VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE TO HOLD FREE LEGAL AID CLINICS FOR N.J. VICTIMS OF SUPERSTORM SANDY IN MONMOUTH COUNTY

In September
and October, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) will continue holding free
legal aid clinics in Monmouth County for New Jersey residents dealing with
legal issues directly related to Superstorm Sandy. The clinics are part of
VLJ’s Disaster Legal Response Program
(DLRP), which also includes extended representation and a statewide hotline.
Clinics will take place at the Brookdale Community College-Hazlet Campus at One
Crown Plaza in Hazlet on the following Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; September 6, October 4, and October
18.

At these free legal clinics,
VLJ’s volunteer attorneys provide counsel, advice and/or limited scope
assistance to participants. Matters often include insurance, housing, or
landlord/tenant issues, contractor disputes, and FEMA appeals. Volunteers at
the clinics have included attorneys from McCarter & English LLP, Patton
Boggs LLP, UBS, Citi, Duane Morris LLP, Gibbons PC, Jackson Lewis LLP, and
Morgan Lewis. Clinic participants should bring all relevant documents, such as
correspondence with FEMA, insurance policies and correspondence with insurers,
mortgages and recent mortgage statements, and leases and correspondence with
landlords.

Clinics are also being held in
Bergen, Hudson and Ocean Counties. A regularly updated list of clinic dates is
available at www.vljnj.org.

All victims
of the storm with legal issues in New Jersey, regardless of their income and
assets, are eligible to meet with a volunteer attorney at the legal clinic for
advice and/or brief service. Clinic participants needing extended

representation are screened for financial eligibility. Generally, a family of

four must have an annual income that is less than $71,000. Applicants will also

be asked questions about the value of their assets. VLJ will attempt to locate

a volunteer attorney to take on full representation of the client’s legal
issue.

VLJ’s DLRP
also includes a statewide hotline – (855) 301-2525 – staffed by volunteer
attorneys, VLJ staff, and law students. Intake staff is available to answer
calls on Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will screen cases for
potential placement with volunteer lawyers. Callers may also leave a message on
the hotline after hours and receive a prompt call-back from a VLJ volunteer or
staff member to address their issues.

VLJ is a state-wide 501 not-for-profit
corporation based in Newark. VLJ provides comprehensive legal services to
economically disadvantaged adults, children, and families in New Jersey to
ensure fair and equal treatment within the legal system. Programs include free
legal counsel and advice, educational seminars on various legal matters, and
direct representation for at-risk individuals facing critical civil legal
issues.