VLJ's Arts & Eats for Justice Gala

Tuesday, October 3 — 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Nanina's in the Park

Please join Volunteer Lawyers for Justice on Tuesday, October 3 for our 2023 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 this year at the beautiful Nanina's in the Park, we invite you to join VLJ as we celebrate and recognize the achievements and commitment to access to justice of



•Paul J. Fishman – Champion of Justice Award

•Reed Smith LLP – Community Vision Award

•Verizon – Partner in Justice Award

Calling All Connoisseurs:

Donate a Bottle for Justice!

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is turning to our supporters to donate wine and whiskey bottles for our upcoming Arts & Eats for Justice Gala's Wine & Whiskey Pull raffle! We are looking for bottles of wine and whiskey valued at $30 or more.

There are three easy ways to support:

•Through VLJ's "Wine & Whiskey Pull Fund" Website: visit www.tinyurl.com/VLJWineAndWhiskey to donate, with 100% of proceeds going toward the purchase of bottles for the raffle.

•With Our Partners: VLJ is partnering with CoolVines in Newark. To purchase a bottle of wine or whiskey for the raffle, please visit or call CoolVines at (973) 718-9050 (ask for Denise) and mention you are purchasing for VLJ. They will set aside all bottles purchased for us and we will arrange pick up.

•From Your Personal Collection: If you have bottles of wine or whiskey valued above $30 you wish to donate, please email VLJ's Development Director Jaclyn Kramer ([email protected]) or Gala Co-Chair Wendy Feldman ([email protected]).

Please make wine & whiskey donations by September 29. A small donation makes a huge difference toward transforming the lives of VLJ's clients and ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty.

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice's Jessica Kitson Co-Authors an Opinion Piece in The Star-Ledger

Originally published on NJ.com - September 11, 2023

In an opinion piece co-authored by Jessica Kitson (VLJ Director of Legal Advocacy), along with friends and partners Diane K. Smith (Managing Attorney, Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law) and Catherine Weiss (Chair, Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest), discussion and thoughts are shared on the promising hope of reforms made in 2021 to the faltering reality of recent developments by the judiciary that exacerbate the uneven power dynamic between landlords and tenants. An excerpt from the opinion piece is below:

"On Sept. 1, the New Jersey judiciary walked back its effort to reform the eviction process, increasing the already uneven odds against tenants.

Every day, landlords and their lawyers file eviction complaints that do not comply with the law. They fail to provide proper notice, demand illegal rent and fees, and claim as arrears rent that has already been paid. Moreover, the rent they seek is often for property that is dilapidated, leaky, and infested. Most tenants have nowhere to go when rents are high and conditions are appalling; the rental market is the tightest it’s been in years."

Panasonic Corporation of North America Awarded the AFP-New Jersey Outstanding New Jersey Corporation Award 

On September 21, the Association of Fundraising Professionals New Jersey Chapter, at its 2023 Excellence in Philanthropy Awards Ceremony, presented the Outstanding Corporation in New Jersey Award to Panasonic Corporation of North America. VLJ, along with support from Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, nominated Panasonic for the award. 

The nomination of Panasonic was a "no brainer" considering the incredible pro bono and philanthropic support Panasonic has shown to VLJ and others across New Jersey. For VLJ, Panasonic is a vital partner that co-founded VLJ’s Veterans Legal Wellness Clinic, the first legal clinic held at the East Orange Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Veterans Legal Wellness Clinic was started in large part thanks to the vision of then-volunteer and now VLJ board trustee, Jessica Hodkinson, who is VP, General Counsel and Secretary at Panasonic. Since 2017, Panasonic and its team of dedicated volunteers have helped over 280 veterans, provided $150,000 in free legal services, and donated $380,000 to fund the staff who are the backbone of VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program.

But, that is just the beginning of their philanthropic work: Panasonic grants its staff 40 hours a year of volunteer time, translating into their team donating over 3,000 volunteer hours valued at $100,000 a year. Further, since 2019, Panasonic has donated $3.2 million to organizations in the Newark area and contributed $3 million to local and national nonprofits that provide access to advanced educational and workforce readiness opportunities.

It’s clear that giving back is part of the cultural identity of Panasonic, and we are incredibly proud to have our friends recognized with this well-earned and well-deserved award.

A Client Story - What Ensuring Access to Justice for People Experiencing Poverty Looks Like

“Thomas”*, a veteran, came to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice for help resolving a child custody matter. Adding to the situation, Thomas lived in Florida and was seeking assistance with his parental visitation and communications rights; Thomas’s ex-spouse took his child from Florida to New Jersey and refused to allow Thomas to see or visit his child. Indeed, when Thomas would travel from Florida to New Jersey to visit his child,

Thomas’s ex-spouse would not let him. Through determination, powered by technology and ingenuity, VLJ's Alexandra Bravo helped Thomas successfully obtain an order in New Jersey granting Thomas the right to speak with his child every other day, with firm plans for Thomas to visit and see his child for the first time in several years.  

*The name and photo of the client have been changed to protect their privacy and confidentiality.

Hillary D. Freeman is VLJ's September 2023 Volunteer of the Month

In our bustling world, there are unsung heroes who work tirelessly to champion causes that often go unnoticed, and through their efforts, plant the seeds for a better tomorrow. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s September 2023 Volunteer of the Month is one such “gardener,” harnessing the power of pro bono to ensure children have access to the services and support they need and deserve. This month, we cheerlead and honor Hillary D. Freeman, Esq., a special education powerhouse and Founding Partner of Freeman Law Offices.

Univision 41 Nueva York Visits VLJ

Whether it’s “Ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty” or "Asegurando acceso a la justicia para personas que están atravesando pobreza,” Volunteer Lawyers for Justice believes the power of pro bono knows no bounds. Which is why VLJ was excited to welcome Univision 41 Nueva York to our Newark office in August to learn more about our services and how we are working to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty.

Leading the charge during the interview was our very own Alexandra Bravo. Also interviewed were two former VLJ clients who benefitted from the power of pro bono including a veteran client Alexandra assisted herself. Of course, it wouldn’t be a true VLJ experience without some familiar faces showcasing “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

VLJ is grateful to Univision 41 for highlighting the services we provide to community members, and doing justice to the understanding that whether in English, Spanish, or another language, VLJ is here to help New Jerseyans with their unmet civil legal needs.

Volunteer to Change a Life (Including Your Own)

Did you know volunteering with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is lifechanging not only for our clients, but for our volunteers as well?

In addition to the fact that volunteering has been shown to improve one’s mental health, undertaking pro bono with VLJ has many, easily obtainable benefits:

1.) Interesting and inspiring legal work that fits with every background and schedule

2.) Comprehensive training from expert legal staff

3.) Malpractice insurance

4.) Madden exemption

5.) Ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty

Whether it’s volunteering in a new area of law or ensuring the courts remain open and accessible regardless of one’s ability to afford an attorney, the benefits of pro bono with VLJ are seemingly endless.

When you’re ready to volunteer, VLJ will be ready for you.  

Sponsor and Supporter Recognition

Thank you to our recent grantors, first-time corporate supporters, and major individual donors!

Connect with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice