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VLJ Receives a Generous Donation from Amazon

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Newark, NJ – January 26, 2021 – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is excited to announce that it has received a generous donation from Amazon at the suggestion of its volunteer partner Audible, an Amazon company. VLJ, which is headquartered in Newark, provides free civil legal services for New Jersey residents living at or below the poverty level through in-house lawyers and pro bono lawyers throughout the legal community. VLJ has partnered with Audible’s legal department, also based in Newark, who provide pro bono legal services to client populations in dire need of help. With this unexpected support from Amazon, VLJ will be able to continue to change lives through legal assistance, especially for those who have suffered disproportionately as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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As Housing Crisis Looms, a Call to Action for NJ’s Legal Community

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NJ Lawyers---We Need Your Help Now!

VLJ’s Executive Director, Cathy Keenan, penned this op-ed with New Jersey First Lady, Tammy Murphy, as a call to action to lawyers across the state to volunteer and help address the looming eviction crisis.

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September 2020 Volunteer of the Month: Eric Weinstock

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VLJ is pleased to recognize Eric Weinstock from Lowenstein Sandler LLP as our September Volunteer of the Month. Eric is Senior Counsel whose practice focuses on counseling clients in the development and implementation of their estate plans, including tax and non-tax issues. Additionally, he counsels fiduciaries in the administration of estates and trusts, and works with clients on the formation and management of charitable organizations.

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VLJ Welcomes New Board Members

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VLJ Welcomes New Board Members

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is pleased to announce it has welcomed five new members to its Board of Trustees.

Mala Harker is a Partner at Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman where she is a member of the firm's Management Committee. She represents individuals and corporations in the financial services, pharmaceutical, and other industries in connection with white collar, securities, employment, and complex commercial litigation matters.

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TOGETHER IN JUSTICE

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June 3, 2020

Dear VLJ Friends:

All of us are reeling from the callous and senseless murder of George Floyd last week. As another name is added to the long and growing list of Black people killed by police brutality in this country, VLJ echoes the call for an end to the recurring violence against African Americans and other communities of color. Black lives matter.

Separately, we must also examine the policies and systems that have marginalized African Americans and other people of color in our country. Much of this institutional racism is the legacy of slavery and legally-sanctioned segregation in America. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of the clients VLJ serves are people of color. This is not a coincidence, as hundreds of years of racial inequality has led to and kept communities of color in poverty. All of VLJ’s clients are poor, and that poverty brings with it housing instability, financial insecurity, educational inequality, unemployment, and a perpetual state of crisis.

We must insist that all police protect all of our fellow citizens and that police brutality not be tolerated in any community. Certainly, police must stop killing unarmed Black men and women, particularly in the course of responding to traffic and other minor offenses. We must demand more of our political leaders, so they effectuate policies that address the long-term systemic racism plaguing our nation. It is time for all of us to stand together and fight for justice.

While VLJ’s advocates and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that our clients’ voices are heard in the civil legal system, we can and must do more to fight against the systemic racism and inequity that leads to senseless deaths and keeps our neighbors of color in poverty. There must be a better pathway to justice. This is a problem for all of us. Today we are recommitting ourselves to lifting and listening to Black and other marginalized voices and identifying additional actions so all of us can fight for a more just world. A conversation is important, but real solutions require action in our daily thoughts and in our individual spheres of influence. Ask yourself: when you have a moment to act, will you? Racism should have no safe harbor.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Together in justice,

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VLJ Featured in Panel Discussion for "Just Mercy" Movie Premiere

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Michael B. Jordan was at the CityPlex 12 in Newark Tuesday night for the premiere of his latest film, “Just Mercy,” and he brought the cast of the movie, teachers, students, and community organizers with him.

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VLJ Receives Generous Grant from Investor's Bank

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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Investors Foundation to support the New Jersey Trafficking Victims' Legal Assistance Program (Trafficking Program).

The Trafficking Program began in 2015 to provide an array of legal services to victims of human trafficking, including the criminal record clearing of arrests and convictions that resulted from having been trafficked. Despite great strides made in addressing this crisis, survivors continue to face significant barriers as they attempt to rebuild their lives post-trafficking.

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Good News: Expungement Campaign & Vacatur Success

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VLJ launched a successful expungement campaign from July 15th to 26th to raise money for criminal record reports. Thanks to donors like you, we raised $4,650 to help over 100 clients get one step closer to clearing their records! This is truly life-changing. Thank you!

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New Jersey Residents Should Grab Camera and a Watertight Bag to Avoid Disaster-Related Legal Issues

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As the extreme weather season begins, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and other natural disasters threaten to bring myriad civil legal problems for New Jersey residents, from accessing critical disaster assistance to securing temporary housing to handling insurance claims. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice will be there to provide advice and assistance but residents should act now to ensure that they have accessible documents and pictures of them and everything in their home before a natural disaster arrives. A few simple actions can help to avoid legal problems later.

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NJ community celebrates honorees at annual Arts & Eats for Justice gala

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The event will start at 5:30 p.m. on November 14 at the Valley Regency in Clifton. Arts and Eats for Justice is a celebration of how VLJ staff, volunteers, funders, and community partners work together to transform the lives of low-income and vulnerable clients in New Jersey. Honorees are selected for their commitment to VLJ’s mission. Click to see who we’re honoring this year!

VLJ Receives 2018 Jefferson Award Medallion

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has received the 2018 Jefferson Award Medallion in the Volunteer Group category for outstanding work benefiting the community. The Jefferson Awards were established in 1972 as the official recognition program of the United States Senate. They are considered America’s highest honor for public service and volunteerism. “We were so honored to be nominated for this award by our Board Chair, Susan McGahan, a steadfast supporter of justice.”

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The Long Road Home, a Report on the Recovery Process after Superstorm Sandy

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VLJ contributed to a recent report on the challenges of the recovery process after Superstorm Sandy.  The report, “The Long Road Home,” analyzed the results of a survey taken by over 500 Sandy survivors found that 22% of respondents were still out of their homes at the time of the survey; that 77% of respondents either did not have enough money to finish rebuilding their homes; and that more than 70% of respondents had developed new physical or mental health problems or a worsening of pre-existing health conditions since Sandy.