Sharon has dedicated over 10 years to advocating for individuals and families affected with disabilities and those in crisis. Having grown up in New York City's Chinatown with immigrant parents, Sharon understands the challenges impacting those experiencing poverty, and having language access and racial barriers. She is a staunch advocate for community justice and is especially concerned with the needs of people resettling in their communities after interaction with the criminal justice system. Sharon started as an attorney with NYC Children Services representing children experiencing neglect and abuse. Re-launching the Urban Justice Center’s Parents with Psychiatric Disability Legal Advocacy Program, Sharon provided legal representation to parents with disabilities in family court. After joining LSNWJ as a staff attorney, Sharon started HEAL, LSNWJ's first medical-legal partnership. As former Director of Human Services for the County of Morris, she was able to increase access to services for those experiencing poverty and in crisis. Sharon is currently the Director of Operations and leads the pro bono work of the organization. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School, speaks conversational Cantonese, and enjoys hiking with her children and dogs.

Colleen serves clients as an attorney on the Family Team, Autonomy Team, and Public Benefits Team. She has over twenty years of experience as a practicing attorney and has represented individuals in criminal, civil, and family matters. Before joining Legal Services, Colleen was in private practice and served as a municipal public defender and assistant county prosecutor. She also has extensive experience in life planning and guardianship matters. Colleen has lectured for many organizations, including the New Jersey State Bar Association. She has served on her District XA Ethics Committee, New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners Character & Fitness Committee, and currently serves on the Morris/Sussex County Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Committee.

Scott serves LSNWJ on the Autonomy Team where he has experience as the Team Leader, and Housing Team. His autonomy team’s work includes creating and completing life planning documents, advocating for clients during involuntary civil commitment proceedings, representing client interests in legal Guardianship matters, and assisting clients in the expungement of criminal records. Scott is frequently seen spearheading our community education with presentations on legal issues. Scott entered the legal profession with a strong interest in public service. During law school, Scott assisted veterans in applying for Disabilities Benefits. Scott completed a Judicial Clerkship upon graduation and pursued employment with LSNWJ thereafter. Scott was deeply impacted by the advice of one law school professor, who routinely told students that “the law is a helping profession. If you aren’t helping, get out.” Scott appreciates the opportunity afforded by his role with LSNWJ to help clients pursue their essential legal needs. Scott is a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan and has seen them play in stadiums all over the country (including MetLife, of course). So go ahead and bring Scott your toughest challenges—he is used to disappointment!

Carrie began her law career in 1992 as law clerk to the Hon. Walter R. Barisonek and the Hon James J. Walsh, of Union County, followed by a number of years as in-house counsel and in general private practice. Carrie began her work in public interest at Essex-Newark Legal Services, in the Elder Law Unit from 1999 to 2002. In 2002 Carrie started the Anti-Predatory Lending Project at Legal Services of New Jersey. During her time at LSNJ, she worked in the areas of foreclosure defense, legislation, consumer litigation, disaster relief, and the LSNJ hotline. Carrie joined Legal Services of Northwest Jersey in 2015 practicing in consumer law, housing, and public benefits. Carrie serves on the NJ State Bar Consumer Protection Special Committee, the Somerset County Continuum of Care Committee, the COC Racial Disparity Work Group, and the Union County Community Dispute Resolution Program. Carrie enjoys art of all forms, music, and travel. LSNJ Gail E. Chester Award, Hurricane Sandy Response Team 2013.

Michael works on the Housing Team handling landlord-tenant cases. Since graduating Seton Hall Law School, Michael has served as a law clerk in the Passaic County Superior Court and worked at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services in Passaic County as a staff attorney. Michael is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served on two separate tours to Fallujah, Iraq and attained the rank of Corporal. “I have always wanted to do something positive with my law degree and working for legal services allows me to do so. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work in the public interest sector serving people in need, where I can provide legal services to individuals who may not have otherwise been able to receive them.”

Luisa provides legal consultation and/or representation in family law issues (such as domestic violence restraining orders, custody, divorce) to victims of intimate partner violence who are referred through the Morris County Family Justice Center (MCFJC). She began her legal career at Essex-Newark Legal Services, where she worked seven years in the Elder Law, Consumer, and Housing Units, under the guidance of Exec. Director Felipe Chavana. Luisa then served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York, prosecuting intimate partner violence and sexual assault crimes. She thereafter spent a year in private practice as a generalist, but mostly working with adult victims of abuse and as a pool attorney with the Office of the Law Guardian, on behalf of children who were involved in court cases brought by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P). “Although each experience has given me incalculable knowledge and experience, coming back to Legal Services was coming back home again.” Luisa is also a classically trained singer who has been a featured performer with the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Program. She makes costumes and accessories as a hobby. LSNJ Gale E. Chester Attorney Award 2011.

Alisa clerked for the Hon. John J. Callahan, a family court judge in Union County and thereafter worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services for 9 years as a Managing Attorney of the Elder Law Unit. She has been a part of LSNWJ since May 2002. Alisa handles family law, domestic violence, bankruptcy, and consumer law matters, as well as commitment hearings, and prepares planning documents such as Wills. She serves on the Hunterdon County Bar Association Domestic Violence Committee. Alisa enjoys hiking, traveling and spending time with her family as well as being involved with local community projects. LSNJ J. Harris David Award for Career Service to People in Poverty 2020; LSNJ Ronald B. Atlas Attorney Award 2010; LSNJ Richard J. Bennett Supervising Attorney Award 2000; Safe in Hunterdon’s The Community of Light Social Justice Award 2008, in recognition of her work assisting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Grace joined legal services in the Belvidere office in 1998 and has been handling various family, public entitlements, and housing matters ever since. The pursuit of justice has led Grace to the Appellate Division a number of times, where she attained favorable results. Grace strives each day to provide services to the most vulnerable in our society in a manner that will make her clients proud that a legal services attorney represented them. Grace shares that “when I am not working, I am spending time with my wonderful husband and three sons who never cease to amaze me and who put smiles on my face every day!” NJ Commission on Professionalism in the Law Professional Lawyer of the Year 2015; Recognition by the Warren County Bar for her commitment to nonprofit work and her diligence, competence, and dedication to the legal profession 2019.

Since joining LSNWJ in 2013, Melissa has practiced many areas of law, including family law, domestic violence, restraining orders, sexual assault protection orders, SSI/SSD, welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and rental assistance cases. She has lectured for many organizations, including local domestic violence providers and Zufall Health staff, as well as legal education to the community. Melissa currently serves on the Morris/Sussex County Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Committee. LSNJ Ronald Atlas Staff Attorney Award 2021.

Richard leads and mentors the consumer team. Throughout his career, Richard has handled most of the kinds of substantive law we do and has become a valued, creative and authoritative resource for attorneys here on legal questions. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Rutgers College and Seton Hall School of Law. He was appellate counsel in notable cases of The Hills Development Company v. Twp. Of Bernards, 103 N.J. 1 (1986); Mastro v PERS, 266 N.J. Super. 445 (App.Div. 1993); Midland Funding v. Thiel; Newton Medical Center v. D.B., LSNWJ Extraordinary Achievement Advancing the Cause of Justice 2016; LSNJ Richard A. Mastro Award for Impact Advocacy 2016; LSNJ J. Harris David Career Service to People in Poverty; LSNJ Donna Hildreth Award for Contributions to Training.

Charlotte Miller began her career as an attorney with Northeast NJ Legal Services in Paterson, where she worked for five years in the Public Benefits Unit, handling Social Security, welfare, temporary disability and unemployment benefits cases. She then worked as an Assistant Prosecutor with Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, where she prosecuted domestic violence cases and handled weapons forfeiture proceedings. She is very excited to join Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, where she will be working with people in need. Her motto is as follows: “Be kind to others, for everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” Charlotte speaks Arabic as well as English, and she loves spending time with her family, reading and music.

Kelsey works in the Family Law Team at Legal Services of Northwest Jersey. Before joining LSNWJ, Kelsey was a partner at Ruvolo Law Group, LLC in Morristown. Kelsey left private practice and joined LSNWJ to help a greater number of individuals in the areas of Family Law, which includes domestic violence, divorce, and custody. He is a court-approved mediator. Kelsey has two dogs, Zoey and Franklin, and is an avid fan of the University of Notre Dame and the New York Yankees.

Nana Abena previously served LSNWJ for about five years as a lawyer on the Family Team. After her work with LSNJ’s PROTECT project, she returned after her work, providing holistic legal services to survivors of human trafficking. Ms. Osafo holds a joint J.D./M.S. from Penn State and an M.S.W. from NYU. She was excited to return to LSNWJ to work with her “phenomenal colleagues” and to provide legal assistance where it is most needed.

Shelley joined Legal Services of Northwest Jersey in 2020 to assist with housing and family law. Prior to joining LSNWJ, Shelley practiced family law in Essex and Union counties, and more recently, in Providence, RI. Shelley had her sights on joining LSNWJ for quite some time. She recalls when a managing partner at a Montclair firm told her, “Stop helping clients for free. This isn’t a legal services organization!” Shelley knew in that instant that she would find a path to work in legal services. “I think I found my people. Very glad to be here.” Shelley enjoys swimming, exploring with her dogs, singing, and chamber music (any string players out there?)

Victoria has worked for LSNWJ for over 30 years, with 9 in the Warren County office, 15 in Hunterdon, and 7 in Sussex. She has a BA from Fordham University and a JD from Seton Hall Law School. Victoria is admitted to the bar in both New Jersey and New York. LSNJ Richard J. Bennett Supervising Attorney Award 2016, LSNJ Cynthia Barker Attorney Award 1998.

Ariela practices on the Housing Team doing landlord-tenant work and on the Autonomy Team doing expungements. “My career has been solely devoted to public interest work. Before relocating to Hunterdon County, I spent two years at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services and am excited to bring that same passion and commitment to my work here at Northwest.” Ariela is a marathoner and avid backpacker, having hiked the entire John Muir Trail, (211 miles through three national parks in California), in 2016.

David has represented clients in consumer cases and tenancy matters and is appointed by the Court in Morris County on guardianship matters, since joining the program in 2008. He currently leads the Autonomy Team, which handles preparation of advance planning documents such as Wills and Powers of Attorney for clients, and Legal Projects for Guardianship, Commitments, Expungements and Drivers License Restoration. He earned his J.D. degree from New York Law School and has been admitted to the state and federal courts in New Jersey since 2000. LSNJ Richard J. Bennett Supervising Attorney Award 2016, LSNJ Donna Hildreth Award for Contributions to Training 2013.

Gary practices in the areas of Consumer, Bankruptcy, and Landlord/Tenant law. He started his legal services career in 1987 as a staff attorney with Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services and became supervising attorney of the Ocean County office in 1989 through the end of 2014. Gary was thrilled to return to public service when he joined LSNWJ in March 2019 after practicing for a time in his own private law firm. Before becoming an attorney, Gary was an educator and used those skills as a lecturer at LSNJ training for many years in the areas of Consumer Law and Bankruptcy, and as an adjunct professor at Ocean County College teaching Business Law Legal Writing & Research, and Introduction to Paralegal Studies. Gary loves the outdoors and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and jogging. He also enjoys cooking, woodworking, and traveling. Hurricane Sandy Response Team (2013); J. Harris David Career Service to People in Poverty (2013); Richard J. Bennett Supervising Attorney Award (2000); Sue Perger Special Award for Statewide Contributions & Impact; Donna Hildreth Award for Contributions in Training (2004).

Randy works on the Housing Team handling landlord-tenant cases, and the Consumer Team handling consumer litigation. After graduating from The City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, Randy did a clerkship at the Hudson County Superior Court in the Criminal Division, followed by another clerkship at the New York Supreme Court in the Appellate Division. Prior to joining LSNWJ, Randy worked as a housing lawyer at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services, where he represented clients facing illegal evictions, foreclosure proceedings, and Section 8 termination hearings, among other cases. Randy is a member of the NJ State Bar Association and an officer on CUNY School of Law’s fundraising board.

Semhar provides outreach and supportive services for clients affected by disaster under our project Legal Hands - Education and Support for Older Adults. Semhar received her BA from Seton Hall University and her MSW from Rutgers University, and she loves to travel.

Teri is responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the office, supervision of support staff, and implementation of protocols and procedures. Teri started here as a Paralegal. She says she “grew up” working at legal services: having been here for over 40 years, she finds she is still learning something with each passing year. “Over these many years, I have worked with many different managers, attorneys, and staff and have always been amazed at their dedication and compassion as they assist our clients. I am fortunate to have learned from the best.” In her limited spare time, Teri enjoys spending it with her large extended family, making quilts for family and friends, baking, and getting lost in a good book. LSNWJ Extraordinary Achievement Advancing the Cause of Justice 2018; LSNJ J. Harris David Career Service to People in Poverty 2006, LSNJ Edith Edelson Paralegal Award 1992.

Billie Jean assists with appeals, family law work and consumer/bankruptcies, as well as facilitating LSNWJ’s Morris County Commitment Project, and handling intake. While working full-time she attended night school to achieve her Paralegal Certification. Billie Jean says “I have been committed to public service employment from the outset. I believe all individuals deserve an equal opportunity to what life has to offer. That is why I chose public service work with this organization, and I have been employed with the program for over 40 years. LSNJ Edith Edelson Paralegal Award 1992, LSNJ Mary Dryer Award for Career Service to People in Poverty 2014.

Pam joined LSNWJ in 2013 after 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Pam continues to “welcome the challenge to learn new things and assist others in any way I can.” Pam has also served as a volunteer for youth sports football/cheer to provide a positive environment and college scholarships for youth in the community. LSNJ Ada Rodriguez Intake Professional Award, 2019.

As a member of the Access Team, Sylvia handles intakes for applicants seeking legal services. Sylvia is fluent in Spanish and English.

Heather supports the CEO, and assists with intake, reporting and law office support.

Gladys joined the team in December 2006. She always aims to make people feel welcome and comfortable seeking assistance from LSNWJ and feels grateful that she can do so. In her spare time, she loves being with her family, traveling, the outdoors, and gardening. Gladys is fluent in Spanish and English. LSNJ Evelyn Hatcher Award 2010.

Martha retired from legal practice after a lifetime serving the community as a leader within legal services. She has returned on a limited basis to help support the access team handling intakes. LSNJ Timothy K. Madden Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2016.

Eileen handles intake and administrative support. She speaks Spanish and English.

Samantha graduated from University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. Sam has worked for a municipality as an Animal Control Officer, and has experience starting an animal rescue nonprofit organization.

Rosalie works within LSNWJ’s partnership with the Morris Family Justice Center, supporting the family law attorney and our clients. Rosalie worked as a paralegal in the private sector for 23 years until she joined LSNWJ in 2018, where she has found her passion working helping families in need. Rosalie enjoys spending time with her family, at the beach hunting for sea glass.

Sulma Marino joined LSNWJ in 2007. In addition to handling intake and tech and administrative support, Sulma assists clients in bankruptcy matters in completing their credit counseling. She has been an enthusiastic participant in outreach events; she assisted with the tenancy program and handled domestic violence intake referrals from Safe + Sound Somerset. She is currently attending RVCC to earn her associate’s degree in paralegal studies. Sulma speaks Spanish and English. LSNJ Ada Rodriguez Intake Professional Award 2012.

Ruchita assists counsel with planning documents, consumer law litigation, and Pro Bono tenancy cases and handles intake. She earned an LL.B. in India and an LL.M. from Temple U. and is experienced in a number of legal areas. Ruchita says: “I find honesty and dedication to be the most valuable qualities for success in my profession.” She enjoys learning languages, traveling, and immersing herself in different cultures. Ruchita speaks Hindi, Gujarati, English, and French.

Carol has served for many years in various team positions throughout LSNWJ. Since her retirement from the practice of law, she returns to help the community access legal services and legal information through media outreach. She has a background in education as well. LSNJ Gail E. Chester Attorney Award 2011, LSNJ Richard J. Bennett Supervising Attorney Award 2015.

Dawn started her career as an elementary school teacher and found the transition to the legal field at LSNWJ to be very natural. “Helping people is about connecting with them first. That is the key to teaching and serving the community.” Dawn loves all genres of music, especially classic rock, blues, and jazz. When she is not on her bike or yoga mat she can be found at a blues club, music festival, or large stadium cheering for the band. LSNJ William Thompson Paralegal Award 2021.

Sonia handles intake, serves on the Language Access Team, Housing Team, and Autonomy Team; coordinates the HEAL Medical-Legal Partnership with Zufall, and handles pro bono coordination for Morris County cases. Sonia began her career as a secretary in the private legal sector. When she became a paralegal, she worked in the municipal court before dedicating her career to public service work with Central Jersey Legal Services, the Social Security Administration, and finally Legal Services of Northwest Jersey. Sonia likes to quote, “I am my brother’s keeper.” She loves spending time with family, church family, and helping out at the local soup kitchen. Her hobbies include bowling and cooking. Sonia is fluent in Spanish and English.