News & Updates
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice congratulates Tracey Salmon-Smith, a VLJ board trustee, and Leonard V. Jones, a member of VLJ’s Generation Now Committee, for being honored by the Garden State Bar Association.
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) announces that Stacey Slater joined its Board of Trustees in March. Stacey, President and Founder of Pro Bono Strategies, is an award-winning leader with over 20 years of experience using the power of pro bono to close the access to justice gap. Stacey’s leadership and experience helping to develop law firm pro bono programs will greatly benefit VLJ as the organization looks to innovatively ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty.
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) heartily announces that Daniel D'Alessandro (“Dan”) of Hoboken recently joined its Board of Trustees. Dan, a partner at McCarter & English, LLP, is a fervent and longstanding volunteer with VLJ whose substantial experience in complex contractual, financial, and regulatory matters will undeniably add to the expertise and strength of VLJ’s board.
Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is thrilled to announce the addition of Michael Golden of Springfield to its Board of Trustees. Michael, currently Assistant Vice President-Senior Legal Counsel at AT&T, brings to the board a wealth of legal expertise, years of pro bono, and a deep commitment to VLJ’s mission.
Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from Boston University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. Ever a servant of his community, Michael is a past president of the Springfield Lions Club, having been involved with the club over the last five years. Michael’s service to his Springfield community further shows how generous he is with his time and talent. Indeed, Michael has been donating his time and talent with VLJ since 2013, enthusiastically supporting VLJ's Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP) to the tune of volunteering more than 214 hours.
This month’s VLJ Volunteer of the Month is no stranger to being recognized for their above and beyond contributions to pro bono and ensuring access to justice. Indeed, our August 2023 Volunteer of the Month was VLJ’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Month in July 2017, and currently serves on VLJ’s Board of Trustees (after having served as Co-Chair of VLJ’s Generation Now Committee), giving a sense of just how dedicated and passionate they are. VLJ is thrilled to recognize Kaitlyn (“Kate”) E. Stone, Esq. as this month’s Volunteer of the Month for her exceptional dedication to pro bono, VLJ, and helping New Jerseyans with their unmet civil legal needs.
Kate is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, having joined the firm in September 2022. Kate's origin story began at the University of Rhode Island, where she earned a B.A., summa cum laude, in writing and rhetoric and in English language and literature. Kate served as a writing tutor in URI’s Writing Center and as an intern to the Provost during her undergraduate studies. Kate then earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law (class of 2013).
Making a positive impact on the community can take many different forms – whether it’s volunteering at a limited-scope legal clinic, serving on the board of a legal services organization, or even founding a non-profit to provide assistance in another country. VLJ volunteer and BASF attorney Sneha Desai has done it all.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Board of Trustees has announced the addition of four accomplished lawyers who will help shape the direction of the organization, which marks its 15th anniversary this year.
The new trustees are Angela M. Coxe, Senior Patent Counsel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Berkeley Heights; Donald J. Cussen, Senior Vice President/Financial Adviser, RBC Wealth Management, Florham Park; Matthew Lepore, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, BASF Corp., Florham Park; and Tricia B. O’Reilly, Partner, Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP, Newark.
