"I volunteer with VLJ because it is important to me to use my professional skills to help people in need and make a real difference in their lives.”
-Brooke A. Gillar
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s June 2026 Volunteer of the Month: Brooke A. Gillar
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) celebrates Brooke A. Gillar as our June 2026 Volunteer of the Month. Brooke is a partner in the Transactions and Advisory Group at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, where her practice focuses on strategic and financing transactions, and she is a graduate of Rutgers University and Seton Hall University School of Law. Despite her demanding corporate practice, she never misses an opportunity to harness the power of pro bono.
Brooke’s entry into name change advocacy began several years ago through the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (now Advocates for Trans Equality) and has continued seamlessly at VLJ with our PRIDE Name Change Program. While volunteering with TLDEF, Brooke helped close to 40 individuals navigate the legal name change process. Since becoming a member of VLJ’s volunteer community in 2025, Brooke has donated 27 hours of pro bono, valued at over $10,700.
On her “why”, Brooke offered, “Simply stated, using my legal skills to help people who need it. More specifically, the clients we service through VLJ are able to receive legal recognition of a name that matches their gender identity. This is a truly remarkable, life-changing milestone and event for these clients. Many are moved to tears, literally, in the court hearing, because it is something that’s so fundamental to their identity. The process itself can be very daunting: navigating the court system, filing a complaint, appearing in front of a judge, scheduling, and paperwork is time-consuming, complicated, and expensive. It is so meaningful to be able to assist people who do not have the means to navigate the legal process on their own, and to help them realize this highly significant watershed moment in their lives.”
By generously donating her time and talent, Brooke ensures bureaucracy and financial barriers don't stand in the way of a neighbor’s dignity. Brooke recalls a court hearing that perfectly captures why she does this work. The judge took extra time to congratulate the client on the occasion, making the moment feel incredibly significant. The judge asked the client about the reason behind their new name, and the client, visibly emotional and teary-eyed, explained his first name was inspired by his mother’s favorite book character as a way to honor her unwavering support, and his middle name was his father’s name who had recently passed away. There was much love, gratitude, and healing wrapped into that moment, showing how name change hearings are about so much more than paperwork—they are about identity, dignity, family, and being seen as your authentic self.
For attorneys who might be hesitant to take on pro bono litigation or family law matters, Brooke emphasizes name change work is an incredibly accessible and rewarding opportunity. It relies on foundational legal skills learned in law school, meaning lawyers can jump right in. Depending on your firm’s pro bono culture, it can be a collaborative, team-building effort, and pro bono allows lawyers to step outside their regular practice. Better put by Brooke: "I volunteer with VLJ because it is important to me to use my professional skills to help people in need and make a real difference in their lives."
Thank you, Brooke, for your enthusiastic and compassionate approach to pro bono!
Does Brooke motivate you to volunteer? Contact Emerald Sheay at esheay@vljnj.org to get started.