Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

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

For today’s #WonderfulNewsWednesday, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice begins an introduction to our Summer 2024 interns. First up, Yuki Kyu. Yuki, a graduate of Drexel University and a rising 2L at New York Law School, brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and creativity to VLJ’s Children's Representation Program, ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program. An enthusiastic advocate for ensuring access to justice for communities historically underrepresented and under-resourced, while at Drexel Yuki co-founded a small non-profit organization serving the immigrant population in Philadelphia. Now in law school, Yuki occasionally volunteers with NYLS’s asylum clinic, and this year she is serving as an Equal Justice America fellow, a powerful step toward a career in public service. Outside the law and her studies, Yuki brings an artistic dimension to her life through ballet. We're excited to have her with us this summer and look forward to raising up the next generation of social justice superheroes. Welcome, Yuki! Read Yuki’s full spotlight at https://lnkd.in/eiyr-jVM #VLJNJ #NYLS #LawSchoolIntern #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to harness the power of #probono, this is it. And when you’re ready to join Christopher in ensuring access to justice, whether serving those who served, helping families stay in their homes, or making sure students have the educational support and services they need and deserve, visit vljnj.org/why-probono to get started.

Certainly more information to follow, but for now, a joyous round of applause and celebration goes to PSEG, Gibbons P.C., and McCarter & English, LLP for winning the 2024 CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award from the Pro Bono Institute and Corporate Pro Bono. The CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award recognizes the profound, life-changing impact PSEG, Gibbons, and McCarter & English have had serving those who served in partnership with VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program. Many congratulations, and thank you for enthusiastically harnessing the power of pro bono! #VLJNJ #PSEG #Gibbons #McCarterAndEnglish #ProBono #CelebrateProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟰 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 + 𝟭𝟵𝟭 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 + 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗿𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹? For Prudential Financial, it means being named a recipient of the American Bar Association’s 2024 Pro Bono Publico Award. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice excitedly announces that its longtime pro bono partner and the nearly 200 volunteers from Prudential’s Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs (LCBE) department have won this prestigious award from the ABA, honoring Prudential’s lifechanging pro bono, generosity, and commitment to ensuring access to justice. The Pro Bono Publico Award represents the top honors given by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director, remarked, “Prudential has brought dignity and justice to thousands through their powerful pro bono efforts even though they didn’t have to. Prudential’s legal department epitomizes the spirit of the Pro Bono Publico Award, and the fact that Prudential is only the seventh corporation to receive this award since it was first presented in 1984 speaks volumes about their transformative and legendary efforts.” Please join us in wishing hearty congratulations to Prudential for their enthusiastic embrace of pro bono. Prudential along with the other award honorees will be recognized at the ABA’s annual meeting in Chicago later this summer. 🔗Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/dHRp8wig #VLJNJ #Prudential #ABA #ProBono #CelebrateProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠? 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜! There’s no punning around when it comes to recognizing the incredible pro bono efforts of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s June 2024 Volunteer of the Month: Gavin Pereira. Gavin, Corporate Counsel at Audible, plays a pivotal role in supporting the company's rapidly evolving content initiatives. Gavin’s journey in the law began at Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) in India, where he obtained his first law degree. Last year, he furthered his education by graduating with a master’s degree in law from Columbia Law School. Additionally, Gavin is an active member of several professional groups and associations including the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY). Gavin’s pro bono story with VLJ started when he joined Audible in September 2023, and he credits his colleagues, Suemyra A. Shah and Anna Nikolayeva, for the introduction. Gavin has since become a dedicated volunteer supporting VLJ’s ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program’s Expungement Clinic, helping pro se litigants clear their criminal records. Beyond his work with VLJ, Gavin volunteers with NJ LEEP and Human Rights First’s Project: Afghan Legal Assistance. Despite their reputation as the “lowest form of humor,” Gavin enjoys making puns and appreciates a good pun whenever he hears one. Thanks to Gavin, no ladders are needed for pro bono to reach new heights, and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is immensely grateful for his dedication, compassion, and enthusiastic embrace of pro bono. 🔗Read more at https://lnkd.in/ejT_j9Wm #VLJNJ #GavinPereira #Audible #ProBono #CelebrateProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗟𝗝’𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, stories of resilience, compassion, and commitment to justice abound. So much so VLJ never hesitates to share the voices and experiences that encompass the transformative power of pro bono. This month, we pull the curtain back to recognize one staff member who helps bring those stories to you: Eric W. Hughes. Eric joined VLJ in April 2022 as the Bershad Communications Manager and rose to become Bershad Director of Communications in the fall of 2023. He’s been instrumental in boosting VLJ’s visibility, engaging diverse audiences while trumpeting the impact of justice. From honoring the humans behind VLJ’s efforts to ensure access to justice to sharing how pro bono changes lives for clients and volunteers alike, Eric amplifies VLJ’s mission and reach, bridging the access to justice gap one story at a time. Originally from Kentucky, Eric holds a BA in German from the University of Kentucky and a Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law. He is a member of The Florida Bar, and prior to moving to New Jersey, Eric was a legal services attorney advocating for veterans and transgender community members. Reflecting on VLJ’s mission, Eric offered, “VLJ’s mission means acknowledging the woefully short lives we have and refusing to let fellow humans suffer, especially because most of the ills of today are manufactured. What can be created can be uncreated, so if we have a system that continues to keep people sick, in poverty, and in pain, we must quickly realize we love ourselves and each other far too much to let that remain the reality in which we live.” Outside VLJ, Eric enjoys sleeping in, slow and quiet mornings with freshly-brewed coffee, spending time with his husband, book clubbing, laughing (quite a lot!), walking everywhere fast, and training for a half-marathon. With a keen eye for storytelling and a heart for celebrating and cheerleading all those who make access to justice a reality, Eric W. Hughes is a most welcomed Defender of Justice at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. 🔗Read more here: https://lnkd.in/epBCenTQ #VLJNJ #EricWHughes #DefenderOfJustice #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

Always looking to extend a celebration, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice fondly throws back to last week’s New Jersey State Bar Association/New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law 2024 Professionalism Awards Luncheon. The most prestigious awards paid tribute to individuals who uphold the legal profession’s highest ideals and who have significant career achievements. At the luncheon, VLJ’s Cathy Keenan and Jessica Kitson were excited to celebrate a few familiar faces: Jeanne LoCicero, Legal Director of the ACLU of New Jersey, was recognized with the Charles J. Hollenbeck Award, which honors an attorney in a governmental agency or nonprofit organization; and Kevin Kelly, Associate Clinical Professor at the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law, was recognized with the Lighthouse Award, an award that honors individuals who exhibit the utmost professionalism and integrity throughout their legal career and who serve as an inspiration and guiding light to their colleagues in the bar. Both Jeanne and Kevin are cherished friends of VLJ, and their accolades and achievements remind us that our efforts as legal professionals go beyond the courtroom—it’s about the lives we touch and the communities we uplift. Many congratulations again to Jeanne, Kevin, and all the honorees! #VLJNJ #ThrowBackThursday #NJSBA #ACLUNJ #SetonHallLaw #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙪𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨? For today’s #WaysToGiveBackWednesday, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice seeks volunteer attorneys to help realize second chances with VLJ’s ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝟭 Client seeks an expungement of an indictable crime for Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) that requires a compelling circumstance argument under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(c)(3). Sentence completion will need to be confirmed. Client also has a local ordinance violation and two disorderly persons convictions, along with dismissals and not guilty findings, they would like to expunge. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝟮 Client seeks limited assistance with e-filing a pro se expungement. Client’s record is straight-forward with only one local ordinance violation that was paid in full in 2011. Client also has one dismissal. A successful expungement will result in a clear record! To learn more about the cases above, please email Karen Robinson, Managing Attorney of VLJ’s ReLeSe Program, at [email protected]. For additional pro bono opportunities at VLJ, please visit https://lnkd.in/eRJQ3fsS. #VLJNJ #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, a day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in the United States. Yet freedom isn't a singular event or something we simply cross off a to-do list—it's a continuous fight. A fight for justice. A fight for equality. A fight to eliminate deeply rooted, systemic racism. As history has repeatedly shown us, no one is free until we are all free. Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder that our liberation is intertwined, and we will only realize “a more perfect union” when we discard the hate, division, and animosity of yesterday so we can make room for the peace, justice, and healing our shared humanity deserves. Together, we can build a future when freedom rings true for everyone. It won’t be easy. There will be times when we feel like things aren’t improving, but step by step, we will move forward on our journey to a better, kinder, and more just tomorrow. #VLJNJ #Juneteenth #BlackLivesMatter #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey