At VLJ, our mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. VLJ’s staff and trustees drafted an ambitious mission that doesn’t set out to merely provide free legal services, but to ensure access to justice. Our mission focuses on people experiencing poverty, stressing that poverty can be (and should be) transitory. We believe that legal services have the ability to effectuate profound change, including economic stability and prosperity. VLJ mobilizes volunteers to work alongside staff to address critical legal needs across New Jersey, advancing racial, social, and economic justice for the most vulnerable members of our community. VLJ was founded in 2001 to provide direct legal services to the residents of Essex County, New Jersey. We started with one staff person and a great idea to partner with volunteers to provide free legal help to people in need. Over twenty years since our creation, VLJ is now an award-winning statewide pro bono leader with 21 staff people, a panel of over 1,700 volunteers, and hundreds of donors all working together to ensure that justice is available to everyone, regardless of their income. At VLJ, collaboration is key and we make a much larger impact because of our community of supporters, who help us to “Take Cases and Change Lives” every day. Please get involved with the exciting work taking place at VLJ by volunteering, donating, signing up for our newsletter, or following us on social media.