The New Jersey State Bar Association offers 80 sections, committees and divisions for members to stay apprised of the latest trends in their specialty, shape legislation and become better attorneys for their practice and clients. Ehsan F. Chowdhry, the new chair of the Certified Attorneys Section, spoke recently about his history with the NJSBA, plans to reinvigorate the section and goals for the year. Visit njsba.com to learn more.
What kind of law do you practice and where?
I’m a solo practitioner in Monmouth County. I handle criminal defense matters in state, county and municipal courts, including juvenile law, white collar crime defense, municipal court and traffic violations and police investigations. Really, anything criminal-related.
You’re a prolific member of the NJSBA, belonging to the Criminal Law, Minorities in the Profession, Municipal Court and Solo and Small-Firm Sections to name a few. Why do dedicate so much time to the Association and what have you gotten out of your membership?
During the pandemic, I was honored to serve on the NJSBA’s Commission on Racial Equity in the Law and as chair of the Commission’s Policing Subcommittee. There were so many notable attorneys on that Commission. The reason I participated, and got involved with the NJSBA initially, is because the state bar is really organized and has a lot to offer their membership. I’ve always been a big proponent of the diversity initiative. I was a trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and chair of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Being Asian, South Asian and Muslim, I really wanted to improve representation in the legal community. In general, I’ve always been interested in community involvement and leadership. That’s why I continue to volunteer with the state bar.
Why did you join the Certified Attorneys Section and what issues do you plan to address as chair?
I joined because I obtained Certified Criminal Trial Attorney designation from the state Supreme Court. It’s something I was proud to earn as a prosecutor and re-up as a defense attorney. This is a prestigious certification that only 2% of licensed attorneys in New Jersey achieve. I want to make sure the certification system is functioning efficiently and fairly for everyone.
Another reason – my entire legal career, even in law school, has been focused on trial advocacy. For me, the art of being a lawyer rests on the ability to enter a courtroom and effectively communicate. Unfortunately, 99% of cases don’t go to trial anymore, so the younger generation doesn’t have that same experience. One of the reasons I wanted to spark life into this section is to address the skill gap in younger attorneys.
Also, I’m interested in exploring the recent opinion by the Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics that prevented out-of-state attorneys from collecting referral fees from New Jersey attorneys.
Do you have any goals in the short and long-term for the section?
New Jersey is a small state, but we have a wide and diverse population of experienced attorneys. I want to draw upon those experiences and gain insight from our practitioners in civil, workers’ compensation, matrimonial and municipal court law. My goal is to mirror what the section members want and build interest and results in a community-based fashion. I want to integrate everyone’s thoughts and processes and come up with a game plan from there.
The section has an introductory meeting coming up on Oct. 21. What can attendees expect?
We’ll talk about attorney certification, trial advocacy, the out-of-state referral issue and discuss ideas for the upcoming year with everyone’s input. We’re at a rudimentary level with the section, almost starting from scratch. But it’s a blessing because we can create a new vision with some section members who have decades of experience in their practice.