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At a recent Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) Board of Trustees meeting, board officer elections were held, ushering in a new era of leadership dedicated to expanding access to justice for communities experiencing poverty across New Jersey. Sneha Desai, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel, Global Litigation & Employment at Stryker, was elected Chair of the Board.
Joining Sneha is Judith McCarthy, Esq., Attorney at Cheshire Law Group, who was elected Vice Chair. Matthew Clements, Senior Vice President at Columbia Bank, and Kaitlyn E. Stone, Esq., Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, will continue in their roles as Treasurer and Secretary, respectively.
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Cathy Keenan, VLJ's Executive Director, expressed her enthusiasm for the new leadership. "We are thrilled to welcome Sneha Desai as our new Board Chair and Judith McCarthy as Vice Chair. Their leadership, combined with the continued contributions of Matthew Clements and Kaitlyn Stone, creates a powerful team that will guide VLJ into its next chapter of growth and service. Their collective expertise and commitment to pro bono will be invaluable as we strive to meet the ever-growing civil legal needs across New Jersey."
VLJ extends its deepest gratitude to outgoing Board Chair, Tricia O’Reilly, for her many years of transformative leadership.
| | An Update on VLJ's 4-Day Work Week | | |
In 2024, VLJ took a bold step in piloting a 4-Day Work Week (4DWW), challenging the status quo in the legal profession to boost well-being and fight burnout.
The transition to a 4DWW required rethinking how we work, a challenge we embraced with guidance from 4 Day Week Global. We streamlined internal meetings, made communications more efficient, and carved out daily time for focused, independent work. Clear communication with clients, volunteers, partners, and funders ensured uninterrupted service, with an emergency coverage plan on Fridays. To measure our success, we tracked key data points, checked in regularly with staff, and partnered with researchers at Boston College.
Many wondered how a legal office could pull it off, but we focused on working smarter, not just longer. The results? A resounding success!
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📈 We exceeded ALL service targets:
• New cases opened: +20%
• Cases completed: +15%
• Volunteer engagement: +12%
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No disruption to client services, no impact on funding, decreased burnout, and increased staff retention! Our team is refreshed and ready to continue fighting for justice. As one staff member put it, "The 4DWW has been life-changing."
Because of this success, our board unanimously voted to continue the 4DWW while monitoring progress, collecting feedback, and refining the model throughout the year. We're proving that prioritizing our team's well-being ensures we can keep providing access to justice for the long term.
| | Ensuring Economic Security | | |
Being sued can be scary. Being sued for a debt you don’t owe can be even scarier (and frustrating). As part of VLJ’s Debt Relief Legal Program (DRLP), we help community members respond to debt collection actions—especially those when the debt isn’t owed or the creditor hasn’t proved they own the debt—protecting our clients’ rights and economic security.
A recent client of VLJ’s DRLP had this to say:
“VLJ was very instrumental in helping me prepare my defense. They listened to me on Zoom meetings and advised me. They were very professional. They filed all necessary legal documents to the court on my behalf at no cost. Thanks to their advice, my case was dismissed. I am very grateful to the VLJ for helping me.
VLJ is definitely a great organization helping people who cannot afford legal representation in the court of law. Without VLJ I would have been an innocent victim. So, please keep up the good work and thank you for your time and efforts helping people like me.”
| | Because how we do justice matters. | | Join us on Tuesday, October 7, at The Park Savoy Estate for an evening celebrating the power of working together to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. | | VLJ's June 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Morris "Mo" Bauer | | |
VLJ's June 2025 Volunteer of the Month is Morris “Mo” Bauer, a partner in the Business Reorganization & Financial Restructuring Practice Group at Duane Morris LLP.
Mo’s journey with VLJ began in 2021 when he sought a pro bono opportunity that aligned with his expertise in bankruptcy, having previously felt "out of place" with assignments outside his specialization. He found his perfect fit with VLJ and quickly became deeply involved—generously donating more than $40,575 in free legal services to date—starting with twice-monthly bankruptcy interviews, progressing to handling individual Chapter 7 representations, and later assisting Rutgers Law-Newark students through the Stern Program.
Mo consistently expresses admiration for VLJ's exceptional organization, adeptness, and responsiveness in addressing individuals' financial distress, from initial intake to conclusion. He noted how VLJ's comprehensive services, including referrals to outside resources for food, utility, and rent assistance, and its direct legal representation for debt collection, evictions, and bankruptcies, truly serve those in need.
| | New Faces, Rising Stars: VLJ Staff Updates | | | | Dave Singer - Staff Attorney | In June, Dave joined VLJ as the newest staff attorney in our Tenancy Program. Dave has dedicated his career toward advancing the rights of tenants and the unhoused, most recently at The Legal Aid Society where he represented Bronx residents in eviction defense proceedings, conditions-related cases, and subsidy termination hearings. | | |
Dave received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law. Dave previously served as a member of the New York City Bar Association's Housing Court Committee.
Dave speaks Spanish and enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and spending time with his family.
| | Hot Off the Digital Press: VLJ's Pro Bono Blog | | Are you an aspiring legal blogger? Then consider writing for VLJ's pro bono blog! Email Eric W. Hughes, VLJ's Director of Communications, to learn more. | | | | VLJ's pro bono blog is generously supported by 9Sail. | | Support Access to Justice | | Opportunities to Sponsor VLJ Events and Pro Bono Programming | | |
Sponsor and Supporter Recognition
Thank you to our recent grantors, first-time corporate supporters, and major individual donors!
| | Ensuring Access to Justice for People Experiencing Poverty | | Connect with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice | | | | |
