VLJ's Gina Devito, Esq., Speaks on "Effective Legal Advocacy for Reentry After Conviction"

DeVito Leads VLJ's Newark Reentry Legal Services
By: Amy Rohrbeck
 
March 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Gina DeVito, Esq., managing attorney of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice's Newark Reentry Legal Services (ReLeSe), recently served as a panel member on an "Effective Legal Advocacy for Reentry After Conviction or Incarceration" seminar at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. This continuing legal education program was sponsored by the law school's Eric R. Neisser Public Interest Program and the Institute for Professional Education.

At the program, DeVito and her fellow panelists offered an in-depth look at the legal challenges faced by individuals with criminal records and discussed the skills legal practitioners need to address these issues. They also detailed how reentry services such as driver's license restoration, expungement, and child support modification can help individuals become employed and once again begin contributing to their families - and the community - after a conviction or period of incarceration. VLJ's ReLeSe assists Essex County residents with criminal records with these types of civil legal issues among others.

DeVito (on left) is pictured with panelists Todd Berger (center), managing attorney for the Federal Prisoner Reentry Project at Rutgers School of Law-Camden, and the Honorable Patricia K. Costello (on right), assignment judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey - Essex Vicinage. The distinguished panel also included Ingrid Johnson, chair of the Newark Reentry Advisory Board, Akil Roper, supervising attorney, Prisoner Reentry Project, Legal Services of New Jersey, and Taja-Nia Henderson, assistant professor, Rutgers School of Law-Newark.

Since its founding in 2001, VLJ has grown from a grass roots effort of 30 volunteer attorneys in Essex County to a state-wide not-for-profit with five staff attorneys and more than 1,500 volunteer attorneys aiding thousands of economically-disadvantaged clients each year. In addition to ReLeSe, VLJ's wide range of 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.

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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ): Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (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. Established in 2001, VLJ has grown from a grass roots effort of 30 volunteer attorneys in Essex County to a state-wide 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with five staff attorneys and more than 1,500 volunteer attorneys providing free legal services to thousands of clients each year.
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Source:Amy Rohrbeck
Email:***@caryl.com Email Verified
Zip:07102
Tags:Legal Assistance, Pro Bono, Education
Industry:Legal
Location:Newark - New Jersey - United States
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