Happy Pro Bono Week!
’Tis the season for celebrating all things pro bono. This week, during National Celebration of Pro Bono, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) will feature some of our amazing volunteers whose generous donation of time and talent ensures access to justice.
Today, we celebrate Ruchi Behera, Pro Bono Fellow for the City of Newark at McCarter & English, LLP. Ruchi volunteers with our Divorce Program, and she shared her thoughts on the importance of pro bono and why she volunteers with VLJ:
“Attorneys should undertake pro bono work because our professional privileges come with a responsibility to serve people. Providing pro bono representation allows attorneys to learn from communities whose experiences are different from theirs and to address inequities in access to justice. As a bonus, pro bono work is extremely interesting and offers an intellectually stimulating way to apply legal skills in new situations. I am so grateful to be able to partner with VLJ and advise clients who need our assistance!
I volunteer with VLJ because they provide immense support and preparation when working with every client I meet. I also value VLJ’s diverse range of legal service programs because it allows me to learn about different areas of the law while contributing to the community.”
Thank you, Ruchi, for harnessing the power of pro bono with us!
Looking to join in on the celebration? Contact Emerald Sheay at esheay@vljnj.org or visit vljnj.org/pro-bono-week to get started.