years earlier for $4,079.33 and recently filed a motion to turn over funds. VLJ sprung into action and began representing Shonda. VLJ filed a motion to vacate the default judgment that was granted. Then, VLJ filed a motion opposing the levy that was also granted. Once the matter was reopened, in February 2022, VLJ filed an answer to the initial complaint that began the suit in 2012. Doing so allowed Shonda to finally be heard in court.
Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is pleased to announce that Melissa F. Wernick, Esq. of Millburn and Catherine A. Trinkle, Esq. of Morristown recently joined its Board of Trustees. Melissa is a Member of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG Law) based in West Orange, and Catherine is Deputy General Counsel, Regulatory & Environmental Law, and Head of Government Affairs at BASF Corporation, based in Florham Park.
