The New Jersey Association For Justice

The New JerseyAssociation for Justice

A Consumer’s Guide to Understanding the Significance of Membership in The NJAJ

About the New Jersey Association for Justice

Founded over 50 years ago, the New Jersey Association for Justice is a statewide organization of over 2,400 lawyers, paralegals, and law students dedicated to protecting the rights of New Jersey’s families by working to preserve and strengthen New Jersey’s laws for safer products and workplaces, a cleaner environment, and quality health care for all.  It provides ongoing legal education to attorneys, and sponsors programs to educate consumers on a wide range of legal issues affecting their lives.

What are some of the objectives of the New Jersey Association for Justice?

In addition to upholding and defending the Constitutions of the United States and New Jersey, the NJAJ works hard to support the science of jurisprudence and improve the process of trial by jury, to educate and train attorneys in every aspect of legal advocacy, to promote the public good, to uphold the honor and dignity of the legal profession, all toward the goal of advancing the causes of those who’ve been harmed by misfortune.

How does the NJAJ help its members to become better lawyers? 

The NJAJ helps members keep current with the ever-changing landscape of the law by offering first-rate seminars, dynamic hands-on workshops, and regularly accessible on-line resources to assist them in their practices.  Continuing Legal Education is a cornerstone of NJAJ’s mission.  For example, its annual Boardwalk Seminar in Atlantic City features two dozen concurrent seminars on subjects such as personal injury, medical malpractice, workers compensation, matrimonial and employment law, and criminal defense.  In addition, legal industry suppliers are encouraged to exhibit their cutting-edge technologies designed for case and courtroom.

How does the NJAJ help its members to be truly effective trial lawyers?

There’s just no substitute for experience, and one of the best benefits of NJAJ membership, to the attorney and his or her client, is the attorney-member’s immediate daily access to the expertise and experience of hundreds of fellow trial attorneys who’ve been there and done that.  This is accomplished by a searchable,  internet-based blog known as ListServe, on which pre-approved NJAJ attorneys post questions and answers on all sorts of important subjects:  What are the latest verdict trends in Essex County?  What is Judge Jones like when it comes to jury selection?  Has anyone got any depositions from Dr. Dan Davis of Dover?  Who knows an excellent expert in biomechanics for a Toyota Forerunner rollover accident?

An Important Decision Requiring Careful Thought

To quote from the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Attorney Advertising –

“Before making your choice of attorney, you should give this matter careful thought.  The selection of an attorney is an important decision.”  Hopefully, this article has helped you to recognize that your choice of an attorney should involve careful thought about a variety of important factors.  Best of luck in your search for qualified counsel.

 

Choosing a Civil Trial Attorney in New Jersey

New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Civil Trial Attorneys

A Consumer’s Guide to Understanding the Significance of being Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney

What does it mean to be a Certified Civil Trial Attorney?

Certified Civil Trial Attorney designations are granted by the New Jersey Supreme Court to attorneys who are able to demonstrate certain levels of experience, education, knowledge, and skill in civil trial practice by submitting the details of their legal practice to the scrutiny of a special Board appointed by the Court to insure high standards of civil trial practice in the State of New Jersey.  In addition, all attorney-applicants for board certification must pass a written examination, and are required to identify attorneys who’ve opposed them in Court, and Superior Court Judges before whom they’ve appeared, to attest to their professional skills, reputation, and integrity. 

Why does the New Jersey Supreme Court have a Certification Program?

To quote from the Court itself – “ The Certification Program helps the public find attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law. Certification helps lawyers by giving them a way to make their experience known to the public and to other lawyers.  Certification also encourages the maintenance and improvement of attorney competence in specialized fields of law.”

In which areas of law does the New Jersey Supreme Court Certify Attorneys?

At present, there are five (5) specialty areas of practice that are approved for Certification by the Supreme Court of New Jersey: Civil Trial Law, Criminal Trial Law, Matrimonial Law, Workers Compensation Law, and Municipal Court Law.

How many attorneys are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law in New Jersey?

At present, less than three (3%) percent of all licensed New Jersey attorneys hold Board Certifications in Civil Trial Law. Once granted, certifications are good for just five years, after which the attorney must submit a new application for renewed certification.