VLJ September 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Alyssa D’Antonio

VLJ September 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Alyssa D’Antonio

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) proudly recognizes Alyssa D’Antonio as our September 2025 Volunteer of the Month! Alyssa is Counsel at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, where her practice focuses on intellectual property and life sciences. While her day-to-day work involves complex patent law, she volunteers with VLJ's Tenancy Program, using her legal talent to keep families safely housed at home.

VLJ August 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Alyssa Bartholomew

VLJ August 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Alyssa Bartholomew

This month, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) celebrates Alyssa Bartholomew, an associate in the Family Law Group at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, as our August 2025 Volunteer of the Month. Alyssa first became involved with VLJ last year through her firm and thanks to VLJ Board Trustee Maritza Rodríguez.

Jessica Kitson Appointed to New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking Board

Jessica Kitson Appointed to New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking Board

NEWARK, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is proud to announce that Jessica Kitson, VLJ's Director of Legal Advocacy, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT). This appointment underscores Jessica’s commitment to justice and her compassionate expertise in advocating for survivors.

VLJ July 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Genna Conti

VLJ July 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Genna Conti

For our July 2025 Volunteer of the Month, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) spotlights Genna Conti. Genna, an associate in the Business & Commercial Litigation Group at Gibbons P.C., lives and breathes the spirit of pro bono, consistently going above and beyond to make a powerful difference in the lives of VLJ clients.

New Summer 2025 Intern Spotlight: Colleen Wanner

New Summer 2025 Intern Spotlight: Colleen Wanner

Rounding out Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Summer 2025 interns, VLJ welcomes Colleen Wanner to the team. This summer, Colleen will support VLJ’s PRIDE Name Change Program,  ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, and Veterans Legal Program.

New Summer 2025 Intern Spotlight: Sarah Afromsky

New Summer 2025 Intern Spotlight: Sarah Afromsky

Meet Sarah Afromsky, one of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s incredible new interns joining us for Summer 2025. Sarah is a 2L at Rutgers Law School—Newark and a proud graduate of Lafayette College, where she double-majored in History and Government & Law.

New Summer 2025 Intern Spotlight: Marthalyn Johnson

New Summer 2025 Intern Spotlight: Marthalyn Johnson

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice welcomes Marthalyn Johnson to our team as a Summer 2025 intern. Marthalyn is a rising 3L at Rutgers Law School–Newark and will be working with VLJ’s Divorce Program, South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program, and Tenancy Program.

VLJ June 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Morris "Mo" Bauer

VLJ June 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Morris "Mo" Bauer

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is delighted to shine its June 2025 Volunteer of the Month spotlight on Morris “Mo” Bauer, a partner in the Business Reorganization & Financial Restructuring Practice Group at Duane Morris LLP, a firm that strongly advocates for pro bono (which Mo has embraced wholeheartedly). At Duane Morris, Mo specializes in representing financially distressed businesses, lenders, and creditors in various proceedings, including out-of-court workouts, bankruptcy litigation, Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 representations, and also serves as a bankruptcy mediator.

VLJ June 2025 Defender of Justice: Saranya Thana

VLJ June 2025 Defender of Justice: Saranya Thana

Please join Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in celebrating Saranya Thana, VLJ's Director of Development, as our latest Defender of Justice! While it feels like Saranya has been with us for years, it’s only been six months, further hitting home how impressive her impact has been in such a short amount of time.

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Announces Officer Elections for its Board of Trustees; Sneha Desai Elected Chair

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Announces Officer Elections for its Board of Trustees; Sneha Desai Elected Chair

NEWARK, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) announces the election of officers to its Board of Trustees, ushering in a new era of leadership dedicated to expanding access to justice for communities experiencing poverty across New Jersey. Sneha Desai, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel, Global Litigation & Employment at Stryker, has been elected Chair of the Board.

VLJ May 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Kerdesha Desir

VLJ May 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Kerdesha Desir

Kerdesha Desir has built her legal career on the principle that knowledge is meant to be shared—and for her, that means showing up for clients who might otherwise face the court system alone.

A family law associate at Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC, Kerdesha focuses her practice on matrimonial and non-dissolution matters, domestic violence cases, and adoption and guardianship issues.

The Power of Pro Bono – Paying Justice Forward (Lamar)

The Power of Pro Bono – Paying Justice Forward (Lamar)

For many VLJ clients, their case represents a pivotal moment in their story, a new fork in the road leading to a better tomorrow, and for Lamar, his experience with VLJ was far more than a fork in the road, it was a circle, seeing a client come back years later to volunteer as an attorney.