Dana Panavalli (she/her)
Temporary Staff Attorney

Dana is a temporary staff attorney supporting VLJ’s Tenancy Program. Before joining VLJ, Dana was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA of Union County, serving foster children on various issues such as placement, housing, education, health, immigration, government subsidies, and navigating the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and the related judicial process.

Prior to this, Dana was an of-counsel attorney for owner/operators of numerous McDonalds in Essex and Hudson Counties, afforded the opportunity to engage with employees, on a pro bono basis, with legal matters such as immigration, criminal defense, family law, and housing. In private practice after law school, Dana represented condominiums, co-ops, and rent controlled and subsidized tenants in New York City.

Dana received her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctorate from St. John's University School of Law, where she was involved with the New York Real Property Law Journal, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the domestic law and elder law clinics. Dana has volunteered with the NJ Women’s Fund and NJ Women and AIDS Network.