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Cathy Keenan, VLJ's Executive Director, Interviewed by Comcast Newsmakers

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Cathy Keenan, VLJ's Executive Director, Interviewed by Comcast Newsmakers

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Executive Director Cathy Keenan talks with Comcast Newsmakers host Candace Kelley about mobilizing private practice attorneys from across New Jersey to volunteer to support vulnerable populations and people who really need to have their voice amplified or heard in the legal system. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Executive Director Cathy Keenan talks with Comcast Newsmakers host Candace Kelley about mobilizing private practice attorneys from across New Jersey to volunteer to support vulnerable populations and people who really need to have their voice amplified or heard in the legal system.

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Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C. Named a 2024 NJBIZ Leaders in Law Pro Bono Honoree

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Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C. Named a 2024 NJBIZ Leaders in Law Pro Bono Honoree

NEWARK, NJ – Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C. (NFC), a leading employment law firm headquartered in New Jersey, has been recognized as a 2024 NJBIZ Leaders in Law-Pro Bono honoree. This prestigious accolade celebrates NFC's unwavering commitment to harnessing the power of pro bono to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty in New Jersey. A 100% women-owned firm, NFC has consistently demonstrated a deep-seated dedication to giving back to the community, and through their robust pro bono initiatives, NFC embodies the belief that access to justice is a right, not a privilege.

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Prudential Financial Receives the Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award from the Essex County Bar Association

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Prudential Financial Receives the Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award from the Essex County Bar Association

NEWARK, NJ – Prudential Financial has been named the recipient of the Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award by the Essex County Bar Association. The award is a distinguished honor bestowed upon individuals, law firms, legal departments, and institutions within the legal profession for their outstanding contributions to providing volunteer legal services in Essex County. Since 2010, Prudential’s Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs (LCBE) Voluntary Pro Bono Committee has been committed to helping some of the most vulnerable populations in the state, especially in the Essex County, NJ area, where the company has been headquartered for 148 years.

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VLJ Spring 2024 Intern Spotlight: Jonathan Nendze

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VLJ Spring 2024 Intern Spotlight: Jonathan Nendze

Every semester Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is incredibly fortunate to welcome new interns to the team—interns who bring compassion, skill, and a zeal for social justice—and this semester is no different. Joining VLJ’s Tenancy Program for the Spring 2024 semester is Jonathan (“Jon”) Nendze.

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American College of Bankruptcy Foundation Awards $12,500 Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice to Support Its Debt Relief Legal Program

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American College of Bankruptcy Foundation Awards $12,500 Grant to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice to Support Its Debt Relief Legal Program

Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), a nonprofit civil legal services organization based in Newark, New Jersey, is thrilled to announce the receipt of a $12,500 grant from the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation (ACBF) to further support VLJ's Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP). Originally serving Essex County and Newark, the DRLP expanded statewide in response to the unmet civil legal needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This expansion, aided by the ACBF grant, includes virtual legal help across New Jersey on bankruptcy, ensuring geography is not a barrier to justice.  

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VLJ February 2024 Defender of Justice: Adaneka Witter Judge

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VLJ February 2024 Defender of Justice: Adaneka Witter Judge

“Dedicate yourself to what gives your life true meaning and purpose; make a positive difference in someone's life.” — Roy T. Bennett

If ever there is someone who embodies this quote and more, it is Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s February 2024 Defender of Justice, Adaneka Witter Judge. Dedicated to her community, to her dreams, and to a better tomorrow, Adaneka is proof you don’t have to go very far to find the best among us.

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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Receives $1,000,000 Gift to Launch Endowment to Ensure Access to Justice

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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Receives $1,000,000 Gift to Launch Endowment to Ensure Access to Justice

Newark, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is ecstatic to announce that David J. Bershad and Mindy A. Cohen have pledged a $1,000,000 gift in support of its mission to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. David and Mindy’s generous contribution will enable VLJ to create an endowment, which will ensure the longevity of the organization and the sustainability of its finances in the wake of unforeseen circumstances.

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A Look Back, A Step Forward

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Dear Friends,

As we usher in a new year, I find myself reflecting on the challenges and triumphs of 2023. While our clients faced hurdles from increased living costs, changes to judicial processes, and delays by government agencies, our staff, volunteers, and donors stood up for justice. I am grateful to share some of the remarkable strides we made together last year.

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VLJ December 2023 Defender of Justice: Karen Robinson

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VLJ December 2023 Defender of Justice: Karen Robinson

Dedicated to Justice. Determined to Ensure Justice. Defender of Justice.

Three phrases to describe one incredible person, so incredible it would be a disservice not to shine a much-deserved spotlight on her. For Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s December 2023 Defender of Justice, we celebrate a pillar of our organization: Karen Robinson.

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VLJ November 2023 Supporter of the Month: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark

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VLJ November 2023 Supporter of the Month: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark

For Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s November Supporter of the Month, we spotlight and celebrate Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark and its Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program that provide much-needed funding for VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program (VLP). Through SSVF, Catholic Charities provides essential supportive services to veterans experiencing poverty and those at risk of homelessness.

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PSEG Foundation recently continued its support of VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program with a renewed grant of $85,000

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PSEG Foundation recently continued its support of VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program with a renewed grant of $85,000

Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) announces with deep gratitude that the PSEG Foundation recently continued its support of VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program with a renewed grant of $85,000. VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program helps veterans in New Jersey with certain civil legal issues, including criminal record expungement, driver’s license restoration, bankruptcy, consumer debt defense, eviction defense, child support modification, and estate planning.

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VLJ October 2023 Defender of Justice: Deja Kemp-Salliey

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VLJ October 2023 Defender of Justice: Deja Kemp-Salliey

At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), we're not just an organization; we're a team of individuals committed to making New Jersey a better place to live and work. Among our remarkable team, there's one standout worthy of being VLJ’s October 2023 Defender of Justice: Deja Kemp-Salliey. Deja joined VLJ this March as our newest Development Associate, and in such a short period of time she has made her mark.

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New Jersey Office of the Public Defender Sues New Jersey State Police

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New Jersey Office of the Public Defender Sues New Jersey State Police

The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender today announced that it filed a class action lawsuit against the New Jersey State Police to require it to stop unlawfully disclosing the criminal records of tens of thousands of individuals in violation of their court-ordered expungements. New Jersey has been on the forefront of expanding opportunities for people to expunge their criminal records, and the courts have ordered the records of thousands of New Jerseyans expunged. Once an expungement is granted, the New Jersey State Police is charged with removing such offenses from background checks. But the State Police’s extreme delays in processing expungement orders and sealing individuals’ criminal records is frustrating the law’s goals of allowing reformed and rehabilitated New Jerseyans to be freed from the collateral consequences of their past lives.

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VLJ Fall 2023 Intern Spotlight: Lisa Roe

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VLJ Fall 2023 Intern Spotlight: Lisa Roe

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has the pleasure of introducing our second Fall 2023 Intern, Lisa Roe.

Lisa serves as an all-programs intern at VLJ, and she is currently pursuing a law degree at Seton Hall University School of Law. Prior to starting her law studies at Seton Hall Law, Lisa obtained a Master of Library & Information Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, both from Rutgers University.

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VLJ Fall 2023 Intern Spotlight: Saturday Zammit

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VLJ Fall 2023 Intern Spotlight: Saturday Zammit

With fall in full swing, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is delighted to introduce Saturday Zammit, one of VLJ’s Fall 2023 interns; Saturday is spending her internship supporting VLJ’s Tenancy Program.

Ever the dedicated student with a thirst for knowledge, Saturday is dually enrolled at Rutgers Law School and Rutgers School of Social Work (having earned a B.A. in Cognitive Science and Psychology from Rutgers University). When asked why she chose to go to law school, Saturday said the decision was deeply rooted in her passion for working with people. Indeed, with a double M.S.W. and J.D. in her near future, Saturday is uniquely positioned to combine her love of problem-solving with her desire to help people.

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VLJ October 2023 Supporter of the Month: PSEG

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VLJ October 2023 Supporter of the Month: PSEG

For Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s October 2023 Supporter of the Month, we recognize PSEG and the PSEG Foundation, a steadfast partner, champion, and cheerleader of VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program. PSEG’s invaluable support fuels VLJ’s services for those who served, extending critical legal help to veterans across New Jersey with their unmet civil legal needs.

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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Honors Verizon, Reed Smith LLP, and Paul J. Fishman

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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Honors Verizon, Reed Smith LLP, and Paul J. Fishman

Continuing the trend of celebrating community, justice, and the power of pro bono, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) celebrated its annual Arts & Eats for Justice Gala on Tuesday, October 3 at Nanina’s in the Park. The Arts & Eats for Justice Gala is VLJ’s largest celebratory event that raises much-needed funds to continue providing free civil legal services while also honoring those whose time and talent raise the bar on ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. For this year’s gala, VLJ honored Verizon (Partner in Justice Award), Reed Smith LLP (Beacon of Justice Award), and Paul J. Fishman (Champion of Justice Award). As a result of the generous and robust support of this year’s gala, VLJ raised over $625,000.

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VLJ’s Alexandra Bravo Selected as One of the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2023 Diverse Attorneys of the Year

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VLJ’s Alexandra Bravo Selected as One of the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2023 Diverse Attorneys of the Year

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is proud and honored to announce our very own Alexandra Bravo, a staff attorney leading VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program, was recently selected as one of the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2023 Diverse Attorneys of the Year.

The New Jersey Law Journal’s Diverse Attorneys of the Year honors diverse attorneys in New Jersey making an impact at a law firm, courtroom, in-house legal department, government agency or public interest organization. Further, the Diverse Attorneys of the Year recognizes the impact these attorneys have on the profession in all its forms, whether it is resolving a significant case or transaction, leading a department through a difficult stretch, or helping change policy. The New Jersey Law Journal sought to highlight the honorees’ accomplishments over the past two years, with demonstrable excellence and accomplishment during that time frame being key to a strong nomination. The New Jersey Law Journal, in their email to Alexandra announcing her selection as one of its Diverse Attorneys of the Year, said, "We received a number of impressive nominations. The recognition is well earned."