News & Updates
VLJ is proud to spotlight Summer 2022 intern Mariah Agbonkpolo. Mariah graduated with a bachelors in history from the University at Buffalo in 2020, and she is a rising 2L at Fordham University School of Law. As part of her summer internship, Mariah works in VLJ’s Human trafficking, Children’s Representation, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Programs.
VLJ proudly spotlights Summer 2022 intern Melanie Zelikovsky. Melanie is a rising 2L at Rutgers Law - Newark (class of 2024); She received her B.A. in Classics with honors from NYU in 2013 and a M.A. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Arizona in 2016. During her time at VLJ Melanie supports the Debt Relief Legal and Divorce Programs.
VLJ proudly features Nina Peckman, Esq. as our July 2022 Volunteer of the Month. For over sixteen years Nina, a staff attorney with Advocates for Children of New Jersey (“ACNJ”), has provided legal assistance to parents, including advice, representation in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and at mediations. Nina earned her Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University.
Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is pleased to announce that Melissa F. Wernick, Esq. of Millburn and Catherine A. Trinkle, Esq. of Morristown recently joined its Board of Trustees. Melissa is a Member of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG Law) based in West Orange, and Catherine is Deputy General Counsel, Regulatory & Environmental Law, and Head of Government Affairs at BASF Corporation, based in Florham Park.
After New Jersey voters approved a marijuana referendum in November 2020, decriminalization followed in July 2021, and recreational sales began last month in April 2022. This month, we mark the two-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, and the societal reckoning of systemic racism and inequity that came in the aftermath of tragedy.
VLJ is thrilled to feature O. Ade Oremosu as our May Volunteer of the Month. Ade is Senior Managing Associate General Counsel at Verizon, where he leads a team of attorneys that support, guide, and counsel Verizon’s Business Products Organization. When not leading his team of attorneys, Ade is a fierce advocate for justice.
VLJ is proud to recognize Abigail Oliver as our next Defender of Justice! Abigail joined VLJ as a legal assistant in the thick of the pandemic in 2020, and despite the challenges of learning a new job remotely, she has become an integral member of VLJ’s team. Abigail works on VLJ’s Tenancy, Children’s Representation, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Programs and previously worked on Estate Planning.
VLJ is proud to recognize Suemyra Shah as our April Volunteer of the Month. Suemyra is Senior Corporate Counsel at Audible, where she oversees the development, licensing, and production of original content. She is also a fierce advocate for social, racial, and economic justice on behalf of VLJ’s ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) program. Her commitment to serving the most vulnerable in our community makes her most deserving of this recognition, especially as April is Second Chance Month.
We’re thrilled to feature Christina Holder as our March Volunteer of the Month. Christina is the Corporate Public Interest Counsel at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, where she recruits attorneys from the firm’s various corporate practices to volunteer with legal services organizations and maintains her own pro bono docket.
Christina first encountered VLJ when she joined Lowenstein in March 2020, right when the pandemic started to take hold. Christina immediately became involved with VLJ’s pandemic-related housing rights work. Because of Lowenstein’s commitment to helping New Jersey’s most vulnerable, Christina proposed expanding the firm’s partnership with VLJ to include estate planning services for low-income individuals.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is excited to take you behind the curtain to give you a closer look at the incredible staff members who make VLJ such an impactful force for justice in New Jersey. We are kicking off this new column with one of our most talented advocates, Allison Nolan.
This month, VLJ is excited to honor volunteer attorney Aaron Haier. Aaron is new to the VLJ volunteer scene, and we are immensely grateful to have him fighting for our tenancy clients. Aaron is an Associate in the Litigation department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where he works on a broad set of litigations, investigations, and regulatory matters for a variety of corporate clients.
Aaron is extremely passionate about serving his community and using his legal knowledge to give back. He is also a long-time housing advocate. Prior to law school, Aaron worked for the City of Newark’s Department of Health, where he oversaw the Newark Healthy Homes Program and was responsible for policy development and legal enforcement strategies in connection with home environmental issues, including lead poisoning and childhood asthma.
Newark, NJ – January 12, 2022 – As New Jersey celebrates National Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month, Governor Murphy signed a new law that expands access to vacatur for survivors of human trafficking. The bill, A5322, will help survivors of human trafficking build new lives by expanding the existing list of crimes that can be cleared from their records beyond just prostitution convictions. This will result in real and immediate relief for survivors of both sex and labor trafficking who have been unfairly stigmatized as a result of their convictions. The bill also streamlines the process for survivors pursuing this relief and ensures enhanced privacy protections of the petitions filed in court.
VLJ is pleased to kick off our new year by honoring Diane Russini as our Volunteer of the Month. Diane has been fulfilling VLJ’s mission of “taking cases and changing lives” by serving as a consistent volunteer and supporter of VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program. We are in an unprecedented time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are experiencing poverty for the first time and those who have been financially unstable may find themselves in a worse situation. Throughout the pandemic, though, Diane has been committed to helping clients navigate these hardships by volunteering at VLJ’s Debt Relief Clinic.
On October 20th, 600 supporters attended the virtual Arts & Eats for Justice gala. The event raised $700,000 to support our mission of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. Initially created as a subcommittee of the Legal Services of Essex County, VLJ has grown into a pro bono powerhouse impacting the lives of tens of thousands of New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents. Three honorees were recognized for their contributions to the cause of justice: former US Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, Merck & Co., Inc., and Karen Sacks, VLJ’s Founding Executive Director.
NorthJersey.com is hosting a monthly housing video series to provide advice from a panel of tenant law experts on affordable housing issues. In this video VLJ staff attorney Allison Nolan and fellow panelists discuss the following:
What renters can still be evicted in New Jersey?
When do eviction protections end?
Where can tenants at risk of eviction get help
Click here to read the full NorthJersey.com article.
If you are at risk of being evicted, call (973) 943-4754 to apply for help.
To volunteer to represent tenants facing eviction, click here.
