In 1990, having witnessed growing disparities of legal resources and representation throughout Brooklyn’s judicial system, attorneys in Brooklyn joined together to found the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) to help close the justice gap. Guided on the principle that all people should be valued and provided with equal opportunities and resources, the VLP's mission and vision is to ensure that the legal system is accessible to those who, because of special needs or the overwhelming burden of poverty, would not otherwise have their rights protected or their voices heard. At the heart of the VLP's model is the recognition that the pro bono commitment of the private bar can be most effective for underserved residents of Brooklyn to access justice. For more information visit www.brooklynvlp.org.