New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Attorney
So Many Attorneys, Which One should I Pick?
It’s confusing trying to choose an attorney. You may have never needed an attorney before, so you ask a friend to refer you to someone, or look on the Internet where hundreds or, even thousands of attorneys are listed. But how do you choose one attorney over another and how can you be sure that you will choose the right attorney to handle your particular legal problem?
You need A Certified Attorney!
Finding the right attorney is to your benefit. That is why the Supreme Court of New Jersey has directed the Board on Attorney Certification to carry out a special certification program in an effort to raise the level of competence of attorneys in this state. This is additional certification above and beyond the average lawyer that includes additional testing, schooling, and continuing legal education in a specialty. This program is designed to help you make an informed decision when seeking and selecting an attorney.
The Certified Civil Trial Attorney designation is granted by the New Jersey Supreme Court for attorneys who are able to demonstrate sufficient levels of experience, education, knowledge, and skill in civil trial practice. The Supreme Court, through its Board on Attorney Certification, designates only those lawyers who apply for certification and who are able to meet the standards set by the Board and approved by the Court to use the seal of the New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Attorney.
A certified attorney is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. A New Jersey attorney who is certified by the Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney must have the following requirements:
- been a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for over 5 years
- fulfilled ongoing continuing legal education requirements
- demonstrated a substantial level of experience in civil trial law
- been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his or her work
- taken and passed a written examination on civil trial law
At present, there are five 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.
As of December 2016, approximately 1,650 hold board certification out of roughly 75,000 active lawyers in New Jersey.
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.