David Edelstein and Douglas Leney Receive Equal Justice Medal from Legal Services of New Jersey

Archer proudly announces that partners David F. Edelstein and Douglas G. Leney have been selected to receive the Equal Justice Medal from Legal Services of New Jersey and the New Jersey Legal Services system. Their recognition as a Major Contributor of Pro Bono Services honors their outstanding commitment to pro bono service and their unwavering support to clients of Legal Services. Specifically, David is being recognized for his service to clients referred by Northeast New Jersey Legal Services and Douglas is being recognized for his service to clients referred by South Jersey Legal Services.

A member of Archer’s Environmental Law Group, David also chairs Archer’s pro bono practice. He works closely with partner organizations to identify opportunities for firm attorneys to provide legal support to underserved members of the community. Under David’s leadership, the firm provides an expansive scope of pro bono services that ranges from the provision of legal assistance to local, public-interest minded media outlets, to an annual expungement clinic through which eligible individuals may have criminal records expunged thereby removing potential impediments to access to employment, housing, and education, to representation of nonprofit organizations in real estate and land-use matters. In addition to overseeing the firm’s pro bono activities, David has his own active pro bono practice that primarily focuses on environmental justice matters.

Douglas, a member of Archer’s Bankruptcy Group, concentrates his practice in matters involving bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, and debtor/creditor rights. Since 2007, he has been a member of Rutgers University School of Law - Pro Bono Bankruptcy Program. He works with students in a variety of settings. Most of the projects are focused on bankruptcy; community legal education; life planning (medical directives, etc.); international refugee assistance; LGBTQ rights and legal needs; re-entry for returning citizens; and many other areas. Through the Pro Bono Program, students have the opportunity to engage in pro bono work to increase access to justice, build their lawyering skills, and develop a lifelong commitment to public interest.

The Equal Justice Medal serves as a powerful acknowledgment of the firm’s longstanding partnership with New Jersey’s legal aid organizations, and along with David and Douglas’s individual honors, Archer has also been named a recipient of the Equal Justice Medal and designated as a Major Contributor of Pro Bono Service, specifically those referred by Legal Services of New Jersey.

At the heart of Archer’s mission is the belief that access to justice should not be determined by one’s financial means. Our attorneys have long stood behind this principle, offering their time and talents to support those who otherwise would face the legal system alone. This recognition is a reflection not only of individual contributions but of a firmwide culture that values service, empathy, and advocacy for vulnerable communities.

About Archer

For over 95 years, Archer & Greiner has been providing full-service litigation and transactional legal services to clients ranging from Fortune 100 corporations and small and middle-market companies, to closely-held and family-owned businesses. Our 175 attorneys span nine offices serving clients’ interests across a wide range of industries. As a full-service firm, we draw on the strength of all our practices and multidisciplinary teams. This collaboration ensures that our clients receive complete, coordinated, and comprehensive counsel in every area of the law that impacts their business.