Blogs

Be the first person to recommend this.
The New Jersey Law Revision Commission has agreed to collaborate with the New Jersey State Bar Association to study the issue of withholding a get in a religious divorce. In a public meeting last week, the commissioners heard from past Chair of the Family Law Section, Sheryl L. Seiden, on recent case law relative to gets and the impact on withholding a get from a woman seeking a divorce in the Jewish faith. Last October, the Association requested that the NJLRC review the issue in light of two recent matters involving the withholding of gets. In Satz v. Satz , the Appellate Division held that where there was language in the marital settlement agreement ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The Saul Tischler Award recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement in family law and contributions to advancing the development of the practice and profession, community service and dedication to family law issues through education and advocacy. Please join us for what promises to be an unforgettable evening filled with inspiration, gratitude and celebration. Tuesday, April 9 6 to 9 p.m. The Palace at Somerset Honoring 2024 award recipients Amy Shimalla, Esq. Amy Wechsler, Esq. Pre-registration is required Rates: Members: $150 ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
Artificial intelligence and its impact on the practice of law will take center stage at the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention. The convention Opening Business Session will kick the discussion off with a keynote presentation and discussion, “Artificial Intelligence and the Impact on the Practice of Law.” The program will explore how AI is shaping the profession, what opportunities may open for attorneys and what lawyers should be concerned about. Dr. Chris Mattmann , president and founder of Mattmann.AI, LLC and an international expert in artificial intelligence and author, will give the keynote. Mattmann has worked with government ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
In recent days, there has been a significant increase in cyber-attacks worldwide. Because of all of this, the New Jersey State Bar Association shares some quick reminders about how to stay safe. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Emails: Avoid opening email attachments or clicking links from unknown sources due to the rise in phishing sophistication. Use Strong and Unique Passwords : When it's time for a reset, ensure your passwords are robust and distinct across all accounts, from work to personal (like Netflix). Avoid reusing work passwords elsewhere. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on Non-Work Accounts: Activate MFA wherever ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
Excel can be a powerful, behind-the-scenes partner to attorneys. It can help with math, improve efficiency and consistency. Dozens of New Jersey State Bar Association members took part in “Excel Power Tips for Legal Users” at a free, lunchtime webinar from PracticeHQ, the member benefit that provides practice management guidance. The program offered tips on: how to use formulas, the best way to take advantage of hot buttons, like AutoSum which will add targeted cells, formatting strategies, such as how to make columns automatically fit the information included, how to insert columns and rows, ways to automatically insert $ and commas ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The New Jersey State Bar Association Board of Trustees took action on a host of matters recently. The board met on March 8 at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. The board voted on positions to advocate related to several legislative items and funding proposals. The trustees supported S2437 (Pou) , which would direct the state Office of the Public Defender to provide legal representation for certain criminal contempt violations.   They also said the NJSBA should share expertise, feedback from the legal community and advocate on proposed changes to the state’s Open Public Records Act to ensure the best interests of ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The NJSBA’s Members Who Inspire program is an ongoing series that turns the spotlight on members and highlights how they are making a difference in their career and outside of the law. The program offers an opportunity for members to share their unique stories with their colleagues, inspire future legal professionals and strengthen awareness of the profession and Association. This story features Daniel J. McCann, an attorney who is one of the few people to complete a marathon on all seven continents. The number 982 holds a special meaning for Daniel J. McCann. It’s not the total real estate transactions he’s closed as head of a boutique law firm ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
Dozens of NJSBA members took part in a recent workshop on how to decrease stress in work and family relationships. It was a free lunchtime webinar from the Association’s Member Assistance Program. The session looked at characteristics of healthy relationships, including positive and consistent communication, mutual respect, resiliency, reliability, empathy, inclusivity, and trust. Family relationships foster stability, mental health and confidence in going out into the world and help you develop relationships in the workplace and further a sense of confidence and trust in others going forward, said Shaunta Clark, a senior counselor at Charles ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
Three New Jersey nonprofit organizations received grants from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation to fund a post-graduate law fellow who will work with the organization on public interest legal matters and develop advocacy and other skills. “We created this new grant program to help nonprofits provide law-related education as well as legal and community support through year-long fellowships,” said Foundation Secretary Katrina Homel, who is chair of the Foundation’s Task Force on Fellowship Development. “Each fellow will work on a project for the nonprofit that has an educational component, addresses multiple areas of need and aligns with the Foundation’s ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
State Senate Committee Hears Concerns Tax Lien Foreclosures in Light of Tyler v. Hennepin The New Jersey Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee recently considered bills related to tax lien foreclosures, addressing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Tyler v. Hennepin County , MN, 143 S. Ct. 1369 (2023). The New Jersey State Bar Association is closely monitoring the bills. One measure, S2334 (Stack), was up for discussion only. It would revise the process for property tax lien holders to foreclose the right to redeem a property tax lien and allows the property owner to protect the remaining equity. Consistent with the holding in Tyler , the ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Board of Trustees convened in February to act on several measures. The Board approved a request by the Cannabis Law Special Committee to change its name to the Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Special Committee, given the rise of the psychedelics industry alongside the growth of cannabis businesses in New Jersey. The name change brings the NJSBA in line with other bar associations that have formed committees on the topic, including the New York City, Oregon State, Colorado State and Washington State Bar Associations. The Board approved recommendations to hold the 2025 Mid-Year Meeting in Italy and the 2025 Family Law Retreat ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The Assembly passed A4(Lopez), which reforms municipal responsibilities concerning affordable housing, abolishes the Council on Affordable Housing and appropriates funding to the newly established Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution program and to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to proceed with the fourth round of affordable housing obligations. The New Jersey State Bar Association remains neutral on the policy underpinnings of the bill but offered three amendments to clarify elements of the bill with respect to implementation and attorney’s fees. The three recommended amendments address the following: - Amending language requiring a report ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
Editor’s note: This article by Alix Claps appears in the February 2024 issue of the NJSBA Family Law Section’s New Jersey Family Lawyer. Section members can read the full edition here . As a joint civil and family law practitioner, I’ve had the dubious privilege over the past three years of working with both eCourts and Judiciary Electronic Document Submissions (JEDS) on a daily basis. As the inevitable move toward eCourts for family matters seems to be drawing nearer, I thought it might be useful to explore some of the changes that will (largely) improve our practice management. Unlike eCourts, JEDS does not function as a case management ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The February issue of New Jersey Lawyer is the first edition in the history of the publication to review mental health and well-being in the legal community and how many professionals struggle with it due to the demands of the profession. Published by the New Jersey State Bar Association, the edition features 10 articles that give a voice to many issues seldomly addressed in legal publications, including substance abuse among legal professionals, the stress associated with too much screen time and work-life balance. Attorneys who maintain healthy lifestyles are often more focused, competent and have sound judgment when confronted with challenges, according ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The Supreme Court has announced the expansion of the Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire (ACVD) pilot program to criminal matters in Atlantic, Cape May, Burlington and Hudson counties on or after April 1. The New Jersey State Bar Association encouraged attorney participation in the voir dire process generally to increase juror participation and address implicit bias in jurors, but raised concerns about the program’s requirements that the parties agree to a reduction in peremptory challenges to participate. ACVD became available in Bergen, Camden and Middlesex counties as part of the Judiciary’s examination of the jury selection process with an aim toward preventing ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee voted favorably on a bill that would remove provisions in the law that require the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to collect child support on behalf of children. The Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act, S2331 (Ruiz), attempts to align New Jersey with the revised policies issued in 2022 by the Children’s Bureau, an office of the federal Administration for Children and Families. The NJSBA signaled its support of this policy in a letter to the Administrative Office of the Courts supporting recommendations not to collect child support for children in the care of the Department ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The New Jersey State Bar Association is now accepting nominations for two awards that will be presented during the Diversity Luncheon at the 2024 NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City on May 16. The deadline for nominations for both awards is March 5. Please note, per the rules of the Administrative Office of the Courts since 2017, sitting state judges are not eligible for either of these awards. All individual nominees should be members of the NJSBA. All nominations should be emailed to Paula Saha, Senior Managing Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Member Engagement, at [email protected]. Please indicate the name of the award in the email ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Board of Trustees convened for its first meeting of the new year in January to act on several measures. On a recommendation from the Diversity Committee, the Board approved the criteria for an annual award in memory of former Monmouth County Assignment Judge Lisa P. Thornton, the state’s first Black female assignment judge, who passed away in May. The Diversity Committee recommended that the award reflect Thornton’s legacy as a mentor who inspired others to pursue careers in the law. Under the criteria, recipients must demonstrate a commitment to advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the profession ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
State Bar Urges Implementation of Special Master Recommendations With Caveats The NJSBA continued its involvement as amicus curiae in State v. Zingis , which focuses on the admissibility of information and documentation in matters involving those convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) using breath samples involving former New Jersey State Police Sgt. Marc Dennis. Dennis was charged with misconduct for failing to properly calibrate Alcotest machines, calling into question 20,000 tests produced in DWI stops where it was verified that the machines were calibrated by Dennis. Jeffrey Evan Gold wrote the brief. He participated in Special Master hearings ...
0 comments
Be the first person to recommend this.
Lawyers just starting out and those thinking about wrapping up their practices have a lot in common. Legal professionals from both camps joined the New Jersey State Bar Association for a free webinar through PracticeHQ on the essentials for starting a firm and the considerations to take when winding one down. The session covered everything from accounting, marketing, file management and more. Here are some tips from the NJSBA’s PracticeHQ , a free benefit for members that provides information and guidance on practice-related issues: Starting a firm -Invest in an accounting software. The state Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE) has strict rules regarding ...
0 comments