Kaitlyn Stone was named Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Pro Bono Attorney of the Month for July! Kaitlyn, an associate at Gibbons P.C., is a regular at VLJ’s monthly expungement clinic for low income New Jersey residents with a criminal background. In addition to attending nearly every clinic and providing expert advice and counsel to clinic clients, Kaitlyn routinely takes on eligible cases for full representation. “Volunteering in VLJ’s Reentry Legal Services program has provided me with the opportunity to effect meaningful change in my clients’ lives," says Kaitlyn. "With the expungement of criminal records, clients enjoy improved odds of securing better employment, while others enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing these issues from the past will no longer crop up in the future. VLJ’s Expungement Clinics, in which attorneys work one-on-one with potential clients, provide valuable experience in vetting claims and managing expectations. The experience is truly a win-win for all involved.” Going a step further, Kaitlyn also mentors other attorneys during the clinic and encourages and assists them with their pro bono cases. She also looks into employment opportunities for those clients who will not qualify for expungement. VLJ staff attorney Karen Robinson notes that Kaitlyn “is an exceptional and empathetic volunteer who gives freely of her time and talent to assist a population often overlooked and underserved. She's worked on over 50 case matters including clients from our veterans clinic, and donated over 70 hours of her time. Expungement court staff know her by first name because of the volume of cases she handles.” VLJ is proud to recognize Kaitlyn and thank her for her generous work on behalf of VLJ clients!