The NJSBA's Family Law Symposium is back for 2024! Join us at the Hyatt in New Brunswick for this engaging event. For more information, please click here or continue to read below.

The 2024 Family Law Symposium

Don’t miss out on New Jersey’s top Family Law event featuring compelling and timely discussions!

Join hundreds of family law attorneys, judges, paralegals and other related professionals at the Hyatt in New Brunswick at New Jersey’s premier family law event, the 2024 Family Law Symposium! Reserve your seat today to hear thought-provoking and insightful
presentations from many of the state’s leading lawyers and judges, and to network with colleagues and other family law professionals.

Program Agenda:

• 9:00 | Introduction – Megan S. Murray, Esq.
• 9:05 | Top Ten Cases – John P. Paone, Jr., Esq.
• 10:00 | The “New” Alimony Statute 10 Years In: What Was Intended and How it Turned Out
  – Moderator/Speaker: Megan S. Murray, Esq.
  – Speakers: Hon. Marie E. Lihotz, PJAD (Ret.); Robin C. Bogan, Esq.; Jeralyn L. Lawrence, Esq.; Matheu D. Nunn, Esq.; Brian M. Schwartz, Esq.
• 11:00 | Break
• 11:10 | Third Parties and Divorce
  Our esteemed panel of jurists and attorneys will interactively address a wide range of topics involving and impacting upon third parties in divorce, post-divorce and other family matters. Topics will include, but not be limited to, providing an overall guide to identifying how and when to address a third-party issue, attorney-client privilege and other ethical concerns, joinder, addressing whether the third-party interests are aligned with or contrary to those of your client, third parties as witnesses, other procedural issues and more. Attendees will hear the panelists address these topics within the realm of substantive matters faced by family law practitioners, such as general divorce issues involving loan/gift disputes, and business and trust issues, cohabitation, college expense payments, domestic violence and DCPP matters and more.
  – Moderators/Speakers: Derek Freed, Esq.; Robert Epstein, Esq.
  – Speakers: Hon. Daniel Brown, JSC; Hon. Amy Lefkowitz, JSC; Jhanice V. Domingo, Esq.; Cassie Murphy, Esq.; Sheryl J. Seiden, Esq.
  
• 12:10 | Lunch
• 1:10 | Presentation by Frank A. Louis, Esq.
• 1:40 | Trial and Error: Effective Trial Techniques and Strategies
  An interactive and in-depth panel on trial techniques and strategies for preparing for trial, settling on the eve of trial, and being on your feet at trial. This esteemed panel will discuss all aspects of trial preparation, including witness preparation, trial briefs, an exhibits; preparing for and attending one last intensive mediation on the eve of trial; and opening and closing statements, direct examination, cross examination, and the creating a theory of the case. Attendees will learn how to be an effective advocate for their clients and build credibility and respect from the Court.
  – Moderators/Speakers: Jeffrey M. Fiorello, Esq.; Christine C. Fitzgerald, Esq.
  – Speakers: Hon. Julie Lee Kim, JSC; Hon. Raquel Vallejo, JSC; Rita Ann M. Aquilio, Esq.; Thomas DeCataldo, Jr., Esq.; Timothy F. McGoughran, Esq.; Jenna Shapiro, Esq.
• 2:40 | Break
• 2:50 | Poverty Issues in Family Law
  In NJ, in family matters, issues of poverty like the access to affordable housing and availability of resources like child care impacts families in all types of legal matters, especially in divorce, non-dissolution matters, child support enforcement and DCPP cases. As advocates, it is important and helpful to understand the True Poverty that exists in NJ along with understanding how various programs like TANF, Medicaid interest with family laws.
  – Moderator/Speaker: Cheryl E. Connors, Esq.
  – Speakers: Hon. Julio L. Mendez, AJSC (Ret.); Monica C. Gural, Esq.; Jey Rajaraman
• 3:50 | Young Lawyers’ Debate – Should Judges Consider Hearsay Evidence when Adjudicating Motions? 
  – Speakers: Kaitlyn A. Lapi, Esq.; Michelle A. Wortmann, Esq.
• 4:00 | Important Unreported Decisions – Stephanie Lomurro, Esq.
• 4:30 | Adjourn