📸 "A picture is worth a thousand words." and today, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice staff and interns experienced that power firsthand at the "Legal Info-Design 101: Using Visuals to Maximize Your Message" CLE. Many thanks to our new friend, Hallie Jay Pope, Director of the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law, for an enlightening session on harnessing the power of visuals to enhance and expand our communications. From creating compelling visuals to evaluating their effectiveness, we’re ready to make our messages more impactful than ever. Pictured left to right are Caroline Sigler (VLJ intern), Eilleen Ingram-Willis (VLJ Managing Attorney), Hallie Jay Pope, Yuki Kyu (VLJ intern), and Karen Robinson (VLJ Managing Attorney). #VLJNJ #SetonHallLaw #ProBono #DesignForJustice #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
Legal Services
Newark, NJ 1,920 followers
Taking cases, changing lives.
About us
At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), our mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. VLJ’s staff and trustees drafted an ambitious mission that doesn’t set out to merely provide free legal services, but to ensure access to justice. Our mission focuses on people experiencing poverty, stressing that poverty can be (and should be) transitory. We believe that legal services have the ability to effectuate profound change, including economic stability and prosperity. VLJ mobilizes volunteers to work alongside staff to address critical legal needs across New Jersey, advancing racial, social, and economic justice. At the start, VLJ aimed to address the unmet civil legal needs of individuals with no- or low-incomes in Essex County. Initially operating as a program of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County, VLJ focused on housing, consumer, family, and education law cases, assigning them to volunteer attorneys. Despite early challenges in institutionalizing pro bono culture in law firms and garnering support from funders unfamiliar with civil legal pro bono efforts, VLJ achieved significant milestones, including influencing court rules that expanded the pool of potential volunteers, partnering with law firms and corporate legal departments, and expanding services statewide. Today, VLJ remains dedicated to its mission of ensuring access to justice for those experiencing poverty, taking on cases and changing lives for thousands of New Jerseyans each year while harnessing the pro bono power of hundreds of volunteer attorneys and non-attorneys. The organization's success is attributed to the inspiration drawn from clients’ resilience and hope as they confront challenges from landlords, abusers, traffickers, creditors, and others in their pursuit of justice. At VLJ, collaboration is key and we make a much larger impact because of our community of supporters.
- Website
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https://linktr.ee/vlj_nj
External link for Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
- Industry
- Legal Services
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Newark, NJ
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2001
Locations
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Primary
Newark, NJ 07102, US
Employees at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
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Judith McCarthy
Attorney at Cheshire Law Group
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Jaclyn Kramer
Development Director at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
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M. Garrett Keating
Senior Account Executive at BlockDrop, Inc.
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Scott L(awrence) P.
Ardent Christian, (Grand)son, Keynote speaker, Molecular biologist, Citizens Advice Advisor, Youth worker, Appointee to MK Child Poverty Commission…
Updates
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𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲’𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵: Matthew Jokajtys A familiar face in VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program and previously our December 2018 Volunteer of the Month, Matt continues to set a high bar with his dedication to serving those who served. Matt is Managing Counsel – Environmental at PSEG, and he holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Vermont, a Juris Doctor (cum laude) with Certificate in Environmental Law from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University. Since joining PSEG and starting his pro bono story with VLJ in 2016, Matt has generously volunteered over 162 hours, assisting veterans with legal matters such as child support, criminal record expungement, driver’s license restoration, estate planning, and eviction defense. His commitment to justice is deeply personal, inspired by his family’s history of military service. Matt’s enthusiasm for mentoring new volunteers and his ability to balance a busy career with meaningful pro bono work are truly inspiring, reflecting that “pro bono does not have to be an indefinite commitment of time, nor does it require you appearing in court or filing legal motions (though it can be if you’d like). With VLJ’s help, you can tailor your pro bono experience to your schedule and level of comfort.” As a prolific volunteer and eager champion of all things pro bono, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice celebrates Matt Jokajtys. His time, talent, compassion, and dedication give a whole new meaning to “Taking Cases. Changing Lives.”, and for that, we are incredibly grateful. Thank you, Matt! 🔗Read more: https://lnkd.in/enm-SHiV #VLJNJ #MattJokajtys #PSEG #ProBono #CeleberateProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey
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𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 & 𝗘𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗮 VLJ’s annual gala celebrates how VLJ staff, volunteers, funders, and community partners work together to transform the lives of people experiencing poverty across New Jersey. Hosted at the beautiful The Park Savoy Estate, we invite you to join VLJ for an evening of celebration and justice. This year, we're proud to honor: Preet Bharara – Champion of Justice Award Catherine Weiss – Partner in Justice Award RBC Wealth Management – Community Vision Award Visit vljnj.org/gala2024 for tickets, ads, and sponsorships. For more information, please contact Jaclyn Kramer, VLJ’s Development Director, at (973) 755-4120 or [email protected]. #VLJNJ #ArtsAndEatsForJustice #ProBono #Justice #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey
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This past Saturday, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice beat the heat by partnering with Clinton Hill Community Action and the South Ward Promise Neighborhood (BRICK Education Network) to host a Know Your Rights seminar for tenants in Newark. A big shout out to Nina DePalma, Esq., a staff attorney with VLJ’s Tenancy Program, for her insightful presentation to 30 community members on tenant's rights, the basics of New Jersey’s eviction laws, court processes, and defenses to eviction. Providing a dose of “Teamwork makes the dream work” was Eilleen Ingram-Willis, Managing Attorney of VLJ’s South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program. 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦? Visit vljnj.org/why-probono to get started. #VLJNJ #ProBonoOpportunities #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey
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𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.
Gibbons is honored to have been selected by Pro Bono Institute (#PBI) for a “Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO®) Pro Bono Partner Award”, along with partners PSEG, McCarter & English, LLP, and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (#VLJ), for their Veterans Legal Program (VLP), which assists #veterans returning to civilian life with legal issues that impact their safety, security, and stability. Pro Bono Institute will present the award at its 2024 Annual Dinner on October 9 in New York City. Congratulations to our partners! To read more, see https://lnkd.in/djEGFxmr
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Rounding out Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s terrific trio of Summer 2024 interns, please allow us to introduce Debora Perez, a rising 3L at Cardozo School of Law. Debora earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, and she will spend her summer supporting VLJ’s Divorce Program, Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program, and Tenancy Program. Fortunately for VLJ, the power of pro bono and access to justice are nothing new to Debora: she previously interned with Sanctuary for Families’ Uncontested Divorce Project and the Innocence Project. Even more impressive, Debora will capstone her last year in law school as a clinic legal intern with Cardozo's Criminal Defense Clinic. When it comes to VLJ’s mission, Debora offered, “Ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty means I should use my legal education to advocate and uplift voices that are commonly unheard due to the financial barriers in the legal system. It means bridging the gap between legal services and poverty through clinical programs like the programs VLJ has to offer and elevating those programs to make legal services more accessible for people of differing socio-economic backgrounds.” We're honored to have Debora with us this summer, and we look forward to being part of her journey becoming a pro bono superstar of tomorrow. Welcome, Debora! 🔗Learn more about Debora at https://lnkd.in/edqJuhNh. #VLJNJ #CardozoLaw #LawSchoolIntern #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey
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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice reposted this
Considering a career in State government? Our 12-month Governor’s Fellowship Program may be right for you! NJOPD is looking for a Governor’s Fellow to research, review, and analyze legislation and data as it informs policy in all office practice areas, with a focus on parole and criminal justice reform. This individual will report to an Assistant Public Defender and work closely with leadership and our policy and data teams. Additionally, the Governor’s Office will provide mentorship and networking opportunities to the individual selected for this position. Click below for more information about this opening and how to apply. #NJOPD #NJOPDjobs #newjerseyjobs #parole #criminajusticereform #governorsfellow #publicdefender https://lnkd.in/e_9ARkjY
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Continuing to spotlight Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Summer 2024 interns, we are thrilled to welcome 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿 to the team. A graduate of Hunter College currently pursuing a law degree at Rutgers Law School-Newark, Caroline is spending her summer supporting VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program and Veterans Legal Program. With a passion for public interest law, Caroline is a Maida Public Interest Fellow, bringing valuable experience from her work with the ACLU of New Jersey’s Clemency Project and involvement in the Rutgers Law Public Interest Law Student Association. Caroline is eager to gain hands-on experience working directly with clients and insight into the operation of civil legal services organizations. “I am pursuing a career in public interest law, so the knowledge I gain from this internship will be incredibly valuable in helping me navigate the public interest field and determine more specifically what type of work I want to do.” We're delighted to have Caroline aboard, and we look forward to witnessing the tremendous impact she'll have, both at VLJ and in her future career ensuring access to justice. Welcome, Caroline! 🔗Discover more about Caroline at https://lnkd.in/eS-6tasy. #VLJNJ #RutgersLaw #LawSchoolIntern #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey
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𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆! Today marks 248 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. We've come a long way toward a more perfect union, but it hasn’t been easy, nor is our work finished. As we celebrate today, let’s acknowledge the past, shortcomings and triumphs, while recommitting ourselves to the ideals of liberty, justice, and equality for all. The future may feel uncertain, but by standing united and guided by these principles, we will build a brighter, kinder, and better future, together. #VLJNJ #IndependenceDay #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey