Over the past 25 years, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has built a powerful community of volunteers who generously give their time and talent to ensure access to justice. With April being National Volunteer Month, we’re putting the spotlight on a few of those incredible volunteers.
Continuing our celebration, today we applaud Chris Vanderwolk, Vice President, Client Service Success at Sequoia. Chris volunteers with our Veterans Legal Program and had this to say:
“I volunteer with VLJ because representing clients through the Veteran’s Clinic gives me the opportunity to trade a bit of my time to make a real difference in the client’s life. By taking the time to get to know the client, and putting a little effort into drafting and appearing on their behalf, I’m able to give them the opportunity to move forward from mistakes they made decades ago and secure better housing, employment, and overall quality of life.
VLJ’s mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. What that means to me is that everyone should be treated fairly under the law, and people experiencing poverty historically face bigger challenges than others in getting fair representation and treatment. By representing these people, we restore some part of their faith in the system and give them hope for a better future.
Serving VLJ clients is helpful to me personally because the gratitude the clients express from the moment I accept their case until long after the case concludes (my first VLJ client still texts me on holidays) validates that what I’m doing is making a difference for people. Professionally, my volunteering helps because I work in a corporate role and handling a couple of cases at a time keeps me learning and engaging with the courts in a beneficial way.”
Thank you, Chris, for enthusiastically and compassionately serving those who served!
During National Volunteer Month, we invite you to renew your commitment to pro bono. Whether you’re a long-time volunteer or looking to take your first case, there is a place for you at VLJ. Contact Emerald Sheay at esheay@vljnj.org or visit vljnj.org/why-probono to get started.