Attorneys Melissa Wernick and Catherine Trinkle Join VLJ's Board of Trustees
Melissa F. Wernick, Esq. - Melissa is a Member of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG Law) based in West Orange.
Catherine A. Trinkle, Esq. -
Catherine is Deputy General Counsel, Regulatory & Environmental Law, and Head of Government Affairs at BASF Corporation, based in Florham Park. 
Read more about Melissa and Catherine on our website by clicking here.
VLJ Board of Trustees Leadership: 2022-2024
Tricia O’Reilly, Esq.,
Chair
Partner, Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP
Eric Schwimmer, Esq.,
Vice Chair
Vice President and Chief Litigation Officer, Prudential
Donald Cussen, Esq., 
Treasurer
Senior Vice President, Senior Consulting Group, RBC Wealth Management
Jennifer Prioleau, Esq., Secretary
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at B. Braun Medical Inc
The full roster of VLJ Board Trustees is available by clicking here.
New Staff Member
A committed champion for social justice, VLJ happily welcomes Renee Reso, Esq. as an Interim Staff Attorney overseeing the Veterans Legal Program.

Read more about Renee by clicking here.
Client Services Update (January 2022 - July 2022)
Total clients served thus far: 1,508 
For reference, VLJ served 1,563 total clients for all of 2021. Go VLJ team!
Client Demographics

Clients Identifying as BIPOC
79%

Clients Identifying as Women
63%

Clients Between 35-54 Years Old
49%
Save the Date!
VLJ's Arts & Eats for Justice Gala - October 12, 2022
VLJ is thrilled to invite you back in person to our Arts & Eats for Justice Gala. Ditch the laptops and join us in person for a wonderful evening supporting VLJ and our mission of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty in New Jersey.

We will also have the great pleasure of honoring and celebrating:
Audible - Community Vision Award
Joseph T. Boccassini - Partner in Justice Award
Richmond Rabinowitz - Champion of Justice Award

Date and Time:
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Eastern

Location:
713 Passaic Avenue 
West Caldwell, NJ 07006

For more information, tickets, and sponsorships, please click here.
Pilot Program for Some In-Person
Landlord Tenant Trials in Essex County
In an effort to remove technological barriers for tenants and landlords without legal representation, the Supreme Court of New Jersey recently authorized a pilot program for limited in-person landlord tenant trials in the Essex Vicinage; the in-person trials are slated to start around September 1, 2022. The pilot program is intended to address concerns, including tenants and landlords who miss their hearing (what the courts call "party non-appearance").

Around September 1, 2022, the Essex Vicinage will schedule in-person and virtual landlord tenant trials on an alternating schedule of two weeks in person, two weeks virtual.
All case management conferences conducted before the trial date will continue to be conducted virtually. Tenants and landlords will be notified if their trial will be in person or virtual.

If you are a tenant in New Jersey facing an eviction, please contact VLJ at (973) 645-1955, VLJ@VLJNJ.ORG, or visit www.vljnj.org/get-help.

For questions regarding landlord tenant trials in the Essex Vicinage, please contact the Essex Vicinage Ombudsman at (973) 776-9300 ext. 56886 or EssexHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov.
2022 Event Photos
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then do we have some reading for you! VLJ happily shares photos from our recent Summer Soirée and The Long Drive for Justice golf outing events. Head over to our website for a stroll down memory lane (along with some candid moments) and see what a great time supporting a great cause looks like.
Gifts Update
Thank you to the recent grantors, major donors, and first-time corporate supporters!
Montclair Fund for Women
$8,000.00 

The Hyde & Watson Foundation
$8,800.00