About Volunteer UP Legal Clinic
What We Do​
Volunteer UP Legal Clinic's mission is to UPlift and empower communities of South Jersey through legal representation, advocacy, and community awareness. The Clinic connects individuals and families facing legal barriers with dedicated staff and specialized volunteer attorneys who provide high-quality pro bono legal services to those most in need. Volunteer UP is committed to creating a more just landscape in which all those in South Jersey will have access to quality legal services.
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Who We Serve
Primarily serving Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties, our volunteer and staff attorneys assist with a wide range of legal issues, including eviction diversion, expungement, municipal court matters and driver’s license restoration, name changes, wills, living wills, and powers of attorney, and so much more. Our clients include previously justice-involved individuals and their families, veterans, individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges, and families at risk of homelessness.
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Client Assessment and Attorney Matching
Volunteer UP works with our clients to determine their specific legal needs and makes appropriate referrals to volunteer attorneys, aligning each case with an attorney’s area of practice. This screening process ensures that pro bono attorneys can maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of their volunteer time.
Volunteer Attorney Support and Benefits
Volunteer attorneys play vital roles as mentors, subject matter experts, and community educators. Additionally, attorneys who contribute 25 hours annually to Volunteer UP earn exemption from Madden v. Delran pro bono case appointments, as Volunteer UP is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a pro bono organization.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Volunteer UP Legal Clinic is driven by a dedication to justice, equity, and community support. By bridging the gap to legal resources, we strive to make a lasting difference in the lives of South Jersey’s most vulnerable residents.
Meet Our Team
The team at Volunteer UP Legal Clinic brings together dedicated professionals with experience in law, social work, and community advocacy to serve the South Jersey community.​
Steven L. Salinger, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Steve is a 2015 graduate of Rutgers Law. After graduation, he clerked for the Honorable Michele M. Fox, J.S.C. After clerking, he became an Assistant Deputy Public Defender with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender in Camden, New Jersey for nearly a decade. In that time, Steve advanced his interests in holistic and participatory defense strategies as well as restorative justice initiatives as a founding member of the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic as well as the Pro Bono Team Coordinator for the ReNew Camden Federal Reentry Court. In November of 2025, Steve left NJOPD to lead the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic, an organization he helped establish. Steve’s dedication to serve his community goes beyond his role at the Clinic. He is a member of the District IV Ethics Committee, the current President of the Camden County Bar Foundation, and, since 2022, adjunct faculty at Rutgers Law teaching two courses – a yearlong intensive mock trial course and Criminal Procedure Adjudications.
Patricia Kane O’Connor, Esq., Ph.D.
Housing Justice Attorney
Trish O'Connor is a tireless advocate for tenants' rights in South Jersey, representing clients who lack access to legal support in Burlington County's Landlord-Tenant Court. After graduating from Seton Hall Law School, she joined Volunteer UP Legal Clinic as a New Jersey Housing Justice Corps Fellow. She contributes to statewide tenant advocacy through policy work and data analysis. Prior to her legal career, Trish earned advanced degrees in Literature and worked as a high school teacher.​
Kaitlyn Owens, Esq.
Housing Justice Attorney
Kait Owens provides pro bono tenant advocacy and eviction prevention services in Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem Counties, helping clients who would otherwise lack legal representation. A Rutgers Law School graduate with a deep commitment to public interest, she works to protect tenants' rights and secure safe, affordable housing. Through legal representation and education about tenant rights, she strives to increase access to legal assistance and empower communities.
John Ignatius Francisco, Esq.
Staff Attorney
John provides critical legal assistance to clients with criminal records, helping them and their families navigate barriers to a plethora of legal issues such as expungement, housing, employment and other opportunities for a fresh start. His work aims to reduce the long-term impacts of involvement with the criminal-legal system, creating brighter futures for individuals and their families. As a graduate of Rutgers Law School, John dedicated his time serving the public interest and interned with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender and the Rutgers Veterans Advocacy Clinic. Before his legal career, he served in the United States Army for six years. Previously, John worked as an associate attorney for a mid-size law-firm based in based in Cherry Hill, and served as a law clerk for the Honorable John S. Kennedy, J.S.C., in the New Jersey Superior Court, Camden Vicinage.
Elizabeth M. Gallagher
Programs and Development Coordinator
Elizabeth Gallagher leads our initiatives to grow Volunteer UP’s resources, strengthen volunteer engagement, and assess program impact. Her work plays an essential role in helping us expand our services and enhance our community impact. Formerly a Trial Attorney and Partner with an AM Law 200 firm, Elizabeth later transitioned into teaching. She is a graduate of Dickinson School of Law and the University of Rochester.