Ensuring Access to Justice for People Experiencing Poverty | | |
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"Isaac"* and his family faced eviction from their long-time home due to their landlord's dishonest attempts to increase the rent. Despite sending numerous nonrenewal notices claiming the building was owner-occupied, the landlord continued to accept rent payments. The landlord even filed an eviction complaint, though the family owed no outstanding rent. | |
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In a critical moment, Isaac turned to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, attending a Lowenstein Sandler-Prudential Tenancy Clinic when he met with volunteer attorneys Amy Woltman (Prudential) and Ruth Zimmerman (Lowenstein Sandler). During the clinic, the truth was uncovered: the landlord did not live in the building but in a neighboring town, having instead moved in a family member.
Armed with this information, VLJ Staff Attorney Nina DePalma represented Isaac in court. On the trial date, the landlord failed to appear, ultimately leading to a dismissal of the case. Thanks to Isaac’s resilience and determination, coupled with Amy, Ruth, and Nina's collaborative approach, Isaac and his family remain safely housed at home, a powerful reminder of the importance of knowing your rights and the impact of dedicated advocacy.
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That's the Power of Pro Bono. | |
*Client's name has been changed to protect their privacy. | |
Cheers to Justice at VLJ's Summer Soirée 🥂
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You're invited to an evening of crafted cocktails, culinary delights, and charitable giving. Join Volunteer Lawyers for Justice on Wednesday, June 26 at Mountain Ridge Country Club for our annual Summer Soirée cocktail party.
But don't delay! Ticket sales end Thursday, June 20. Click the button below or visit www.vljnj.org/summersoiree2024 to make it a done deal.
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VLJ Celebrated National Volunteer Month in April | |
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At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, volunteers are at the core of our mission to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. They consistently and powerfully show up for our clients and communities, generously donating their time and talent to ensure justice is not limited to those who can afford it.
While there were not enough days in National Volunteer Month to personally celebrate all our volunteers, VLJ spotlighted a few who represent the incredible humans partnering with us to change lives.
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Stacey Slater, President And Founder Of Pro Bono Strategies, Joins Volunteer Lawyers For Justice’s Board Of Trustees |  | |
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice announces that Stacey Slater joined our Board of Trustees in March. Stacey, President and Founder of Pro Bono Strategies, is an award-winning leader with over 20 years of experience using the power of pro bono to close the access to justice gap. Stacey’s leadership and experience helping to develop law firm pro bono programs will greatly benefit VLJ as the organization looks to innovatively ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty.
Stacey’s appointment to the board is not her introduction to VLJ, but rather, a recognition of dedicated volunteerism and an elevation of someone who knows pro bono at VLJ firsthand. Stacey began volunteering with VLJ in 2021 and since then, has generously donated 97 hours of her time and talent, valued at $43,650, supporting VLJ’s New Jersey Human Trafficking Survivors Legal Assistance Program and Tenancy Program. Despite coming to VLJ during the unprecedented and uncertain times of COVID, Stacey has helped survivors of human trafficking vacate and expunge their criminal records along with representing tenants facing eviction.
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Stacey’s joining our board continues her powerful embrace of pro bono, using her time and talent for neighbors and community members facing unmet civil legal needs.
Appreciating the powerful experience Stacey brings to the board, Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director, remarked, “It is not everyday a new trustee joins VLJ’s board who has decades of experience in the nuts and bolts of pro bono, from representing community members with unmet civil legal needs, building effective and efficient pro bono programs, to leading culture shifts centering pro bono as a powerful vehicle for change. Stacey’s experience and passion are warmly received, and as VLJ progresses in its second decade, I look forward to learning from and leading with Stacey and the other incredible board trustees.”
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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice recently appeared in the news:
In a May 10 interview with Candace Kelley on Comcast Newsmakers, Cathy Keenan discussed how VLJ mobilizes hundreds of volunteers from across New Jersey to address the unmet civil legal needs of neighbors and community members, providing much needed legal help to communities that have historically been under-resourced and underserved.
In a May 30 article from MarketWatch, reporter Andrew Keshner dove into the Four Day Work Week, providing insight into how software companies, law enforcement, and even nonprofits are embracing "four" as a new way to work. Cathy Keenan is quoted in the article discussing professional hard-to-shake habits and how even though change is hard, it's still worth trying.
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A Defender of Justice: Allison Nolan | |
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Allison Nolan's trajectory at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has been remarkable and in six years she has grown into a leading expert in New Jersey on tenancy issues.
Allison joined VLJ in 2018 as the program lead of the Consumer Law Program (now Debt Relief Legal Program) and as the only attorney on VLJ’s then-new Tenancy Program. Allison represented clients in court, trained pro bono volunteers, and coordinated legal clinics and seminars for community members.
Everything changed after the COVID-19 pandemic when eviction defense became the most pressing legal issue in the nation. Not only did the Tenancy Program grow to a team of six staff attorneys and a legal assistant, but reforming the landlord-tenant legal system became more crucial than ever. Allison has been a vital leader in a statewide coalition of housing attorneys working tirelessly for several years to improve the eviction process in the Garden State.
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Invites should be making their way to your inbox and mailbox soon! | |
Thank You FORE Supporting Justice! | |
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Many thanks to everyone who sponsored and participated in Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s annual golf outing, The Long Drive for Justice. Thanks to your generous support, we raised over $80,000 fueling VLJ’s efforts to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty.
Visit vljnj.org/event-photos or click the button below for photos from May 14. Thank you again!
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Sponsor and Supporter Recognition
Thank you to our recent grantors, first-time corporate supporters, and major individual donors!
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"Ensuring Access to Justice for People Experiencing Poverty" | |
Connect with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice | | | | |
