The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is providing grant funding to nine New Jersey-based nonprofit organizations to fund summer law associates. Grant funding from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation gives nonprofit organizations opportunities to engage law students who are passionate about public service. While working for a host nonprofit organization this summer, law students will develop advocacy and other legal skills.
“These grants help bridge the gap between law school and law practice through real-world experience,” NJSBF President Ralph Lamparello said. “Law students learn from substantive legal work and mentorship while making a difference for the community.”
The work and projects to be performed by the summer associates include working with the nonprofit’s attorneys to prepare cases, creating community educational materials, working with youth who face discrimination in housing, and providing representation to victims of domestic violence and age discrimination.
“The New Jersey State Bar Foundation Summer Associate grant has had a meaningful impact on our summer intern program by allowing us to take on and compensate future public interest lawyers,” said Elizabeth Osley, ACLU-NJ Legal Department Manager. “Our program offers law students the opportunity to serve the public in the nonprofit community and compensating them for their work is important equitable progress that simultaneously supports access to the public interest field and the development of essential advocacy and legal skills.”
“As a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to providing legal advocacy and representation to low-income New Jersey residents with disabilities, chronic health conditions and the frail elderly, we are pleased to teach the importance of pro bono legal services to law students through the summer associate,” said Erika Kerber, Community Health Law Project president and executive director. “Every Summer Associate who works at CHLP leaves with an appreciation for the work we do and a desire to continue in some way after graduating from law school.”
The nonprofit organizations that have received funding for summer associates include:
- American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey
- Community Health Law Project
- Covenant House New Jersey
- Disability Rights New Jersey
- Jewish Family Services of MetroWest New Jersey
- New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children
- Make the Road New Jersey
- SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
The NJSBF Summer Associate grant program is made possible through funding from 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.
Originally published March 9, 2026
Bar Report of the New Jersey State Bar Association