A Message from the Executive Director
Hello Friends,
 
An obvious truth is that the COVID-19 pandemic was and continues to be incredibly challenging. The pandemic challenged our healthcare system, our schools, our courts, our resolve, and our sense of normalcy. For some, it is the loss of “normal” that hits the hardest. Family visits are more cautious, masks and testing are omnipresent, and “variant” has fully entered the national lexicon.

However, for many in America, COVID did not fundamentally change their normal, but rather, laid bare long-existing inequities and injustices: lack of quality, affordable housing; food insecurity; inaccessible and unaffordable healthcare; low wages; and confusing, bureaucratic court procedures exacerbated by the digital divide. If there is one theme the pandemic highlighted, it is the detrimental impact of the lack of access, be that to housing, food, healthcare, education, or justice.
 
For VLJ, access to justice is why we exist. As the COVID pandemic shifts to an endemic, VLJ recently resumed in-person legal clinics. During recent legal clinics we served 20 clients with 14 clients attending in person and 6 attending virtually. The return to in-person clinics brings new challenges, including how to effectively manage fast-paced clinics with some clients and lawyers in person and others by video conference, ensuring stable, high speed internet access that supports video conferencing at remote locations, and protecting client confidentiality in this hybrid environment. Undoubtedly, we will encounter more hurdles along the way, but today we will celebrate the return to in-person programming and the accessibility that it provides to so many of our clients who have been isolated by the pandemic.
 
As a philosophy, access to justice is straightforward. As a practice, it is a myriad of moving parts, details, frustrations, and lessons learned, but we know that access to justice is worth it. Better put by a client:
 
“This program has given me hope in increasing the quality of life as far as being employed. When my volunteers first reviewed the list of my charges, I started to feel overwhelmed because of my past but my volunteer attorney said something that made feel like things were going to be okay. He said, ‘Look this is the past, this is not you anymore; this process is just the clean-up’ and when my volunteer attorney said that it made me feel good.”
 
As we journey a landscape shaped by COVID, I remain hopeful that because of our generous volunteers, funders, cheerleaders, and staff VLJ’s efforts will continue the vision first dreamed back in 2001: by taking cases, we change lives.
O. Ade Oremosu is VLJ's May Volunteer of the Month!
This month, VLJ is excited to honor volunteer attorney O. Ade Oremosu. Ade is Senior Managing Associate General Counsel at Verizon, where he leads a team of attorneys that support, guide, and counsel Verizon’s Business Products Organization. When not leading his team of attorneys, Ade is a fierce advocate for justice. 

Ade is an attorney of many talents and is incredibly generous to share them VLJ as well as several legal aid organizations in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

Read more about how Ade is expanding access to justice for veterans and families by clicking here.
Marijuana Legalization in New Jersey:
A Disparate Impact or Social Justice High?
Authored by Karen Robinson, Managing Attorney - VLJ ReLeSe Program

After New Jersey voters approved a marijuana referendum in November 2020, decriminalization followed in July 2021, and recreational sales began last month in April 2022. This month, we mark the two-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, and the societal reckoning of systemic racism and inequity that came in the aftermath of tragedy. With Black residents nearly three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white counterparts (even though usage rates are comparable), the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana slowly bends the moral arc towards racial, social, and economic justice, but more work lies ahead.

Read the full article by clicking here.
Upcoming VLJ Events
You've been missed, and we hope to see you soon!

Say Ja! to a great time supporting a great cause. Please join Volunteer Lawyers for Justice for our annual fundraising event, the Summer Soirée, presented by McClure Harrison! The event will be from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Zeppelin Hall Biergarten in Jersey City. Over 100 professionals will gather to celebrate VLJ's work providing free legal services to our neighbors in need. Open bar, tasty snacks, and catching up with old and new friends alike, it's guaranteed to make you raise a glass and shout Prost! Don't worry, you can leave the lederhosen at home.

For tickets, sponsorships, and more, please click here.

Put on the sunscreen, stretch, and join VLJ on the green for our inaugural The Long Drive for Justice at Morris County Golf Club. Registration includes lunch, a round of golf, and cocktail party with open bar. We are so excited to come together for a fun new event to celebrate and support justice in New Jersey.

Not a golfer? You can still join us for the cocktail reception afterwards. Come enjoy the prestige of Augusta National and the fun of Caddyshack!

Tickets, sponsorships, and more can be found by clicking here.
VLJ Defender of Justice: Abigail Oliver
VLJ is proud to recognize Abigail Oliver as our next Defender of Justice! Abigail joined VLJ as a legal assistant in the thick of the pandemic in 2020, and despite the challenges of learning a new job remotely, she has become an integral member of VLJ’s team. Abigail works on VLJ’s Tenancy, Children’s Representation, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Programs and previously worked on Estate Planning.

Did you know? Abigail studied American Sign Language and interned for the American Bar Association’s Commission on Disability Rights.

Read more about Abigail and how she quickly became a critical member of the VLJ team by clicking here.
Gifts Update
Thank you to the recent grantors, major donors, and first-time corporate supporters!
Bershad Family Foundation
$50,000

McClure Harrison
$5,000

Merck & Co.
$144,000

Panasonic Corporation of
North America
$10,000
Prudential Financial
$97,500

The IOLTA Fund of the
Bar of New Jersey
$6,000

Turrell Fund
$20,000
VLJ Grows By Leaps and Bounds - New Hire Welcome
VLJ is pleased to welcome four new staff members to the team! Adelina Herrarte, Erin Berman, Carmen Obando, and Eric Hughes (pictured left to right) joined VLJ in April.

Adelina - Adelina joins VLJ as a Senior Staff Attorney supporting VLJ's Divorce and Debt Relief Legal Programs. Adelina enjoys a good audiobook or podcast, whether while "spring cleaning" or walking. She has a touch of wanderlust and enjoys discovering new cities and activities off the beaten path. Adelina is an avid knitter, dancer (more so when the paparazzi aren't close by), and she regularly flexes her green thumb. Adelina can also be found experiencing the ups and downs of rollercoasters. Read more about Adelina by clicking here.

Erin - Erin joins VLJ as a Staff Attorney supporting the Children's Representation Program. In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, whipping up delicious dishes in the kitchen, and volunteering with her synagogue. Read more about Erin by clicking here.

Carmen - Carmen joins VLJ as a Legal Assistant supporting VLJ's Tenancy and Debt Relief Legal Programs. Carmen enjoys spending time with her family, and when not at VLJ, she can be found spending time outdoors hiking, exploring mountains, and taking in all that nature has to offer. Read more about Carmen by clicking here.

Eric - Eric joins VLJ as the Bershad Communications Manager. A sci-fi kid at heart, he was born a few hundred years too early to join Starfleet. When not at VLJ, Eric enjoys spending time with his husband, attempting to finish a book, and getting his steps in around the Hudson River waterfront. Read more about Eric by clicking here.