NEWARK, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is pleased to announce that its gala, Uniting for Justice: Celebrating 25 Years, held this past Tuesday, October 6 at The Park Savoy Estate, saw over 300 people come together to celebrate a meaningful milestone: VLJ’s 25th anniversary.

Since its founding in 2001, VLJ has grown from a small Newark-based organization into a statewide legal services nonprofit mobilizing volunteers to work alongside staff to address the civil legal needs of neighbors and community members. The evening celebrated that history while looking ahead to VLJ’s next 25 years of protecting rights, expanding opportunity, driving economic mobility, and strengthening communities. The gala was a joyful celebration of the spirit that has powered VLJ’s mission for a quarter century, with the funds raised being an important investment in VLJ’s efforts providing free civil legal services to thousands of New Jersey residents each year.

“Volunteer Lawyers for Justice has witnessed several events throughout its history that have tested our community’s resolve, from the 9/11 terrorist attacks mere months after VLJ’s founding, to the Great Recession, Superstorm Sandy, and the COVID-19 Pandemic. This year’s gala celebrates 25 years of people coming together around the belief that justice is a transformative force for good, and most importantly, that justice is a right and not a privilege,” said Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director. “Everything VLJ has accomplished over the past quarter century has been possible because of our extraordinary community of volunteers, supporters, partners, staff, and clients. The success of this year’s gala helps ensure we can build on that legacy and continue meeting the evolving civil legal needs of our neighbors across New Jersey for years to come.”

Honoring Leaders in Justice

The gala also served as an opportunity to recognize honorees that embody both the spirit of pro bono and 25 years of access to justice:

• Paulette Brown with the Partner in Justice Award — applauding her decades spent raising the bar on the legal profession, expanding access to justice, and advancing equity and opportunity in the law.
• FBT Gibbons LLP with the Champion of Justice Award — celebrating the firm’s exceptional leadership and excellence in advancing access to justice through pro bono service.
• McCarter & English, LLP with the Legacy of Justice Award — honoring the firm’s from-day-one partnership with VLJ and its invaluable contributions to VLJ’s mission throughout the organization’s history.
• Prudential Financial with the Community Vision Award — recognizing its commitment to innovatively responding to community needs, setting a “gold standard” for corporate pro bono, and longstanding support of access to justice.
• Caitlin P. Cascino of Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP with the 2026 Michael R. Griffinger Volunteer of the Year Award.
• Stephanie Ricardo-Leff of Merck with the 2026 Outstanding Advocate for Justice Award.

VLJ also celebrated six above-and-beyond volunteers as its 2026 Defenders of Justice:

• Ana Caquias, McCarter & English, LLP
• Carley Clark, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
• Manny Garcia, Prudential Financial
• Danielle Imbemba, Audible
• Cheryl Lin, Cheryl Lin Law, LLC
• Chris Vanderwolk, Vanderwolk Law LLC

For 25 years, VLJ’s impact has been built on people and partnerships: staff working alongside volunteers, law firms and corporations investing in their communities, supporters making the work possible, and clients trusting VLJ to stand beside them during some of the most consequential moments of their lives.
The generosity and dedication celebrated this week will directly translate into accessible legal services for New Jersey residents facing eviction, overwhelming debt, barriers created by a criminal record, unmet educational needs, and other civil legal challenges that exacerbate poverty and community instability. As VLJ begins its next quarter century, the organization extends its deepest gratitude to the sponsors, honorees, volunteers, supporters, staff, and friends who made this celebration possible—and to everyone who has been a part of VLJ’s first 25 years of taking cases and changing lives.

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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ)

Based in Newark, NJ, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is an award-winning organization that partners with volunteers to deliver free civil legal help that protects rights, expands opportunity, drives economic mobility, and strengthens communities. Guided by the principle that justice is a right, not a privilege, VLJ envisions a New Jersey where people experiencing poverty have equal access to justice.

Since 2001, VLJ has handled more than 17,400 legal cases impacting over 38,000 neighbors and community members across New Jersey and beyond. This record-breaking level of service was made possible by our experienced staff and more than 2,500 committed volunteers who donated 87,565 hours—equivalent to nearly 10 years of service—valued at $30.9 million. To learn more, please visit vljnj.org.