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Leaders from the New Jersey State Bar Association welcomed more than 100 new attorneys into the profession at a swearing-in ceremony in Trenton on Dec. 5. The state Supreme Court and U.S. District Court of New Jersey held a special joint session in the Patriots Theatre to formally swear in recent law school graduates to the state and federal bars. NJSBA President Timothy F. McGoughran joined state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and other jurists to impart their wisdom on the young lawyers who recently passed the bar exam. With hundreds of their families and friends supporting them, the new attorneys rose as Justice Rabner and U.S. District Court ...
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First-year students at Rutgers Law School in Newark got a lesson last week on the importance of attorney professionalism and decorum from New Jersey State Bar Association President Timothy F. McGoughran and other state leaders in the law. The panel discussion covered a wide range of topics on how good professional conduct can advance an attorney’s career, promote their reputations in the industry and improve client relations. McGoughran was joined on the panel by Superior Court Judge Dara Aquila Govan; Craig L. Dashiell, a partner at Lowenstein Sandler; Mikeisha Anderson, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Milbank LLP; and Melissa Reilly, corporate ...
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Editor’s Note: This article by Jonathan Amira appears in the Fall 2023 edition of the NJSBA Young Lawyers Division’s Dictum. YLD members can read the full issue here . Jason Krisza, a New Jersey State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Trustee-At-Large, is on the Corporate and Health Law groups at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., where he represents health care providers and individual health care professionals as well as businesses and business owners in a variety of legal disputes, business transactions, and regulatory matters affecting their operations. A graduate of Syracuse University College of Law School, Krisza has been named to New Jersey's ...
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Incoming students in New Jersey’s two law schools received well-wishes and words of encouragement from the New Jersey State Bar Association as they entered orientation last week to start the school year. NJSBA President Timothy F. McGoughran visited the law school campuses at Rutgers Camden and Seton Hall – his alma mater – to administer the Lawyer’s Pledge to students, an oath that outlines the ideals of the profession. In a welcoming ceremony at Seton Hall, McGoughran said the class of future lawyers will only know the practice of law in a post-pandemic world, one that is embracing technology in almost every facet, from virtual hearings to artificial ...
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Starting a practice? Dealing with partners as an associate? Mental health? These are the questions many recent law school graduates grapple with. To help ease the transition from law school into the legal workforce, a panel of young attorneys imparted wisdom from their early practicing years at the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention. Here are the top tips from the seminar. Katrina Homel, Esq., Associate Director of Legal Services and Member Rights, New Jersey Education Association Be open to the opportunities that are out there, because you might find something that you never thought would be a potential ...
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(Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of an article written by Jonathan Amira that ran in the NJSBA Young Lawyers Division’s Winter 2023 issue of Dictum. The full version of the article and the issue can be found here .) Young Lawyers Division member Janice Arellano is counsel with Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, Jacobs LLC, where she concentrates her practice in the areas of labor & employment, education/school law representing school districts, and civil litigation. She also serves as a court-appointed attorney for guardianship matters in Somerset and Hunterdon counties and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Diversity Committee. Janice was ...
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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 Robert Holup, who organizes several charitable efforts as co-chair of the Young Lawyers Division’s Philanthropy Committee. Robert Holup wears many hats. On a given day you can find him stocking shelves at a local food pantry, or running a mentorship program for prospective ...
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The NJSBA's Young Lawyers Division of the in connection with the Wills for Heroes Foundation will be hosting the twenty-eighth New Jersey event at Rutgers Law School , Newark, NJ on Saturday, November 19 , 2022 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are in need of volunteer attorneys to assist with trust and estate documents on that day. No experience necessary! There will be a mandatory free virtual 1.5 credit CLE Training on November 18, 2022 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. If you would like to do a good turn for First Responders, Health Care Workers and Veterans and earn 1.5 CLE credits, this is a great opportunity. The attorneys who have participated in years past all ...
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(Editor’s note: This is an article written by Jonathan Amira that appeared in the latest edition of the Young Lawyers Division’s Dictum , a publication of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Members can read the full issue here [login required].) The purpose of Ipsum is to highlight a YLD member’s hobbies, experiences, and passions outside of the practice of law. This feature is inspired by my experiences in mentorship and networking from learning about colleagues and prospective mentees. Most of the time, the conversations would shift away from law and more toward individual interests, stories, and experiences. I felt more engaged and connected by ...
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The following is an excerpt from the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program's newsletter. Welcome New Jersey law students, As you begin the new year, we wish you the best in both your academic and personal life and want you to know that we understand the stressors that come with law school. You are not alone. If you have felt increased stress or anxiety lately, you are among lots of law students facing these issues. Thanks to many law schools participating in recent well-being surveys of law students, we now can see, measure, and work to improve your law school experience. Here is a summary of what has been discovered, as well as our pledge to be here if you, ...
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By New Jersey State Bar Association Katrina Homel is chair-elect of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and is a trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation. She credits much of her early success as an attorney to her involvement with the bar. She serves as legal counsel for the New Jersey School Boards Association. Check out a video about her here . What has being a member of the NJSBA meant for your career? Through my involvement with the New Jersey State Bar Association, and particularly the Young Lawyers Division, I’ve found a supportive community of attorneys who encourage ...
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Incoming students in New Jersey’s two law schools received well-wishes and words of encouragement from the New Jersey State Bar Association as they entered orientation last week. NJSBA President Jeralyn L. Lawrence was on hand at each law school campus—Seton Hall and both Rutgers Newark and Camden—to administer the Lawyer’s Pledge to students, an oath that outlines the ideals of the profession. In a welcoming ceremony at the Rutgers Newark campus on Wednesday, Lawrence said the class of future lawyers will only know the practice of law in a post-pandemic world, one that is embracing technology in almost every facet. “In a rapidly changing world, we need your ...
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The New Jersey State Bar Association hosted newly admitted attorneys for a swearing-in ceremony at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick on July 7. A panel of prominent New Jersey jurists, and state and federal bar leaders were on hand to greet and impart their wisdom on the young lawyers who recently passed the bar exam. Flanked by their friends and families, the new attorneys rose as State Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Patterson and U.S. District Court Chief Judge Freda L. Wolfson admitted them to the state and federal bar. “With your oath, you begin a big adventure as a member of this tough, challenging and rewarding profession,” Justice Patterson ...
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(Editor’s note: This is an edited excerpt from an article written by Robert N. Holup that appeared in the latest edition of the Young Lawyers Division’s Dictum . Members can read the full issue here [login required].) Volunteering does not have to be all-consuming, and it comes with some unexpected benefits. It’s about more than just a sense of feeling good about giving back. Volunteering your time is a way to take a step back, gain perspective, and earn a sense of gratitude and respect for your community. While volunteering is a nice addition to any resumé, it’s also an important step toward self-development that will improve both your emotional ...
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By Domenick Carmagnola Earlier this spring I had the pleasure of taking part in a new lawyer admissions ceremony. It was a great day, one of the best and most gratifying I have had this year as president of the New Jersey State Bar Association. The event was held at the New Jersey Law Center where we were able to host people in person and virtually using our newly upgraded technology. Looking into the crowd who assembled and at the screen of people taking part online, I saw faces bursting with pride, beaming with smiles and maybe even a few eyes shining with tears of relief and gratitude. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Freda Wolfson offered advice and ...
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The New Jersey State Bar Association welcomed its newest colleagues to the profession at a swearing-in ceremony on Feb. 10. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and Chief Judge Freda L. Wolfson administered the oaths to dozens of new attorneys who gathered virtually via Zoom and at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. Reaching this point marked a momentous life achievement, Rabner said. U.S. Federal District Court Judge Julien Xavier Neals applauded the new attorneys and urged them to start building their reputation for being honest, candid, helpful, supportive, responsible and knowledgable. “The practice of law is not easy,” he ...
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A recent federal ruling, the impact of new state and local regulations, a discussion of diversity and inclusion, and key advice for new lawyers are highlighted in the latest edition of Dictum , a publication of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s (NJSBA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD), available to NJSBA members at njsba.com . In his column, YLD Chair Ryan Gaffney, who is also a NJSBA trustee, praises the enthusiasm displayed by division members and vows to support initiatives such as career development after the pandemic, diversity and inclusion, and maintaining the YLD’s philanthropic commitments to Wills for Heroes and its Earth Day program. Alexandra ...
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Editor’s note: This is an edited version of an article written by Ryan J. Gaffney, Cory J. Rothbort, Victoria Miranda, and Alexandra Loprete that appeared in the Fall 2021 edition of Dictum, a publication of the Young Lawyers Division . To read the full issue, click here (login required). A panel of judges and lawyers at a recent New Jersey State Bar Association seminar organized by the Young Lawyers Division offered substantive pointers, identified common missteps, and provided invaluable advice for new attorneys. Here are six key lessons. Know the Rules. If there is one cardinal rule of lawyering, it is knowing the Rules of Court. ...
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Be a person of good character. That was the overarching sentiment delivered to new and aspiring attorneys at the 2021 NJSBA Annual Meeting's seminar "Transitioning from Law Clerk to Associate: Professional Tips to Make It a Success for Young Lawyers and Those Who Hire Them" on Wednesday. James J. Uliano, a partner at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh in West Long Branch emphasized that the image one presents at all times is important, that "you're always an attorney," and your brand becomes you, which means being aware of things such as what you post on social media. At the same time, new attorneys need to be receptive of feedback they may receive. "It's not personal," ...
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New Jersey Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson has served the state for nearly 30 years as a prosecutor, but she clearly remembers the difficulty she had finding a job in New Jersey after she graduated from an out-of-state law school. “I thought being from Trenton was going to be enough. I honestly did. A mentor would have told me that was not enough,” said Thompson, a New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) trustee. Determined to pay her success forward, Thompson seized the opportunity to volunteer with the NJSBA’s Mentor Match program. Although that program has been phased out, it has been replaced with a new program headed by the NJSBA ...
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