SPEAKING UP FOR JUSTICE
2020 BY THE NUMBERS
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE
“Sometimes you have to get in the way. You have to make some noise by speaking up and speaking out against injustice and inaction.” Rep John Lewis In 2020, VLJ advanced social, racial, and economic justice in New Jersey for people living in poverty, prioritizing free legal services to clients impacted by COVID-19. We accomplished this through the following legal programs: • Children’s Representation Program • Debt Relief Legal Program • Disaster Legal Response Program • Divorce Program • New Jersey Human Trafficking Victims Legal Assistance Program • ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) • South Ward Promise Neighborhood • Tenancy Program • Veteran’s Legal Program PAGE 2
2,525 People impacted, including 925 children
83% Of clients were Black, Indigenous, or people of color
5,061 Hours donated
$ 1,742,503 In donated services
MAKING A DIFFERENCE The weight of the COVID-19 pandemic, police brutality, and social and racial injustice seemed too heavy to bear during much of 2020. At VLJ, our staff and board looked inward and grappled with what our organization’s role should be in addressing these issues through the civil legal system. Poverty and race exacerbated the impact of the pandemic, so with intention, we passed a three-year strategic plan to guide us in providing more effective and efficient legal services to the most marginalized communities in the state. New Jersey has a poverty problem. You wouldn’t know it by looking at the state’s poverty rate, which is only 9.2% - lower than the 10.5% national average. But travel to Newark, Passaic, Camden, Trenton, or Atlantic City, all cities with significantly higher rates of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) and poverty rates increase to 27-37%. In fact, New Jersey has the highest net wealth gap in the nation with the median net wealth for white families at $352,000, Latinx families at $7,100, and Black families at $6,300. This wealth gap has undoubtedly resulted in BIPOC families’ likeliness of renting vs. owning a home, and therefore they have been disproportionately impacted by the eviction crisis worsened by COVID-19. In response to the unprecedented events taking place throughout the state, VLJ sought innovative ways to connect with clients while protecting the health and safety of volunteers and staff. Our efforts to educate the public about their legal rights took center stage and VLJ staff conducted 25 virtual legal seminars on tenancy, consumer debt, family law, and education issues. Overall, 703 people were informed about their legal rights through these seminars. A parent who attended a webinar about education during COVID remarked, “This was profoundly impactful. I was so relieved to learn that the law has not changed due to the pandemic and that my child is still entitled to services. You’re making a huge difference in so many lives.” If there was a silver lining to 2020, it was the collective action of the VLJ team who worked tirelessly to make a difference for all of our clients. Thank you to our volunteers, partners, donors, and staff — we look forward to continuing the work in 2021!
Cathy Keenan Executive Director
Tricia O’Reilly Board Chair, VLJ Board of Trustees
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BRINGING FRESH AIR
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE
“I can’t breathe.” These fateful words of George Floyd became a global rallying cry by those seeking justice on behalf of the Floyd family. In the same spirit, the frequent pleas of VLJ’s clients spurred VLJ advocates to remove legal barriers standing in their clients’ way to achieving stability and prosperity. “I can’t find a job,” cried those with criminal records from over-policing, racial profiling, human trafficking victimization, or trauma from military service. VLJ responded by increasing opportunities for criminal record clearing and driver’s license restoration services — both key to increasing employment opportunities. “I can’t pay my bills,” cried those struggling because of the generational poverty, systemic racism, and the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. VLJ advocates were there to provide help in consumer debt matters and, unfortunately too often, offer sound but unwanted advice to postpone bankruptcy, as hospitalization or prolonged unemployment could plummet one further into debt. “I can’t participate,” cried families with limited access to technology. VLJ helped them conquer the digital divide by bringing legal clinics from the courthouse to their houses. Staff and volunteers helped clients navigate virtual court hearings, file electronic court filings, and obtain the services needed for children to participate in school remotely.
While the pandemic has exacerbated the profound legal and socioeconomic inequality our neighbors face, VLJ brings fresh air to the most underserved in our community during this critical time of societal reckoning. PAGE 4
WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT MY LAWYER? In 2020, Governor Murphy issued an eviction moratorium that prevented landlords from removing tenants from their homes during the pandemic; however, it did not prevent eviction filings. There are currently about 55,000 cases pending in New Jersey. “Oscar,” a single father, lived with his daughter “Vanessa,” in an apartment in Newark for 15 years — essentially Vanessa’s whole life. Oscar, a data analyst, had always been a good tenant. He asked his landlord to repair a toilet and door which had broken through normal wear and tear. His landlord’s response was to file for eviction, asking for the immediate removal of Oscar and Vanessa, claiming they were destroying the apartment.
“Because [my VLJ] attorney was representing us, we were not evicted. If I didn’t have this attorney with me at trial, who knows where I would be?” —”Oscar” Oscar contacted VLJ’s Tenancy Program and we quickly placed the case with a volunteer. The pro bono attorney was outraged by the landlord’s blatant disregard for the law and represented Oscar at virtual court hearing. After listening to both sides, the judge agreed with Oscar, dismissing the eviction. It meant a lot to Oscar not only to keep his apartment, but to have the judge validate his argument.
In 2020, VLJ was awarded a transformative grant from the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund enabling VLJ to hire 4 new staff attorneys to help tenants like Oscar and Vanessa.
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SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, a common media refrain was that the pandemic would cause a domino effect of crises for New Jersey’s most vulnerable. This was inaccurate. For generations, people living in poverty have navigated consecutive (and often, concurrent) emergencies — some of which were caused by unjust policies. With this reality in mind, VLJ undertook broader advocacy efforts on behalf of the client populations we serve, including:
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Convening a coalition of tenant advocates to protect tenants during the pandemic (that has met weekly since March 2020)
Safeguarding self-represented litigants in the courts with a particular focus on litigants with limited access to technology
Preventing the illegal lockout of tenants by landlords and law enforcement
Defending the rights of children requiring special education services, especially during remote learning
WHEN DO WE WANT JUSTICE? RIGHT NOW! Catherine Weiss is one of the leading public interest attorneys in New Jersey. Surprisingly, Catherine credits some of her success to an unlikely trait: impatience. “I tend to get things done because I am very impatient,” she says. “When do we want justice? Right now! When do we need to stand behind our neighbors? Right now! It’s fortunate that my natural instincts align with the urgency of this moment.” Catherine indeed has put her sense of urgency to good use on behalf of marginalized communities. She serves as Chair of the Center for the Public Interest at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, where she oversees the firm’s pro bono legal and community service work. In that role, Catherine not only provides phenomenal legal aid, she also rallies other lawyers in the firm to take on pro bono work.
Although Catherine has done tremendous work over the years, she knows the value of having support from legal service organizations.
“Lawyers who are committed to providing a high level of service outside of their practice area need ongoing support, training, and mentoring. Because VLJ provides that support, VLJ’s pro bono volunteers are never flying without instruments.” - Catherine Weiss
Years ago, Catherine set her sights on addressing a persistent problem for our state’s economically vulnerable: eviction. In land-lord tenant court, 98% of tenants facing eviction had no lawyer to advocate for them. Impatient as ever, Catherine set out to do something about this injustice. She forged a partnership between Lowenstein Sandler, Prudential, and VLJ that would become VLJ’s Tenancy Program, providing eviction defense to low-income tenants. When the pandemic hit, Catherine knew that renters would face even greater challenges. Partnering with VLJ and a coalition of housing advocates, Catherine has tirelessly advocated for systemic protections for struggling tenants. Most people do not realize that Catherine’s advocacy efforts have already resulted in countless New Jerseyans keeping roofs over their heads.
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE
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“If you are going to be a lawyer and just practice your profession, well, you have a skill so you are very much like a plumber. But if you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself, something to repair the tears in your community, something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you.” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg PAGE 8
REPAIRING TEARS IN OUR COMMUNITY VLJ’s volunteers consistently act outside of themselves to make life better for their neighbors living in poverty. In a year in which in-person legal services were suspended, VLJ’s volunteers piloted innovative programming to help address their legal issues. While we thank all 460 people who volunteered in 2020, we give special recognition to the lawyers below, who reported 15 or more volunteer hours. Laura Abner DLA Piper
Nicole Corona McCarter & English, LLP
Scott Galano Gibbons P.C.
Stephanie Ashley Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Daniel D’Alessandro McCarter & English, LLP
Sandra Gavin
Peter Balsamo Peter Balsamo, Attorney at Law
Carolyn Davis Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Anthony Bartell McCarter & English, LLP
Kathleen DeCelie Prudential Financial, Inc.
Lenore Boyarin Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler
Sam Della Fera Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi PC Michelle Goldman Lowenstein Sandler LLP Michael Denton Guillermo Gonzalez Scura, Wigfield, Heyer & Stevens Diamond Deza Law Office of Diamond Staci Greenwald Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler Luis Deza
Jillian Bray McCarter & English, LLP William Brown McCarter & English, LLP Paul Buonaguro Jason Camilo Law Offices of Jason Scott Camilo, LLC Leah Capece Law Office of Leah E. Capece, Esq. LLC Samantha Castrelos City of Elizabeth - Law Department Aya Cieslak-Tochigi McCarter & English, LLP Donald Clarke Genova Burns Anthony Cocuzza Lowenstein Sandler LLP Anne Collart Gibbons P.C. James Corcoran Gibbons P.C.
Jayde Divito Schwartz, Vinhal & Lomurro, LLC Jack Feinstein Retired Wendy Feldman Prudential Financial, Inc. Brianna Ferrante Lowenstein Sandler LLP Caroline Fish DLA Piper Jacob Franchino Gibbons P.C.
Kevin Gilmore Gibbons P.C. Scott Glatstian Michael Golden AT&T
Elizabeth Hampton Sheldon Heber Merck & Co., Inc. Anna Hershenberg Intl. Institute for Conflict Prevention Christina Holder Lowenstein Sandler LLP George Holland Attorney At Law Andrew Hughes Prudential Financial, Inc.
Hillary Freeman
Matthew Jokajtys PSEG
Christine Gaddis Gibbons P.C.
Brett Kahn McCarter & English, LLP
Lori Gaines Barger & Gaines
David Kane McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP McCarter & English, LLP
McCarter & English, LLP
A LEGACY OF GIVING “Everybody knows someone who has legal needs. The fact is that so many people don’t know where to turn to get help and minimize the lifelong repercussions. If people think about that, they will realize that VLJ is providing a significant, positive service for large numbers of people who otherwise would be chewed up by the system.” — David Bershad, VLJ Emeritus Trustee
KAREN B. SACKS LIFETIME GIVING SOCIETY Named in honor of Volunteer Lawyers for Justices’ founding Executive Director, the society recognizes individual donors who have contributed a cumulative $10,000 or more to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. Thank you for your generosity!
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When David Bershad joined VLJ’s Board in 2011, he made an immediate impact by becoming the first donor to issue a matching gift challenge to the organization’s supporters. He didn’t want to just give to the organization, he wanted to leverage his support to increase the impact of VLJ. Over the last 10 years, David’s visionary leadership has helped VLJ’s board embrace development and communications as core values. David and his wife, Mindy Cohen, were already VLJ’s largest individual donors when they decided to make a transformative gift in 2020 by underwriting a communications fellowship for two years. Reflecting on their decision, David says, “VLJ is so well-known in the legal community, and not as much in the community-at-large. David Bershad & Mindy Cohen Susan Bershad Donald Cussen Mark† & Yvonne Daniel Joseph DiPrima Marguerite Greenfield
I hope that this gift will create a pathway to build on the backing of the hundreds of people who already support VLJ.” The Bershad Communications Fellow is charged with developing a strategic communications plan to broaden awareness, engagement, and support of VLJ. When David’s board term expired in 2020, the Board unanimously voted him to become an Emeritus Trustee. His commitment to VLJ is ongoing and David still leverages his influence to challenge the larger community to think about legal assistance as an important investment. VLJ is thrilled that David has not slowed down as an Emeritus Trustee, and that his legacy continues to grow.
Michael & Jane Griffinger Mary Hartnett & Richard Cino Orin Kramer Howard & Peggy Menaker Edward & Pamela Moed April Pish
Karen & Eric Sacks Erik Sandstedt Eric Schwimmer & Alyce Gottesman † Indicates Deceased
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY VLJ’s committed and determined donors ensured that VLJ would be able to provide essential legal services throughout the state. Free legal services are not free to coordinate and this group of supporters ensured that VLJ could train and support new volunteers, educate the community about their rights, and provide legal representation to clients who otherwise would have to represent themselves. Thank you to all donors who supported VLJ’s mission!
$100,000+
McCarter & English, LLP** Merck & Co.** New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund Prudential Financial, Inc.** VOCA Grant Program*
$50,000-$99,999
Amazon David Bershad and Mindy Cohen** PSEG Foundation** South Ward Promise Neighborhood*
$25,000-$49,999
AT&T** BASF Corporation* BlackRock Gives Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.** The IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey** Lowenstein Sandler LLP** Panasonic Corporation of North America**
$10,000-$24,999
AAML Foundation American College of Bankruptcy Foundation** Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP* Eisai Inc.* Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP* Impact100 Essex Jewish Women’s Foundation of NJ Kirkland & Ellis LLP*
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton * Garrison LLP* RBC Wealth Management Seyfarth Shaw LLP Turrell Fund Verizon Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga* Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP* Winston & Strawn LLP*
$5,000-$9,999
Susan V. Bershad Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC* Consilio, LLC* Donald Cussen** d’Arcambal Ousley & Cuyler Burk Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Dentons US LLP* Joseph DiPrima doeLEGAL Fisher Phillips* Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP Gann Law Books Marguerite Greenfield Michael Griffinger** Mala Harker King & Spalding LLP* William Krovatin* Leader Berkon Colao & Silverstein LLP* Littleton Park Joyce Ughetta & Kelly LLP* McGuireWoods LLP Morgan, Lewis & Bockius NJM Insurance Group**
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP Pfizer RBC Foundation Reed Smith LLP* Erik Sandstedt Eric L. Schwimmer & Alyce Gottesman** Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz Catherine Weiss** Wong Fleming
$2,500-$4,999
Audible, Inc. Alan Bass Dell, Inc. DLA Piper** Jesse Du Bey Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher* Goodwin Procter LLP HP, Inc.** Adam Kushner Robert H. Lynch, Jr Howard and Peggy Menaker** New Jersey State Bar Foundation Tricia O’Reilly* Jeffrey & Beth Shapiro* Stacey Slater John R. Wellschlager* Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer*
$1,000-$2,499
American Bar Association* Anderson Kill
Andrew & Froma Benerofe* William & Bleema Bershad* Bevan, Mosca & Giuditta, P.C.* Rose Cali Peter H. Chapman The Colton Family Foundation, Inc.* Columbia Bank Mark † and Yvonne Daniel** Deloitte Anand & Sneha Desai* Marianne Espinosa, J.A.D., (ret.) Wendy Feldman Freedom Network Jane Griffinger Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company* Jessica Hodkinson Michael Hyun Investors Foundation* Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore LLC Jackson Lewis Kean Miller* Cathy Keenan and John Larson* Kelly Lloyd Lankford* Helen and Thanassis Mazarakis Judith McCarthy George McDonald McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP* Susan McGahan* McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC Arnold K. Mytelka
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Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.* Jennifer Prioleau* Justin Quinn Richmond Rabinowitz Ellen Rader Smith* Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP* Saiber LLC** David Schneider* Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. Peter Slocum Ronnie Stern* Kaitlyn Stone* Alex & Mollie Tankenoff Family Foundation Thompson Hine* Stephen Weingarten* Westbrook Foundation White & Williams WilmerHale*
$250-$999
Allied Beverage Group LLC Becker, Attorneys at Law* Marianne Benevenia Angela Coxe and Steven Berkowitz* CAF America Cole Schotz P.C. Lorie Almon Allison Altersohn Open Banks* Timothy Barber Colin Be Barbara Becker Jeffrey Bershad Brian N Biglin James Brogan Mitchell Cahn Caitlin Cascino* Alex Chae Law Offices of Cohen & Buckmann Joe Colao Anne Collart* N. Thomas Connally The Leon and Toby Cooperman Family Foundation Katherine Anne Daniel Ryan Daniel*
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John and Christianne Daukas Jodi Dowell Carolyn Dubow* Shirley Emehelu Joseph Eng, Jr. Dennis Friedman* Jaimi Gaffe Melissa Geist* Howard Geneslaw* Lawrence P. Goldman and Laurie Chock Guntin & Gust* George M. Holland* Marc Haefner* Peter C. Harvey Taja-Nia Henderson Jill Herbert Mark Hodkinson Will Howard Charlotte Howells* Andrew Hughes Nicholas Insua* Douglas P. Jacobs Stefan John* Michelle Johnson-Lewis Matt Jones Elizabeth A. Joyce Emily Kaller Maria Kalousi-Tatum Anne Kappler* Bernard J. Keenan* Daniel and Christine Keenan* Brendan J. Kelly Patricia Kitson Suzanne M. Klar and Marc A. Brummer** Jaclyn Kramer* Judith and Richard Kuskin Kenneth and Anne Kunzman Larry Lesnik Debra E. Levin Deborah & Ira Levy Jessica Limbacher* Kimberly Livecchi-Jeff* Abigail Luhn Brian Lutz Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, P.C. Andrew Marovitz* Douglas Martin Erin Martins
Linda Massengill Paul Philip Mattingly Lucinda Mercer Meyner and Landis LLP Frank Molfetta* Virginia Morhardt Stanley Morris* William K. Mosca, Jr. Cathleen Myers Tracy Nelson* Erin Nelson Katelyn O’Reilly Mary Fran Palisano and Andrew Provence Ruth Pekelder Mary Bevelock Pendergast Cassandra Porter Ralph Preite* Carol Quagliato* Kevin Reich Karen & John Robinson* Geoffrey Rosamond* Lyn Rosensweig Marc Rothenberg Mark Rubin Louis Sapirman Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP* Brian Schwartz Brenda & Richard Sharton Kendra & Jeffrey Simes Jeff and Madeline Simon Rebecca Spar Kimberly Stone* Brett Theisen Timeless Treasures Fabrics of Soho LLC* Peter Torcicollo Lynn and John Totaro* Veritext* Kevin Walsh* Kevin Weber The Westchester Bank Melissa Williams Yong Zhao* Donald and Joan Zief**
MONTHLY DONORS The following donors have committed $10+ a month, or $120+ a year, towards our monthly giving campaign. Monthly and annual gifts help set VLJ on a path of sustainability. That means we can promise to be there for our low-income neighbors who desperately need legal help. Thank you! Colm Atkins Open Banks David Bershad & Mindy Cohen Tracy Cunningham Forsyth Katherine Anne Daniel Mark † & Yvonne Daniel Wendy Feldman Jaclyn Kramer Larry Lesnik Kimberly Livecchia-Jeff Carol Quagliato Mia Stollen Sarah Weingarten
*Indicates Giving for 3+ Consecutive Years **Indicates Giving for 6+ Consecutive Years † Indicates Deceased
† Indicates Deceased
YOUR DOLLARSATWORK Management/Fundr ai si ng 25%
VOLUNTEERLAWYERSFORJUSTI CE
EXPENSES Pr ogr am Management/Fundr ai si ng
Pr ogr am 75%
TOTAL
REVENUE I ndi vi dual s 8. 2% Foundat i ons 39. 2%
Gover nment 17. 9%
Cor por at i ons/Law Fi r ms 34. 7 L e a r nmo r ea twww. v l j nj . o r g/ a nnua l r e po r t s f i na nc i a l s
* 2020UNAUDI TED
$1, 030, 486 $343, 486 $1, 373, 944 * 2020UNAUDI TED
$708, 139 $819, 047 $363, 128 $199, 612 $2, 088, 926 $1, 742, 503 $100, 000 $714, 982
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COMBATTING INJUSTICE Very few companies compare to Merck & Co. in its commitment to equal justice. VLJ has worked alongside Merck’s leaders and volunteers since the launch of a pro bono program to help survivors of 9/11 in 2001. Since then, Merck has been a powerful collaborator on our Debt Relief Legal Program, Divorce Program, Disaster Legal Response Program, Veterans Legal Program, and New Jersey Human Trafficking Victims Legal Assistance Program. Merck has also led the way with corporate financial support of pro bono legal services. Over the past 20 years, Merck has been VLJ’s largest financial supporter. In 2020, not only did Merck provide significant support to VLJ programming, Merck also donated a $50,000 grant to help families grappling with the legal impact of COVID-19. Merck’s commitment to civil legal justice is truly astounding. We are humbled to call Merck our longest-running corporate partner, our 20th Anniversary Gala Honoree, and most importantly, our ally in creating a more just New Jersey.
VLJ STAFF Cathy Keenan Executive Director Jessica Kitson Senior Managing Attorney Jaclyn Kramer Development Director Tracy Nelson Director of Finance
Allison Nolan Staff Attorney Stella Lyubarsky Staff Attorney Kelsey Lee Staff Attorney
Alexandra Bravo Diana Onuschak Director of Administration Staff Attorney and Community Engagement Karen Robinson Managing Attorney Nari Wang Staff Attorney
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Jeff Stephens Staff Attorney
Nina DePalma Staff Attorney Joselyn Chavez Legal Assistant Kim Garcia Legal Assistant Paola Peralta Legal Assistant Abigail Oliver Legal Assistant Sabrina Ambrose Administrative Assistant
Zainab Awelenje Staff Attorney
It is impossible to talk about VLJ’s partnership with Merck without mentioning Mark Daniel. Not only was Mark a visionary pro bono leader at Merck, but he was also a longstanding VLJ trustee. The world lost this amazing man in 2020, but his legacy of pro bono giving lives on.
2020 Board of Trustees
Cathy Keenan, Esq. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice William Krovatin, Esq. Merck & Co., Inc.
Tricia O’Reilly, Esq., Chair Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga, LLP
Sneha Desai, Esq. BASF Corporation
Eric L. Schwimmer, Esq., Vice Chair Prudential Financial, Inc. Howard Menaker, Esq., Treasurer
Wendy Feldman, Esq. Zoetis Michael R. Griffinger, Esq. (Emeritus) Gibbons P.C.
Kelly Lloyd Lankford, Esq. Dentons US LLP George McDonald, Esq. Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Peter C. Harvey, Esq. Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP Mala A. Harker, Esq. Friedman Kaplan Seller & Adelman LLP Jessica Hodkinson, Esq. Panasonic Corporation North America
Geoffrey Rosamond, Esq. McCarter & English, LLP
David Bershad (Emeritus) Judith McCarthy, Esq. Cheshire Law Group Jennifer Prioleau, Esq., Secretary HP, Inc. Angela Coxe, Esq. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Donald Cussen RBC Wealth Management Michael Hyun, Esq. PSEG
Nicholas M. Insua, Esq. Anderson Kill Kaitlyn S. Stone, Esq. Faegre Drinker Biddle Reath LLP
Susan E. McGahan, Esq. AT&T
Erik Sandstadt, Esq. Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC Jeffrey M. Shapiro, Esq. Lowenstein Sandler LLP Kevin Weber, Esq. Gibbons P.C.
Generation Now Committee Brian N. Biglin, Esq., Co-Chair Duane Morris LLP Charlotte Howells, Esq., Co-Chair Gibbons P.C. Omar A. Bareentto, Esq. McCarter & English, LLP Colin P. Bé, Esq. Landman Corsi Ballaine & Ford P.C. Jewel Watson, Esq. Prudential Financial, Inc.
Suzanne Bradley Marineau, Esq. Stryker Corporation Caitlin P. Cascino, Esq. Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP Caitlin Conklin, Esq. K&L Gates LLP Lauren Jackson, Esq. Howard University School of Law Brandon L. Wolff, Esq. Kaufman, Dolowich & Voluck
“Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society.” — Rep. John Lewis
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— Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
20ANNUAL 20REPORT SPEAKING UP FOR JUSTICE
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) seeks to improve the lives of economically disadvantaged adults, children, and families in New Jersey by empowering them with tools, advice, and pro bono representation with the goal of securing fair and equal treatment within the legal system.
P.O. Box 32040, Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 645 - 1951 www.vljnj.org twitter.com/vljnj
facebook.com/VLJNJ linkedin.com/company/volunteer-lawyers-for-justice