Volunteer Lawyers for Justice's 25th Anniversary Impact Report (2026)

Dear Friends,

Twenty-five years ago, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) began with a single staff member, a modest office in Newark, and a bold vision: poverty should never be a barrier to justice. Today, that local effort has transformed into a statewide movement, touching tens of thousands of lives and proving that the power of pro bono, people, and partnership can change the world.

This 25th Anniversary Impact Report is more than a summary of data, it speaks to an organization that has never stopped growing to meet the moment

While it would take volumes to capture VLJ’s full history, our journey has been defined by a rapid and compassionate response to community needs. From our founding in 2001 by Michael Griffinger, Susan Feeney, and Maureen McCully Winograd, with Founding Executive Director Karen Sacks paving the way, we have spent a quarter-century planting and nourishing a culture of pro bono volunteerism in New Jersey.

Standing as a "legal first responder" through several defining moments of the last 25 years, we: Mobilized volunteers in the wake of 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy

Advocated for ethics rule changes so more attorneys could volunteer to address the increase in bankruptcy filings following the Great Recession

As co-counsel, obtained the first vacatur relief under the New Jersey Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act

Pivoted to remain accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to tenants facing eviction

Implemented a groundbreaking four-day work week for VLJ staff that increased client services by 20%

Forging the Next 25 Years

As we celebrate this milestone, we do so with profound gratitude for our volunteers, staff, and supporters. We ended 2025 with record-breaking engagement and services, demonstrating that the legal community’s commitment to dignity and justice is stronger than ever.

This year, we aren’t only looking back, we are looking forward with a new strategic plan that will set us on an innovative path of service. Our brand identity has also changed, but our determination has not; we envision a New Jersey where justice is a right, not a privilege To us, access to justice is more than a catchphrase: it is a family safely housed, a child receiving the

education services they need and deserve, and a veteran finding stability These are the stories you continue to make possible Thank you for being part of our story! Here’s to the past that made us and the future that motivates us.

Cathy Keenan Executive Director Sneha Desai Chair, Board of Trustees

INSIGHTSFROMTHEBEGINNING

To VLJ’s Supporters,

In the 1990s, some members of the Essex County Bar Association grew increasingly troubled by the lack of civil legal services available to residents in Essex County with noand low-incomes. At the same time, many attorneys genuinely wanted to give back but lacked a meaningful vehicle through which to do so.

In 2000, we set out to answer both calls: build a countywide pro bono program that could channel attorneys' commitment to service toward those who needed it most. The result was Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), a small program supported by a handful of volunteer attorneys, operating out of donated office space, with Karen Sacks serving as the part-time executive director, the organization's only staff member.

Today, VLJ is the premier statewide pro bono organization helping thousands of individuals and families navigate civil legal issues each year Through advocacy in Trenton, landmark appellate victories, legal clinics, individual cases, and the skillful leveraging of limited resources, VLJ has changed lives and shaped policy across New Jersey.

Twenty-five years is a major milestone for any organization. It is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and compassion of VLJ's staff, board, volunteers, and supporters who have served over the past decades and those who serve today. We remain awed at the enormous growth and success of VLJ and the number of attorneys still heeding our original motto: “Taking Cases. Changing Lives.” While our roles with VLJ may look different these days, we are enormously proud of those who continue to fight for justice Thanks to them, the future of VLJ promises to be bright!

In the pages that follow, you'll find stories just like those of the past 25 years, where skilled, committed volunteers answered the call for justice. Every client helped and every outcome achieved is the result of seeds plante year, to make good on that promise.

With gratitude,

Karen Sacks Founding Executive Director

Michael Griffinger Founding Director & Trustee

Maureen “Mo” McCully Winograd

A Founding Director of VLJ

In 2025, Maureen McCully Winograd, affectionately known as "Mo,” passed away at the age of 79. Mo was a visionary and beloved founding director of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ).

Mo's dedication to the legal community in Essex County and beyond was lifelong. She spent over 25 years serving as the Executive Director of the Essex County Bar Association (1978-2003), tirelessly advocating for access to justice and a

fierce champion of pro bono. This same passion was foundational to Mo's work with VLJ.

In 2000, Mo along with partners at McCarter & English, LLP and Gibbons P C (now FBT Gibbons LLP), saw the legal services offices in Essex County were overwhelmed with requests for help from community members. Recognizing the untapped potential of the private bar, VLJ’s history began as a subcommittee of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County thanks to Mo’s leadership with the Foundation. Mo went on to serve on VLJ’s Board of Trustees from 2001-2016.

Cathy Keenan offered, “Mo was one of the visionaries who built Volunteer Lawyers for Justice from the ground up. Her commitment to justice and to Essex County was a powerful force for good, and the spirit of service she championed lives on in every staff member, volunteer, and client. We are all standing on the strong foundation Mo so carefully laid, and we will honor her legacy by continuing to build on it."

Mo and her memory are etched into the very fabric of our mission We are profoundly grateful for her foresight, care, and compassion, and will continue doing what she set out to do decades ago: ensure access to justice.

Thank you, Mo, and rest peacefully in justice!

Mo pictured with Karen Sacks (L) and Cathy Keenan (R)

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) envisions a future in which financial circumstances are not a barrier to accessing civil legal services. Communities will be stronger and more resilient because clients are not only represented in the moment but also empowered with the tools, knowledge, and dignity to navigate future challenges. The legal system itself will be more equitable and just. In this vision, VLJ stands as a leader in mobilizing volunteers, developing innovative service models, and advancing systemic reforms to reduce poverty and close racial, social, and economic equity gaps.

Our Vision

Rooted in the belief that justice is a right, not a privilege, we envision a New Jersey where people experiencing poverty have equal access to justice.

Theory of Change

Our Mission

Partnering with volunteers, we deliver free civil legal help that protects rights, expands opportunity, drives economic mobility, and strengthens communities.

VLJ believes that access to free legal services has the power to change the lives of people experiencing poverty. Through partnerships with pro bono volunteers and community organizations, VLJ aims to empower individuals and expand access to justice in New Jersey. As more people achieve just outcomes, families grow stronger, communities become more stable, and the legal system becomes more equitable.

When Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) was founded twenty-five years ago, no one could have predicted that its mission would be tested so profoundly mere months into its existence. In the quiet, stunned weeks following September 11, 2001, the legal community in Essex County and across New Jersey was forced to answer: how do we help our neighbors pick up the pieces after the unthinkable?

While the world watched, VLJ acted. Recognizing survivors and grieving families were suddenly faced with navigating complex administrative and legal hurdles, ranging from death certificates and probate to tax and immigration matters, VLJ joined forces with the Essex County Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association to form a historic Task Force on Disaster Relief. On October 16, 2001, over a month after the attacks, a massive mobilization occurred: over 200 lawyers gathered for an intensive training, each walking away with a 300-page manual and a solemn pledge: No fees. No compensation. Just service. By mid-December, the program had grown to over 300 volunteers.

Volunteer attorneys were trained to serve as "facilitators," guiding families through daunting paperwork, while more experienced attorneys tackled the complex matters. The effort embodied the best of New Jersey’s legal profession. Firms like Lowenstein Sandler LLP, McCarter & English, LLP, and Gibbons P.C. (now FBT Gibbons LLP) labored around the clock to produce training materials and manage attorney referrals.

A Legacy 25 Years In The Making

VLJ’s response to 9/11 was more than a temporary project, it was a defining moment for the organization. It established the approach we still use today: responding at a moment’s notice to meeting a community in crisis with professional, powerful pro bono advocacy. Twenty-five years later, we look back on those early volunteers who proved that even in the darkest hours, the law can be a source of light.

At a time of fear and uncertainty, VLJ and its partners sent a clear message: we’re in this together. The task force established dedicated hotlines and made a specific, public commitment to undocumented workers. Services were provided regardless of immigration status or income, ensuring everyone who lost a loved one in the terrorist attacks had a champion in their corner.

For many New Jersey families living paycheck to paycheck, a single unexpected crisis can trigger an escalating economic hardship. What begins as something manageable quickly becomes a nightmare, leading to debilitating anxiety, depression, and a sense of losing control.

This was the case for “Katherine” who had just given birth to her second child and was still dealing with complications from her high-risk pregnancy. Katherine had maxed out her credit cards trying to cover her expenses, which began to mount because of illnesses she experienced during the COVID19 pandemic Despite having twenty years of decent credit prior to the pandemic, Katherine described her circumstances as dire, noting her “whole financial situation was mayhem.” The pressures were wreaking havoc on her life as a solo parent while impacting the health and wellbeing of her children. Fortunately, Katherine was not alone.

When Katherine came to Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), she was paired with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who represented her through a full discharge of her debts. Only one year later, Katherine reported her credit score was back into the 700s and she was “thriving and living a much happier life that is more structured and more in control ” She is now able to focus on what truly matters: raising her children with the care they deserve

VLJ has worked with families facing these same pressures since our founding in 2001, and our efforts grew exponentially following the 2008 financial crisis. When VLJ partnered with Merck and Lowenstein Sandler LLP to launch a bankruptcy legal clinic, that clinic provided an organized way for corporate and law firm volunteers to work together to provide pro bono legal help. Then in 2012, VLJ partnered with Rutgers Law School to create The Honorable Morris Stern Bankruptcy Assistance

P j I hi i i i i l d i h lunteer attorneys to provide Chapter 7

presentation, mentoring the next generation advocates while delivering powerful results clients

r impact reaches far beyond the courtroom, ncludes changing court rules to expand cess to justice. In 2014, represented by wenstein Sandler, VLJ brought a nsformative case to the New Jersey preme Court. The resulting unanimous ruling the Matter of Opinion No. 17-2012) eased trictive conflict rules, significantly panding the pool of attorneys eligible to ovide pro bono bankruptcy assistance.

The evidence is clear: bankruptcy legal services can provide neighbors with long-term stability and a chance at economic recovery.

In 2017, a partnership between Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), Lowenstein Sandler LLP, and Prudential Financial sparked a turning point for tenants in Essex County. What began as a monthly limited-scope legal clinic to help tenants navigate the daunting reality of eviction has evolved into a cornerstone of VLJ’s mission: ensuring neighbors across the Garden State have a safe place to call home.

The program’s early years were defined by rapid growth. Capitalizing on Lowenstein Sandler’s experience, VLJ began bringing more cases in-house. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, the threat of a housing catastrophe loomed. VLJ rose to the challenge, co-leading a coalition of housing advocates to protect tenants during the health crisis. This collaboration provided a temporary safety net while fundamentally reshaping the legal landscape VLJ’s advocacy led the New Jersey Courts to implement landmark eviction process reforms in 2021, reforms that continue to protect tenants today. While the pandemic is years behind us, VLJ continues to work closely with other organizations to stay on top of emerging trends and advance policies that help tenants remain safely and stably housed.

With support from the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and, later, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and The Tepper Foundation, VLJ’s tenancy team expanded

significantly, adding four new attorneys to meet the gro demand Today, through holistic partnerships with area community organizations, VLJ provides not just legal co but a bridge to essential social services, addressing the causes of housing instability.

Our advocacy creates a lasting ripple effect. In late 202 collaborating with the Justice Gary S Stein Public Intere Center at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., VLJ secu major appellate victory. The published decision favorabl interpreted the "Stack Amendment," creating a legal pre that is already being used by tenants across New Jersey.

Nearly a decade in, the Tenancy Program stands as a testament to the belief that housing is a human right and legal advocacy can be a powerful tool to keeping families where they belong: safely at home.

97% of tenants facing eviction in New Jersey do not have an attorney compared with the nearly 90% of landlords who do.

2001

January 2 - VLJ becomes a subcommittee of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County. Karen Sacks is hired as founding executive director

VLJ establishes its first program and legal clinic: the Divorce Program

2002

In partnership with the Essex County Bar Association and the NJSBA, VLJ launches the 9/11 Task Force and World Trade Center Program, connecting survivors with pro bono legal help

2007

Seeing the need for reentry legal services VLJ

2009

In partnership with Merck, VLJ starts the Bankruptcy Program

2003

VLJ’s Children's Representation Program begins assisting with education matters

2012

2008

VLJ is incorporated and obtains federal 501(c)(3) status

2010

In response to the Great Recession and ensuing financial crisis, VLJ begins serving consumer law matters (now the Debt Relief Legal Program)

VLJ launches the Disaster Legal Response Program in response to Superstorm Sandy 2014

In partnership with PSEG, VLJ launches the Veterans Legal Program

VLJ receives a favorable opinion from the NJ Supreme Court that expands the conflicts rules for pro bono attorneys in bankruptcy cases

Co-counseling with McCarter & English, LLP, VLJ argues the first vacatur case for a survivor of human trafficking in New Jersey, launching VLJ’s NJ Survivors Justice Project

2015

2017

VLJ welcomes Cathy Keenan as its second executive director

Working with Panasonic North America and BASF, VLJ debuts the Veterans Legal Wellness Clinic at the East Orange VA Medical Center

2018

Building a brighter future in Newark: VLJ joins 20+ partners in the South Ward Promise Neighborhood, offering families holistic legal services from cradle through college and beyond

2019

McCarter & English, LLP wins the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award (nominated by VLJ)

2021

20 Years of Access to Justice: VLJ turns 20 and has 21 staff members

Alongside Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Prudential Financial, VLJ introduces the Tenancy Program to assist Essex County tenants facing eviction

VLJ receives the Jefferson Medallion from the United States Senate, considered America's highest honor for public service and volunteerism

2024

Prudential Financial’s Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs team wins the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award (nominated by VLJ)

2020

VLJ transitions to entirely virtual services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

2023

VLJ’s Tenancy Program receives a $300,000 twoyear grant from the FurtherJustice Foundation and the NJ Department of Community Affairs to holistically tackle evictions in Essex County

VLJ’s Legacy of Justice Endowment Campaign raises an unprecedented $1,519,750

With support from Merck, VLJ launches the PRIDE Name Change Program

PSEG, Gibbons P.C., McCarter & English, LLP, and VLJ win the CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award for the Veterans Legal Program’s efforts serving those who served

2025

After a successful pilot that improved staff wellbeing and increased client services by 20%, VLJ establishes a permanent four-day work week

25 Years of Access to Justice

Authored by: Jessica Limbacher, Attorney - Batchis & Nestle, LLC Former VLJ Disaster Legal Response Program Staff Attorney

On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy reshaped the New Jersey coastline and the lives of millions. It remains the costliest natural disaster in our state’s history: 2.6 million people lost power (some for weeks), 350,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 160,000 residents were displaced overnight. In the wake of the wind and water, a secondary storm arrived: a surge of complex and confusing legal issues.

As families worked to secure their basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, they were suddenly met with the bureaucracy and paperwork of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), flood insurance claims, and home improvement contracts. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) recognized that for many, the path home was blocked not by debris but by red tape

We pivoted instantly, coordinating free walk-in legal clinics across the state, and VLJ didn't show up empty-handed; we mobilized an army of advocates We trained and mentored 144 volunteers, providing them with the specialized knowledge required to navigate the unique legal landscape of disaster recovery. Together, these volunteers answered the call and donated over $1.8 million in pro bono legal services to their neighbors.

Perhaps the most surprising element of the Sandy recovery was just how long it took. Years after the clouds cleared, neighbors and community members across the Garden State were still fighting, including homeowners who faced clawbacks from state grant programs and stalled repairs from dishonest contractors. Realizing the ongoing need, VLJ’s Disaster Legal Response Program continued providing services through 2023, eleven years after Sandy’s initial landfall.

Our work following Superstorm Sandy speaks to VLJ’s twenty-five years of ensuring access to justice: the ability to adapt, innovate, and tackle the most urgent needs of our community, no matter how novel the legal issue Indeed, Sandy proved that when disaster strikes, VLJ is at the ready, ensuring the law helps with recovery and doesn’t hinder it

Five years after the storm, Jessica Limbacher and VLJ joined community partners in co-authoring a report, The Long Road Home, that documented the events of Sandy, recovery efforts, and the long-term effects on the families and communities in New Jersey most impacted. Attorneys through VLJ’s Disaster Legal Response Program handled 744 cases, helping 1,117 people rebuild their lives after the storm.

“Victims of human trafficking should not be inappropriately incarcerated, fined, or penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.”

This may seem obvious, but unfortunately, these words from the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act do not reflect lived experience. Thankfully, for more than a decade, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) has been turning this aspiration into a reality for survivors in New Jersey.

Since 2015, VLJ’s New Jersey Survivors Justice Project has led the state in securing legal relief for survivors of human trafficking. VLJ co-counseled with McCarter & English, LLP to secure the first-ever vacatur win for a survivor of trafficking in New Jersey under the state’s Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection and Treatment Act. Since then, VLJ has worked with a community of dedicated volunteers to clear hundreds of criminal records for survivors. These efforts have tangible effects for clients: access to employment, stable housing, education, and financial security necessary building blocks for independence and reducing the risk of revictimization.

At the heart of VLJ’s work is the understanding criminal records often reflect coercion and duress, not culpability. Survivors are frequently compelled into illegal activities by abusers who exploit their vulnerability. Without legal remedies for criminal record clearing, these records punish survivors long after they have escaped abuse. By clearing these records, VLJ not only removes legal barriers but also reframes survivors’ identities from offenders to survivors Survivors who deserve justice.

Beyond individual cases, VLJ pursues systemic change through legislative advocacy. Working closely with community partners, VLJ drafted and advanced two major pieces of legislation impacting survivors of crime:

In2022,withtheNJCoalitionAgainstHumanTrafficking,expandedconvictionseligiblefor vacaturandenhancedprivacyprotectionsofcourtfilings.

In2025,alongsidetheNJCoalitiontoEndDomesticViolence,passedNewJersey’sSurvivors JusticeAct,whichallowscourtstoconsiderabuseasamitigatingfactorinsentencingand enablesresentencingforthosealreadyconvicted.Broadenedexpungementreliefforsurvivors ofdomesticviolencewasalsoincludedinthenewlaw.

By clearing records and reshaping legal narratives, VLJ staff and volunteers affirm survivors’ experiences, restore opportunity, and uphold justice.

Emily Abbott • Carmen Abrazado

Natasha Alvarado • Yvette Alvarez-Perez

Abena Armah-Gakpo • Antonio Arthurs

Robert Ayes • Sylvia Ayler

Samantha Baccaro

Mia Banks • Brandon Bannock

Jennifer Barros Maza

Alyssa

Rachel Beeman • Ruchi Behera

Zachary Berliner

Andrew Bernstein

Cynthia Betz • Brian Biglin

Theresa Borghi

Mariel Belanger

Sydney Binkley

Jonathan Born

Jessica Brennan • Samuel Brickfield

Sofia Camara

Jason Camilo

Samantha Caraballo

Elizabeth Carbone

Suzanne Carter • Becky Caruso • Caitlin Cascino

Frank Catalina • Mustafa Cetin • Eric Chafetz

Carlucci

Andrew Alessandro

Joshua Allen

Argul

Tara Auciello

Peter Balsamo

Bianka Barraza

Mary Bessemer

Bonsall

Connor Bradley

Ana Caquias

Benedict Carmicino • Suzanne Carroll

David Cassidy

Ajay Chandru

Reid Caster • Bryan Castro

Jennifer Chapman • Anwesha Chatterjee Ross Childs

Alvin Chin

Since 2001, our volunteers have donated time equal to approximately 3,648 days or nearly 10 years of service!

Deangeor Chin • Christine Ciano • Laura Cicirelli

Zachary Cimring

Carley Clark • Christine Clark • Debra Clark • Kristine Clark

Robert Cini • Brittany Clark

Melissa Clarke • Diane Claussen • Erica Clifford

Ann Clogan • Gregory Coates • Anna Laurie Cocuzzo • Sarah Cole • Crystal Colindres • Terrene Collins

Ida Colon-Perez • Michael Conforti • Genna Conti • Patrick Conti • Nomi Conway • Deirdre Cooney

Rafael Corbalan • James Corcoran • Corey Roe • Caitlyn Coyle • Christopher Cozzens • Danielle Craft

David Cramer • James Crowder • Jason Dailey • Daniel D'Alessandro • Natalie Dallavalle • Brian Daly

Elvira Daniel • Rachel Dansky • Alyssa D'Antonio • Bernadette Darcy • Deana Davis • Wilbert "Wil" Davis

Amma D'Earamo • Lucia DeCaito • Lauren DeCamp • Thomas J DeCataldo Jr • Kathleen DeCelie

Laura DeCotiis • Valeria Del Rosario • Erica Rae Del Valle • Sam Della Fera Jr • Lisa Dellamura • Linda Dennis

Anna D'Eramo • Sneha Desai • Michael DeSimone • Kerdesha Desir • Bailey Desmond • John Diamandis

Alexandra DiFusco • Benjamin DiLorenzo • Joseph DiPasquale • Karyllan Dodson Mack • Thomas F. Doherty

Sonya Dombrowski • Tina Donohoe • Gigi Dotel • Alyssa Drazin • Paul Dritsas • Malene Duncan • Allison Dunn

Melek Dunn • Hannah Duus • Nick Ebel • Karen Edler • Joshua Elias • LaDeen Ellis • Kieran Ensor

Jennifer Eppensteiner • Natalie Erickson • Sabrina Espinal • Cesar Martin Estella • Jack Ewing Jr.

Cheryl Faber • Robbie Fair • Michael Fasciale • Misbahul Fatima • Danielle Federico • Stephanie Feingold

Jack Feinstein

• Brad Feldman • Brett Feldman • Travis J. Ferguson • Camila Fernandez Llorente

Steven Fernandez • Frank Ferruggia • Breanna Fields • Anna Finger • Alysia Finnegan • Caroline Fish

Catherine Fitch • Jonathan Fitzgerald • Robert Flanagan • Suzanne Flaton-Origenes • Jessica Formichella

Karen Francis • Calafia Franco Jaramillo • Brian Frankoski • Taylor Frazier

Naomi Lerner

Cheryl Lin

Alexandra Litvin

Kelly Lloyd Lankford

Karina Lucid • Abigail Luhn • Ilana Lutman • Jacqueline Lydic

Megan Lyons • Jessica Macarone

Cameron MacLeod

Joseph Lubertazzi

Erin Lynch

Natalie Lucciola

Michael Lynch • Thomas Lynch

Ryan Magee • Julie Maher • Mark Makhail

Lauren Malakoff • Daniel Manley • Lauren Mann • Brittany Manna • Natalie Marfo • Sarah Margolis

Stephen Marietta • Suzanne Marineau • Greggory Marootian • Caryn Marshall • Andrew Marzullo

Meghan Mastracchio • Kristine Maurer • Lauren Mauro • Joann Mazur Kielblock • Scott McBride

Cecelia McCloud • Emily McConville • Jacqueline McDonald • Sumy McEleney • Kyle McEvilly

Susan McGahan • Julia McGowan • Ryan McGrantham • Maryann McGrath • Patrick McGuinness

Lamar Mckenzie • Maurice McLaughlin • Keith McManus • Kenneth McPherson • George Meggali

Alayna Mejias • Andrew Meltzer • Sean Memon • Eric Merenstein • Zoraida Michaud • Justin Mignogna

Eva Miller • Zachary Miller • Kira Mineroff • Alan Modlinger • Veronica Montagna • Vincent Montalto

Khari Moore • Iraniss Morel-Dziengeleski • Alexander Morgenstern • Danielle Morrison • Alison Morrissey

Karen Murphy • Richard Myslinski • Maithreyi Nandagopalan • Michael Naughton • Kayla Naveda

Leigh Anne Noone • Mark E. Norgaard • Asia Norton • Benjamin David Novak • Keith Odoherty

Jake O'Donnell • Brittani Ojogho-Fields • Susan Okin Goldsmith • Thomas O'Leary • Stephanie Olivio

Ade Oremosu • Sealtiel Ortega-Rodriguez • Kevin O'Toole • Tonia Ouellette Klausner • Eric Padilla

Tanya Pahwa • Mary Frances Palisano • Michelle Pallak

Kelly Ann Panno • Denise Panzer • Michael Papandrea • Mahsa Parangi • Nigeria Parrott

Malory Pascarella • Joseph Pasquale • Anish Patel • Kishan Patel • Mili Patel • Peena Patel • Sylvia Pearl

Kaori Pell • Gabrielle Pelura • Cesarina Pena Trabous • Erica Peralta

Eric Perkins • Nicola Perzichilli • Adriana Peters

David Posner • Nechama Potasnick • Danielle Prebor • Stacy Puleo

Gigi Quatrone • Peter Quinn • Alexander Raap • Harley Raff

Jacqueline Reich • Jarred Reiling • Denise Rekem • Colleen Restel

Brenda Ribadeneyra • Stephanie Ricardo-Leff

Laurie Robinson • Cliff Roca • Carissa L Rodrigue

Danielle Roman • Joseph Romano

Gavin Pereira • Martin Pereya

Porro

Michael A Puzyk • Shahzad Qadri

Cindy Redling • Patrick Rehfuss

Taylor Reynolds • Thomas Rezach

Patrick Riley

Maritza Rodríguez

Han Lin Rong

Asad Rizvi

Liam Rogan • Jackie Rojas

Rosamond

Kendra Rosario • Sandra Rosenband • Zachary Rosenberg • Thomas Rowland • Barry J. Roy

Jacqueline Shanes • Anapam Sharma

Justin Silverberg • Marc Silverman

Jacob Shulman

Stacey Slater • Susan Smalley • Diane Smith • Michelle Smith • Larissa Sneathern • Adam Soliman

Catherine Soliman • Kiran Somashekara • Alyssa Spector • Michael Spinello • Maria Stamatos

Alexander Steinberg • Philip Stern • Mark Stignani • John Stoelker • Dan Stone • Kaitlyn E Stone

Jason Storipan • Alex Storzillo • William Strauss • Rebecca Striplet • Yarissa Subervi • Nicole Sullivan

Thomas Sullivan • Sushanth Sunil • Jillian Szymonifka • Katherine Taggart • Amani Taha

Penelope Taylor • Monica Taylor-Countryman • Dianne Telesford-Gibbs • Lindsey Temes • Loren Terry

Elizabeth Thomas • Joan Thomas • Nanette Thomas • Natilie Thomas • Valeria Thomas

Cristina Thrasher • Javier Tirado • Paola Toro • Stacey Torres • Matthew Trevisani • Louise Trezza

Catherine Trinkle • Stacie Trott • Kevin Turner • Sabina Valle • Elizabeth Van Etten

Aaron Van Nostrand • Christopher Vanderwolk • Zuma Velasquez • Edward Velky • Elizabeth Vengen

Nicole Virella • Nicco Vocaturo • Meredith Walsh • Nari Wang • Julie Warshaw • Anya Wasserman

Kevin Weber • Samantha Weckenman • Eric Weinstock • Steven H. Weisman • Catherine Weiss

Marc Wenner • Danielle Weslock • Taylor West • Ethan Whitaker • Ashleigh White • Brenda Widman

Myrna L. Wigod • Jeffrey J. Wild • Keien Williams • Brian Wilton • Matthew Windman • Jen Winter

Lori Wolfe • Mauro Wol William Wright R

VLJ is powered by the work of volunteers, and we are grateful to the 633 volunteers who generously shared their time and talent in 2025 to ensure access to justice.

For 25 years of volunteers, scan the QR code or visit: vljnj.org/25-years-of-vlj

For twenty-five years, the partnership between Merck & Co., Inc. and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) has defined what sustained, meaningful corporate pro bono engagement can achieve. Since VLJ’s founding in 2001, Merck has stood as our longest-running corporate partner, helping to expand access to justice for tens of thousands of underserved New Jerseyans

The relationship began in a moment of crisis. Just months after VLJ opened our doors, the 9/11 attacks reshaped the nation. Merck attorneys were among the first to step forward, providing urgent legal assistance to survivors and their families. That early commitment became the foundation of a 25-year collaboration rooted in service, innovation, and impact.

Over the years, Merck has embedded pro bono into its institutional culture. Its legal department has supported nearly every facet of VLJ’s programming, including the Debt Relief Legal Program, Divorce Program, Disaster Legal Response Program, Veterans Legal Program, ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, and New Jersey Survivors Justice Project. During the 2008 financial crisis, Merck helped pioneer VLJ’s bankruptcy program, recruiting in-house attorneys to represent clients overwhelmed by debt and later expanding participation across the legal community.

Merck has also consistently paired volunteerism with transformative financial support. In addition to generous yearly support, Merck has stepped in during times of acute crisis, such as Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide additional funding so VLJ can help more clients address their pressing legal needs

The Legacy of Mark Daniel

respond immediately after 9/11, helping launch a decades-long commitment that has since expanded access to justice for thousands. His vision not only strengthened VLJ’s mission but also helped redefine the role of in-house counsel in pro bono service. Though he passed in 2020, his legacy continues to guide and inspire this enduring partnership.

More recently, Merck has continued to lead with forward-thinking initiatives, partnering with VLJ to launch the PRIDE Name Change Program. This effort has already helped nearly 100 individuals secure legal names that authentically reflect who they are, an essential step toward safety, dignity, and inclusion in every aspect of daily life.

Through every chapter, Merck has set a high bar for corporate pro bono leadership, demonstrating how sustained commitment, strategic innovation, and deep community partnership can transform lives and strengthen access to justice

Financial support gives force to VLJ’s mission. Although our legal services are free to those in need, the work of managing a statewide pro bono program requires real resources. Thanks to our donors, grantors, and supporters, we can continue providing civil legal help that protects rights, expands opportunity, drives economic mobility, and strengthens communities.

$100,000+

The IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey **

Merck & Co. **

New Jersey State Bar Foundation

Prudential Financial **

State of New Jersey **

The Tepper Foundation **

$50,000-$99,999

Community Foundation of New Jersey

FurtherJustice *

McCarter & English, LLP **

Panasonic Corporation of North America **

PSEG Foundation **

South Ward Promise Neighborhood **

$25,000-$49,999

AT&T Services, Inc **

Barnes & Thornburg LLP *

BASF Corporation **

David Bershad and Mindy Cohen **

Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. **

FBT Gibbons LLP (formerly Gibbons P.C.) **

Michael Griffinger **

Lowenstein Sandler LLP **

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP **

RBC Wealth Management **

Walsh Pizzi O'Reilly Falanga LLP **

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP **

$10,000-$24,999

American College of Bankruptcy Foundation **

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP *

Carole Balin

Susan Bershad

Cleary Gottlieb *

Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC **

Columbia Bank **

Cravath, Swaine & Moore

Donald Cussen

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP *

Dentons US LLP **

DLA Piper **

Duane Morris

Eisai USA Foundation **

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP **

$10,000-$24,999 cont.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer *

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher **

Greenberg Traurig *

The Hyde & Watson Foundation

Jewish Women's Foundation of NJ

Kirkland & Ellis LLP **

Timothy Law

Leader Berkon Colao & Silverstein LLP **

Linklaters

McGuireWoods LLP **

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius **

Notaboat Fund **

O'Melveny & Myers LLP

Orkila Management, LLC

Pfizer *

Stacey Slater Sacks **

Eric Schwimmer and Alyce Gottesman **

Turrell Fund **

Venable LLP

Verizon **

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz *

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Winston & Strawn LLP **

Amy Woltman **

$5,000-$9,999

Baker McKenzie *

Bates White

Beveridge & Diamond PC *

Butler Snow LLP *

Clifford Chance US LLP

Cole Schotz

Consilio, LLC **

d'Arcambal Quesada Malyk Peters & Creed LLP

Sneha and Anand Desai **

Joseph DiPrima **

Epiq Fisher Phillips **

Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman LLP *

Gann Law Books **

Christine Gannon

Consecutive Years of Giving * indicates 3-5 years ** indicates 6 or more years

$5,000-$9,999 cont.

Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP *

Mala Ahuja Harker *

Innovative Driven

Nicholas Insua **

Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore LLC **

K&L Gates

King & Spalding **

Tonia Ouellette Klausner *

Latham & Watkins *

Levin-Goffe Family Foundation

Littleton Joyce Ughetta Park & Kelly LLP

NJM Insurance Group **

Tricia and John O'Reilly **

Ogletree Deakins

Open Banks

Jennifer Prioleau **

Reed Smith LLP *

Seyfarth Shaw LLP *

Stevens & Lee *

Kaitlyn E Stone and David DeStefano **

T-Mobile

Wilson Sonsini Foundation

Wong Fleming *

$2,500-$4,999

AbbVie *

Barnes, Richardson & Coburn *

William Bershad

Paul Fishman *

Catherine Fitch **

Michael Golden **

Roberto Gonzalez

Richard Hamilton

Michael Hyun

Cathy Keenan and John Larson **

Jaclyn Kramer and Frank Molfetta **

Kelly and Chess Lankford **

Adeel Mangi

Judith McCarthy **

Howard and Peggy Menaker **

Frank Monaco

MultiState *

Jigisha Patel

Jeffrey and Beth Shapiro **

Spring Brook Country Club Foundation

Nicole Sullivan

Cathy Trinkle **

Troutman Pepper

Sonja Weissman *

Melissa Wernick **

Westbrook Foundation * Wiley Rein LLP *

$1,000-$2,499

Nestor Almeida Archer & Greiner

Baker, Sterchi, Cowden & Rice * RoseAnn Baska

Stephen and Jeri Bier

Blueprint Trial Consulting Brach Eichler LLC * Bristol Myers Squibb * Catholic Family and Community

Services *

Peter Chapman

Matthew Clements **

Alexander Cochran

Community Hope, Inc.

Daniel D'Alessandro

Dell, Inc. **

Sima Desai

Tejas Desai

Wendy Feldman

John Finlay *

Bobby Flanagan

Melissa Geist *

Hartmann Doherty Rosa Berman & Bulbulia, LLP

Christina Hawkes

Jessica Hodkinson ** Matthew Holian *

Day * Emily A. Kaller **

Karp

The Katherine Lindsay Howell Fund *

Keenan **

Klar

Krovatin

Kushner **

Levin *

Lewin George McDonald * Jodi Moskowitz

Tracy Nelson

Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P C

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P C **

Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP

Karen and Eric Sacks

Tracey Salmon-Smith *

Dave Schneider

John Schreiber **

Ellen Rader Smith **

Smolin, Lupin & Co

Sobel Tinari Economics Group

Kiran Somashekara

$1,000-$2,499 cont.

Ronnie Stern ** Strategic Wealth Solutions Group Stryker Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader P.C. Veritext * John Wellschlager **

$250-$999

Julia Acevedo

AdvanSix Inc Charity

Custodial Account

Association of Corporate Counsel NJ

Francine Aster

Colm Atkins *

Pierre Avalos

Libuse Bajgerova *

Penina Barr

Bask Wellness, LLC

Mariel Belanger * Marianne Benevenia **

Steven Berlin

Mary Bessemer **

Brian Biglin

Jonathan Blank

Chris Borello

Adam Bottner

Gerhard Buehning

David Camuzo

William Carlucci * Caitlin Cascino ** Catalent Pharma Solutions

Joseph Cosentino

Christine Coward

John Davidoff

Yvette Donaldson

Eckert Seamans

Jennifer Eppensteiner

Mitchell Epstein

Marianne Espinosa

Stephen Falanga

Paul Fehlner

Stephanie Feingold **

Harris Fischman

Pamela Fishman

Jessica Formichella

Juliet Forte **

Andrew Frey

Christina Gaarder

Katie Gannon

Shannon Gillooly

Samidh

Named

Karen B. Sacks Lifetime Giving Society

2025FINANCIALSTATEMENT*

Your Support. Empowered Justice.

$974,723

$970,542

$466,538

$326,521

$56,201

$2,794,525

$2,200,000

$49,500

Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC

Family Law Software

Hananwill Credit

Counseling

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

McCarter & English, LLP

Panasonic Corp of North America

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Sneha Desai, Esq., Chair Chief Legal Counsel, Global Litigation & Employment, Stryker

Judith McCarthy, Esq., Vice Chair Attorney, Cheshire Law Group

Matthew Clements, Treasurer Senior Vice President, Columbia Bank

Kaitlyn E. Stone, Esq., Secretary Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Daniel D’Alessandro, Esq. Partner, McCarter & English, LLP

Jennifer Eppensteiner, Esq. Counsel, Reed Smith, LLP

Wendy Feldman, Esq. Vice President, Regulatory Intelligence and Compliance, Hippo Insurance

Catherine Fitch, Esq. Managing Counsel, Patents, Merck

Michael Golden, Esq. Asst. VP-Senior Legal Counsel, AT&T

Mala Ahuja Harker, Esq. Partner, Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP

Cathy Keenan, JD (ex officio) Executive Director, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

Kelly Lloyd Lankford, Esq. Senior Counsel, Commercial Litigation, AbbVie

Naju R. Lathia, Esq. Attorney, Day Pitney, LLP

Howard Menaker, Esq.

Jodi Moskowitz, Esq. Vice President, Regulatory Law, Deputy General Counsel, PSEG

Tricia O’Reilly, Esq. Partner, Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP

Jennifer Prioleau, Esq. Of Counsel, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

Tracey Salmon-Smith, Esq. Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Eric Schwimmer, Esq. Senior Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw

Stacey Slater, Esq. President and Founder, Pro Bono Strategies

Catherine A Trinkle, Esq VP and Deputy General Counsel, BASF

Kevin Weber, Esq. Partner, FBT Gibbons LLP

Melissa F. Wernick, Esq. Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC

Amy Woltman, Esq. Head of Legal and Compliance for Japan, Prudential Financial

EMERITUS TRUSTEES

David J. Bershad

Michael R. Griffinger, Esq.

GENERATION NOW COMMITTEE

Generation Now Committee members are early-career professionals (less than 12 years out of school) who are passionate about VLJ’s mission and giving back in a meaningful way.

Abigail M. Luhn, Esq., Co-Chair Associate, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC

Brandon Lee Wolff, Esq., Co-Chair Solo Practitioner

Brandon DeJesus, Esq. Associate, Dasti & Staiger, P C

Yvette Donaldson, Esq. Associate, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC

Robert Holup, Esq. Associate, Riker Danzig LLP

Jordynn Jackson, Esq. Associate, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

Lauren B. Jones, Esq. Associate, Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins

Leonard V. Jones, Esq. Associate, Jackson Lewis P C

Thomas Zelante, Esq. Associate, Barnes & Thornburg LLP