Three New Jersey nonprofit organizations received grants from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation to fund a post-graduate law fellow who will work with the organization on public interest legal matters and develop advocacy and other skills.
“We created this new grant program to help nonprofits provide law-related education as well as legal and community support through year-long fellowships,” said Foundation Secretary Katrina Homel, who is chair of the Foundation’s Task Force on Fellowship Development. “Each fellow will work on a project for the nonprofit that has an educational component, addresses multiple areas of need and aligns with the Foundation’s law-related education mission.”
Here is what this year’s Law Fellows shared about the opportunity:
Elias Bull, Rutgers Law School – Newark ‘24, will join Make the Road New Jersey to work on community education and group litigation to protect and support immigrant and low-income tenants in seek of safe living conditions.
“I am proud to be an NJSBF Law Fellow and have the opportunity to work for the betterment of New Jersey. I am committed to improving housing in the state of New Jersey. I believe stable, affordable, quality housing should be the rule and available to everyone regardless of wealth or immigration status. I look forward to working with Make the Road New Jersey to contribute to their successes in lifting up immigrant communities.”
Joelle Paull, Rutgers Law School – Camden ‘24, will join the Fair Share Housing Center to help address the housing shortage for New Jersey’s lowest income residents by preserving existing affordable homes, working to extend affordability controls, and to conduct outreach on the state’s affirmative marketing standards and enforcement mechanisms.
“I am excited about this opportunity to focus on preserving existing homes through deed restrictions as it intersects the fight for racial and economic justice in New Jersey. I believe that access to safe and secure housing is a fundamental right. I am looking forward to working with the Fair Share Housing Center to make it a reality for all New Jerseyans.”
Kalya Toomer, Seton Hall Law ’23, will join Volunteer Lawyers for Justice provide community education and outreach, as well as policy work and direct representation of clients who are survivors of gender-based violence, including human trafficking.
“I am committed to advocating for human and civil rights and look forward to using my legal research, writing and analysis skills through this fellowship. I am eager to work as part of the VLJ team on behalf of some of the most vulnerable members of the community. “
Funding for the NJSBF Law Fellowship grant program is made possible through the IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey. More about the New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s grants and cosponsorships can be found at cosponsor.njsbf.org.
Link to: https://njsbf.org/about-njsbf/opportunities-for-funding/cosponsorship-programs/