THE HISTORY OF
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE
2001
2002
2001
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) becomes a subcommittee of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County, with founding Executive Director, Karen Sacks
VLJ launches its first program, the Divorce Program
2008
2009 In partnership with Merck, VLJ starts the Bankruptcy Program
2010
2007
VLJ gets incorporated and receives federal 501(c)(3) status
2014
VLJ launches the Disaster Legal Response Program in response to Superstorm Sandy
2017
2017 In partnership with Lowenstein Sandler and Prudential, VLJ introduces a Tenancy Program to assist Essex County residents facing eviction
2015
VLJ welcomes VLJ co-counsels the first Cathy Keenan vacatur case in NJ with as its second McCarter & English for a Executive Director survivor of human trafficking
2018 VLJ joins a coalition of 20+ community organizations and schools to launch the South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program, designed to offer cradle-through-college-tocareer services to families with children in Newark’s South Ward
2021 VLJ turns 20 and has 21 staff members!
2014
VLJ receives a favorable opinion from the New Jersey Supreme Court expanding the conflicts rules for pro bono attorneys in bankruptcy cases
2017
Along with Panasonic and BASF, VLJ introduces the Veterans Legal Wellness Clinic at the East Orange VA hospital
2003
VLJ starts the With then-Newark Children’s mayor Cory Booker, VLJ launches a reentry Representation Program program called ReLeSe In partnership with PSEG, VLJ launches the Veterans Legal Program
2012
In response to the financial crisis VLJ starts consumer law programming
In partnership with Essex County Bar Association, VLJ launches the 9/11 Task Force and World Trade Center Program, working to place victims and their families with pro bono attorneys for legal representation
2020
2018
VLJ awarded the 2018 Jefferson Award Medallion, the official recognition program of the United States Senate and considered America’s highest honor for public service and volunteerism
2019
VLJ’s Cathy Keenan, VLJ board speaks alongside other approves a 3-year social justice advocates strategic plan and Newark Major Ras Baraka, at screening of Just Mercy in Newark