Membership & Awards

This exceptional honor comes once a year for no more than 5% of Lawyers in the state. The selected attorneys are researched by the Super Lawyers team which is a highly rated service for outstanding attorneys for over 70 practice areas who have attained an immense amount of professional and peer recognition. The nominated attorneys are judged based on excellence in their field, high degree of peer recognition, verdicts and settlements, professional competence, experience, honors and awards. The Super Lawyers list are published nationwide in the Super Lawyers magazines along with leading regional & city magazines as well as newspapers across the country.

http://www.superlawyers.com/

The Board on Attorney Certification was established by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in 1980 for the purpose of helping consumers find attorneys who have a recognized level of competence in particular fields of law. Attorneys may be designated by the Supreme Court as “certified attorneys” if they: are able to demonstrate sufficient levels of experience, education, knowledge and skill in a specific area of law or practice; have passed a rigorous examination; and have been recognized by their peers as having sufficient skills and reputation in the designated specialty.

The Supreme Court, through recommendation by the Board, currently certifies attorneys in four areas: civil trial law, criminal trial law, matrimonial law, and workers’ compensation law.

An attorney must meet the following requirements to become certified:

• has been a member in good standing of the New Jersey Bar for at least five years;
• has taken a specific number of continuing legal education courses in the three years prior to filing an application;
• demonstrates substantial involvement in preparation of litigated matters;
• demonstrates an unblemished reputation by submitting a list of attorneys and judges who will attest to the applicant’s character and ability;
• Passes a written examination covering various aspects of practice in the designated specialty.

http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/

As the world’s largest trial bar, AAJ promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, safeguards victims’ rights- particularly the right to trial by jury- and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. With members worldwide and a network of U.S. and Canadian affiliates involved in diverse areas of trial advocacy, AAJ provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance needed to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic inherent in the civil justice system.

https://www.justice.org/

Association of Distinguished Counsel: The National Association of Distinguished Counsel employs an objective, rigorous, multi-stage selection process. The result is the identification of the finest lawyers in the country, named “Nation’s Top Attorneys.”

Stage One: Candidates are identified either by nomination or an in house research team. Nominations are accepted from members of NADC, fellow attorneys, and current or former clients.

Stage Two: Once prospective candidates are identified, a lengthy vetting process is employed by NADC researchers. The information considered in this review process is sourced from publicly available information, including attorneys’ websites, public profiles, client reviews, and case results. Specifically, the research team evaluates factors which include, but are not limited to the following: firm profile and reputation, years of practice, education, training, trial experience, case outcomes, peer endorsements, client reviews, professional awards, professional memberships, leadership in legal organizations, community involvement, disciplinary status, and other noteworthy achievements. Multiple factors are considered by the NADC research team in evaluating its potential members.

Stage Three: A blue ribbon panel of attorneys studies the results provided by the NADC research team. These attorneys, having achieved podium status in their own right by multiple independent organizations, separate and apart from the NADC, are specially positioned with the perspective and knowledge in selecting “Nation’s Top Attorneys.” While considering the information presented to them, they make careful determinations as to who among their peers possesses the background, accomplishments, and prowess to serve as an example to other attorneys. The result is a list of attorneys who are considered truly elite.

Stage Four: A judicial review board, led by a group of former judges, weighs in on the final candidates. The purpose of this phase is to ensure that those who are named “Nation’s Top Attorneys” have epitomized the ideals of the legal profession. They finalize the process of selecting the attorneys whose stellar reputation and exceptional performance exemplify only the highest standards. Those invited as members of the NADC must exhibit qualities becoming of an Officer of the Court, and have also demonstrated admirable character and virtue in the course of their practice of law.

https://www.distinguishedcounsel.org/