Prudential

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Prudential Financial Receives the Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award from the Essex County Bar Association

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Prudential Financial Receives the Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award from the Essex County Bar Association

NEWARK, NJ – Prudential Financial has been named the recipient of the Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award by the Essex County Bar Association. The award is a distinguished honor bestowed upon individuals, law firms, legal departments, and institutions within the legal profession for their outstanding contributions to providing volunteer legal services in Essex County. Since 2010, Prudential’s Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs (LCBE) Voluntary Pro Bono Committee has been committed to helping some of the most vulnerable populations in the state, especially in the Essex County, NJ area, where the company has been headquartered for 148 years.

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VLJ March 2024 Volunteer of the Month: Misbah Fatima

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VLJ March 2024 Volunteer of the Month: Misbah Fatima

For Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, we found a “pot of justice gold” in the form of our March 2024 Volunteer of the Month, Misbah Fatima. Misbah is Director, Corporate Counsel within Prudential Financial’s Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs department.

Misbah's journey into the legal profession began with a strong academic foundation, earning a B.A. in English and Jurisprudence, summa cum laude, from Montclair State University, followed by her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. Misbah’s dedication to the law extends beyond her day-to-day, serving as adjunct faculty at Montclair State University teaching courses in legal research and writing. 

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VLJ December 2023 Volunteer of the Month: Linda Dennis

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VLJ December 2023 Volunteer of the Month: Linda Dennis

In the bustling realm of Prudential Financial's Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs department, Linda Dennis, an executive assistant with an impressive 27-year tenure, stands out as a beacon of giving back through pro bono and community service. Recognizing the incredible work Linda does ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice celebrates and cheerleads her as our December 2023 Volunteer of the Month.

The Power of Pro Bono - "Eliza"

The Power of Pro Bono - "Eliza"

As is the case with too many tenants, “Eliza” had a pending eviction action against her, filed in October 2021, of which she was unaware. In early November 2022, VLJ received Eliza's information from the court and initially contacted her to see if she was interested in receiving legal help. Learning that the eviction case threatened her housing stability, Eliza signed up for the Lowenstein Sandler Prudential Tenancy Clinic held in mid-November 2022.

February 2020 Volunteer of the Month: Wendy Feldman

VLJ is pleased to announce Wendy Feldman, Vice-President, Corporate Counsel at Prudential Insurance Company of America, as February’s Volunteer of the Month.

In the past three years, Wendy has volunteered in many of VLJ’s legal clinics (including expungement, divorce, and bankruptcy), but where she has arguably had the most significant impact is with VLJ’s tenancy clinic.

August 2019 Volunteer of the Month: Amy Woltman

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is thrilled to honor Amy Woltman as its August Volunteer of the Month. Amy has volunteered with VLJ for three years, becoming one of the most dedicated volunteers at both the Tenancy and Consumer Law Clinics. Between the two clinics, she has personally helped more than 50 low-income clients in need of legal services.

Amy is a Vice President of Compliance for LEAP and Financial Wellness at Prudential.

May 2019 Volunteer of the Month: Brian Yomtov

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is pleased to announce Brian Yomtov, Esq. as its May Volunteer of the Month.  Brian works as a Vice President, Corporate Counsel at Prudential Financial in the Technology and Enterprise Contracts Law group where his practice focuses on the drafting and negotiation of technology and service transaction agreements, including software licensing, cloud/hosting, outsourcing, and strategic consulting arrangements.  Through Prudential, he has been volunteering with VLJ since 2012.

August 2018 Volunteer of the Month: Kathleen DeCelie

For many professionals, the greatest obstacle to volunteering is finding the time. But Prudential’s Kathleen DeCelie says this doesn’t have to be the case. She points to her experience, volunteering through VLJ, which has provided a variety of pro bono opportunities suitable to her schedule as a full-time attorney, wife and mother of two. “You choose how long and how much you want to do.  You can volunteer for four to five hours, no more.  And when you do, I promise that you will win,” says Kathleen. Nonetheless, she feels fortunate to work at a company where there is not only a commitment to pro bono but also an encouragement to do so. 

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August 2017 Volunteer of the Month: Eduardo Santiago-Acevedo

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Nearly 40,000 people face eviction each year in Essex County.  The number seems overwhelming, but as Eduardo Santiago-Acevedo explains, even if attorneys can assist only a small percentage of families, “for those individuals, it means everything in the world.”

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VLJ In the News: Why Tenants Lose When They Go Up Against Landlords in Newark

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VLJ In the News: Why Tenants Lose When They Go Up Against Landlords in Newark

There are 40,000 evictions filed in Essex County alone – the most in the state. VLJ helps low-income tenants facing eviction through a monthly legal clinic at the courthouse in partnership with Prudential and Lowenstein Sandler.  Learn why tenants face an uphill battle in this WNYC piece featuring our clinic:  http://www.wnyc.org/story/why-tenants-lose-against-lanlords-newark.