Volunteer Today to Help Ensure Access to Justice for VLJ Clients

Each year, 3 in 4 households with no- and low-incomes in the United States experience one or more civil legal issues. More than half of those households report that those legal issues significantly impact their lives—from their ability to remain (or become) financially stable, maintain good physical and mental health, and build healthy relationships. Moreover, these issues often disproportionately impact marginalized communities which make up the majority of those seeking help from VLJ; in 2022, 81% of VLJ clients identified as Asian, Black, Indigenous, or Latino/a/x, and a significant majority identified as women.

Exacerbating the gap in access to civil legal justice, according to the Legal Services Corporation’s The Justice Gap report, Americans with no- and low-incomes did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems. This is compounded by the fact that there is generally no constitutional right to an attorney in civil legal matters (in contrast with the constitutional right to counsel in criminal matters).

Every day, VLJ volunteers are working to combat these statistics. By taking a case with VLJ, you can help ensure New Jerseyans experiencing poverty have access to justice, one client at a time.

SA24-0061551

EDUCATION (ESSEX COUNTY)

SA needs limited representation to communicate with the district, understand their proposed IEP, and, if appropriate, get help with OOD placement at their former school (or a similar school), which can provide the services MD requires.

5-year old, MD attended a premier school for children with special needs (Steppingstone School) through age 3. For the last year, MD's mother, SA*, has tried to register him for public school and requested evaluations as MD needs to be classified. MD is now registered for the 2024-25 school year but the district refuses to provide an ASL interpreter for IEP implementation purposes; previous in-person meetings have included an iPad for communication but kept freezing.

*SA is deaf and requires an ASL interpreter (in-person); she has a relay service to speak by phone.

To review, email donuschak@vljnj.org

DV24-0065509

REMOTE - EDUCATION (ESSEX COUNTY)

Review the latest IEP and evaluations before providing parent with an advisory consult. If it is advisable that the parent should file for due process, let VLJ know availability to assist the parent beyond consult.

LF, currently 15 years old, was identified as having a learning disability in elementary school but was only evaluated over the last two years (neuro, speech, psych). Parent DV is seeking a consult to determine if it is appropriate to ask for ODD given LF's needs for a reading/dyslexia program; the latest IEP was issued in June 2024.

To review, email donuschak@vljnj.org

AS24-0062772

REMOTE - EDUCATION (MIDDLESEX COUNTY)

Review the recent settlement agreement and provide parent with an advisory consult.

AS is entering the 4th grade and their parent, AS, suspects autism. AS filed for due process and reached a settlement with the district to keep AS in a resource room until further evaluations are conducted in September. AS seeks a consult with an attorney and get some advice.

To review, email donuschak@vljnj.org

TC24-0052738

under review

EXPUNGEMENT - REMOTE

T.C. is a 50-year-old woman who lives in France and seeks expungement of one disorderly persons conviction. The waiting period has elapsed and case is straightforward, but unfortunately T.C.is unable to verify her ecourts account to file pro se because the website is blocked where she lives. Pro bono assistance will ensure T.C. can assess justice and expunge her record. Volunteer will need to be mindful of the time difference when communicating with client.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

AM23-004314

expungement - remote

A.M. is a 51-year-old Newark resident seeking a Clean Slate expungement of a criminal record containing more than one indictable crime conviction, including a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) conviction that requires a compelling circumstances argument under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(c)(3). He has several dismissals to expunge as well.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

CG24-0056236

EXPUNGEMENT - remote

C.G. is a 44-year-old Pennsylvania resident who needs assistance with clearing his NJ criminal record. He will need a Clean Slate petition with compelling circumstances argument advanced due to Controlled Dangerous Substance convictions. He likewise will need sentence completion verified for each conviction.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

LM22-0046344

EXPUNGEMENT - REMOTE

L.M. needs limited scope assistance with obtaining two expungement orders from 2022 that were likely for automatic dismissals.

He also needs help distinguishing what is accurate on his Party Court History (PCH) report due to having 2 State Bureau of Identification (SBI) numbers. If necessary, he should get a Criminal Case History (CCH) report instead.

Lastly, for each conviction, he needs documentation that sentence was complete including fine payment.

Overall, it appears he needs a Clean Slate expungement with compelling circumstances due to a 3rd degree Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) conviction, but for now, seeking to ensure he's eligible and has all the necessary documents to proceed.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

JF23-0046819

EXPUNGEMENT - REMOTE

J.F. is a 46-year-old man seeking expungement of an indictable crime for Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) that requires a compelling circumstance argument under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(c)(3). Sentence completion will need to be confirmed.

Client also has a local ordinance violation and two disorderly persons convictions, along with dismissals and not guilty findings he'd like to expunge.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

RS22-0046353

remote - expungement

RS is a 41-year-old man seeking a Clean Slate expungement of a criminal record containing multiple indictable crime convictions. Record also contains 3rd degree controlled dangerous substance convictions that require a compelling circumstances argument under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(c)(3). Sentence completion will also need to be verified.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

ME23-0048317

expungement - remote

Full representation in petition preparation and filing

ME is a 57-year-old man seeking an expungement of a criminal record which consists of an indictable conviction, two disorderly persons convictions, and multiple dismissals. ME also has a juvenile record but it is unclear what charge ME was convicted of. A record request to determine eligibility and expungement of the juvenile record will be needed to obtain final disposition information. The final disposition information of the juvenile record will not preclude submission of an expungement petition for the client.

Additional important information: ME completed probation in July 2019 and as such will be eligible July 2024; and ME’s PCH report reflects additional offenses that are attributed to an alias but not listed on the CCH. ME advised the alias was in fact a co-defendant who’s information was erroneously listed as his alias.

To review, email abravo@vljnj.org

MH23-0048663

expungement - remote

Full representation in petition preparation and filing

MH is a 51-year-old veteran seeking a Clean Slate expungement of a criminal record containing three dismissals, one disorderly persons offense and three convictions for indictable offenses. The convictions are for controlled substances offenses and will require a compelling circumstance argument under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(c)(3).

To review, email abravo@vljnj.org

JG22E-1003578

expungement (remote)

Full representation

JG is a 49-year-old man seeking expungement. He has two drug offenses, one that is likely barred due to the degree and another that may require a compelling circumstances argument under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(c)(3).

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

AT23-0046844

remote - expungement

Representation in preparing and filing petition

AT is a 29-year-old man seeking expungement of an indictable crime and dismissals. He may qualify under the early pathways exception to the 5 year waiting period for an indictable crime. Case must demonstrate compelling circumstances as to why an expungement should be granted early.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org

AC23-0046674

remote- expungement

Full representation

AC is a 39-year-old who appears eligible for a Clean Slate expungement. He has a 3rd degree conviction for controlled dangerous substance that may require he demonstrate "compelling circumstances" exist in order to receive expungement. He likewise needs sentence completion information confirming that he is timely for expungement.

To review, email krobinson@vljnj.org