States of the Judiciary Marked by Emotion and Accolades for Justice Wallace By Barbara S. Straczynski May 21, 2010, 10:43 AM At the States of the Judiciary at each Annual Meeting and Convention, attendees expect reports on the federal and state courts. But this year’s session was capped off by emotion and three standing ovations for New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice John Wallace. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner talked about Justice Wallace, noting that he brought a wealth of experience, and then some, when...Read more >>>
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Finding Websites that Can Help Your Practice Big Time By Barbara S. Straczynski May 21, 2010, 8:58 AM There are many free and fast resources on the Internet that lawyers should know for networking, research and get all around help for a law practice. Young lawyers are on the cutting-edge of these technologies. They’ve grown up in the world of the personal computer. Three young lawyers who are experts at using the Internet are Matthew Stenger, Jeffrey Neu and Jonathan Lomurro. In the ...Read more >>>
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Trenton 08625: What's New At The State House? By Todd May 21, 2010, 8:03 AM Incoming NJSBA President Rick Steen offered opening remarks at the program welcoming attendees and indicating that government affairs would be one of his chief priorities in the coming year. Toward this end, President Steen intends for the NJSBA to host another event this fall in Trenton for NJSBA members to meet legislative leaders, gubernatorial officials, and partisan and non-partisan staff. ...Read more >>>
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We Need More Power Broads By Sharon A. Balsamo May 20, 2010, 5:47 PM That's what the audience heard from a panel of seven distinguished women lawyers, all of whom denied being a trailblazer despite the title of Thursday afternoon's program, "Women Trailblazers in the Law." Each of the panelists told of their career paths, how mentors, bar activities, and other women in power helped them achieve career success. All of the women acknowledged the legal profession ...Read more >>>
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Get to the Point and Be Prepared By Sharon A. Balsamo May 20, 2010, 5:33 PM Be short. Be clear. Be concise. Come right to the point. Include a Preliminary Statement, and use footnotes sparingly. That was the message from a NJ Supreme Court justice, a Third Circuit judge and an appellate division judge at today's program, "Now That's Appealing: Everything You Need to Know About Appellate Work in the State and Federal Courts." The three panelists did not hold back i...Read more >>>
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Picking Up Tips for Our Personal, as Well as Professional Lives By Sharon A. Balsamo May 20, 2010, 5:13 PM My husband, who is also an attorney, got a little nervous when I suggested he attend the program titled, "Divorce and the Special Needs Child" on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday morning, when they began talking about considerations for special needs children in the context of divorce at the program titled, "What All Attorneys Need to Know About Public benefits" he leaned over to me and asked, "A...Read more >>>
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Happy Hour at Municipal Court 101 By Sharon A. Balsamo May 20, 2010, 5:03 PM The Municipal Court 101 seminar on Wednesday afternoon turned into happy hour for at least one of the attendees, as he was asked to imbibe a bottle of wine during the substantive portion of the program so the other attendees could be treated to a realistic demonstration of the Alcotest III machine. That's the machine that has replaced the breathalyzer in dui cases. Jeff Gold and Arnold Fishman ...Read more >>>
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Develop Business in the Recession By Barbara S. Straczynski May 20, 2010, 2:04 PM Everyone wants to get more business, build their practice and be successful. Current economic circumstances make that even more difficult, but Carol Greenwald, PhD, told Annual Meeting and Convention attendees about key points where they should focus, and how to do it, so that business can continue to move forward when times are tough. Value: When you think about value, ...Read more >>>
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New and Experienced Lawyers Breaking Attendance Records at Annual Meeting and Convention By Barbara S. Straczynski May 20, 2010, 1:42 PM The NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention is smashing all previous records with 1800 people registered as of yesterday with at least 300 new lawyers a part of that group. There was lots of mingling, networking, hand-shaking and business cards passing from one lawyer to another at the First-Time Attendees Reception on Wednesday night. Not just our usual bar junkies -- and we love you...Read more >>>
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Voir Dire By Todd May 20, 2010, 11:42 AM Co-moderators Gerald Baker of Javerbaum, Wurgaft, Hicks, Kahn, Wickstrom & Sinin and Hudson County Civil Division Presiding Judge Peter Bariso began the program with brief introductions of the distinguished panel. NJ Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin began the program with an elaborate and insightful evolution of the jury system from England to the United States noting that the colonists...Read more >>>
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NJSBA Board of Trustees Luncheon By Todd May 19, 2010, 3:38 PM The NJSBA Board of Trustees had their Annual Meeting Luncheon this year at Wolfgang Puck's. NJSBA President Allen Etish expressed thaniks for the service of outgoing trustees and NJSBA Immediate Past President Peggy Sheahan Knee while also welcoming to the Board new trustees and incoming Secretary Miles Winder. Etish lauded Ms. Knees service to the bar during her many years on...Read more >>>
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Solo Conference Succeeds at The Water Club By Barbara S, Straczynski May 19, 2010, 3:13 PM The largest law firm in New Jersey is at The Water Club in Atlantic City right now. That is, solo practitioners in New Jersey, who make up 60% of the lawyers in the state. They're learning, engaged with questions, networking, and getting top tips about running a law practice. In today's economy, that's the route many lawyers of all ages are taking as jobs get more and more ...Read more >>>
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Register Onsite for the Annual Meeting and Convention By Barbara S. Straczynski May 17, 2010, 1:06 PM NJSBA staff are packing up and making final preparations before heading out to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa for the Annual Meeting and Convention, as well as The Water Club for the Solo and Small Firm Conference. If you have not registered for either conference, you can do so onsite. See you there!...Read more >>>
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Gearing up for Annual Meeting and Convention 2010 By Barbara S. Straczynski May 12, 2010, 12:47 PM NJSBA staff will be blogging about the 2010 Annual Meeting and Convention at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa next week. Seminars will also be held at Borgata's sister hotel, The Water Club. Registrations continue to pour in as the Association prepares to welcome close to 1700 attendees at the largest State Bar convention in recent history. We'll bring you right to the convention floor wi...Read more >>>
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Richie Roberts and the Real American Gangster By Barbara Straczynski 05/19/09 I really didn't devote a lot of space in my Thursday blog to "Meet the Real American Gangster," with Richie Roberts. It being a busy day and all. To refresh your memory, Richie was portrayed by Russell Crowe in the film "American Gangster," with Denzel Washington playing Frank Lucas. The session was such that I felt it worthy of a more extensive blog entry on Richie's telling what really happened as opposed to the Hollywood story we all saw in the film....Read more >>>
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What's In a Name? By Charles Hollenbeck 05/19/09 New Jersey lawyers face perhaps the most retsrictive rules in the nation regarding law firm names. A firm name must include the name of a lawyer in the firm, or the name of a lawyer no longer in the firm because of death or retirement. No trade names are allowed....Read more >>>
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Panelists Discuss Work-Life Balance Issues By Sharon A. Balsamo 05/19/09 The elusive pursuit of work-life balance in the legal profession was the topic of discussion at a program entitled, “Tales from the Top: Unraveling Work-Life Balance Issues” sponsored by the NJSBA’s Work-Life Balance Task Force....Read more >>>
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Todd's Annual Meeting Blog --- Thursday, May 14th By D. Todd Sidor, Director of Judicial Administration 05/15/09 11:00 AM Military Law and Veterans' Affairs Section Meeting The MLVAS met and the chair advanced the main point of the meeting, elections by putting the 2009-2010 slate of officers to a vote. ...Read more >>>
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Still Happy About What You Do? By Charles Hollenbeck 05/15/09 Veteran trial lawyer Thomas Campion put together an impressive panel on a topic that creeps into many lawyers thoughts -- Am I still staisfied with being a lawyer?...Read more >>>
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Busy Busy Thursday By Barbara Straczynski 05/14/09 The attendance for the Annual Meeting and Convention has spilled to over 1,000 registrants as the Thursday programs begin. It's been a really busy day so far for this blogger after stopping in at Settlement Strategies, Saving Money On Legal Malpractice Insurance, Research How Do I Find That and Meet the Real "American Gangster."...Read more >>>
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Surviving as a Young Lawyer By Charles Hollenbeck, Director, Commission on Professionalism 05/14/09 How can young associates deal with bullying tactics during depositions? What can you do if your supervisor suggests a course of conduct that seems questionable? How do you respond to a judge that seems to have really misapplied the law? These vexing situations were explored during an informative seminar put on by the Young Lawyers Division at the NJSBA Annual Meeting today....Read more >>>
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Todd's Annual Meeting Blog: Wednesday - May 13th By D. Todd Sidor, Director of Judicial Administration 05/14/09 Approximately 500 people attended the 2009 Annual Meeting Welcome Reception last night at Mixx. The food was great where participants had a chance to sample cran bcakes from Wolfgang Puck's, sushi from Iskaya, mini kobe steak burgers, pasta, spicy shrimp and coconut rice....Read more >>>
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How to Make it Rain in a Drought - Law Office Management Seminar By Barbara Straczynski 05/13/09 The speakers at the LOM seminar had some fantastic tips for lawyers looking to increase their business. NETWORKING was one of the key topics discussed with some terrific suggestions on getting the business to shower by the bucketful....Read more >>>
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Annual NJSBA Pro Bono and Young Lawyers Division Awards By Barbara Straczynski 05/13/09 President Peggy Sheahan Knee welcomed everyone to the 110th Annual Meeting and Convention at today's Opening Business Session. ...Read more >>>
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NJSBA Announces New Online Legal Research Product By Barbara Straczynski 05/13/09 The NJSBA Board of Trustees today approved a new legal research product as an NJSBA member benefit. Fastcase, the provider of an online legal research service that serves over 380,000 lawyers nationwide, will offer NJSBA members an 80% discount on National Case Law, and free access to New Jersey law libraries, as an exclusive member benefit of membership in the NJSBA. This new member benefit will be available in the next few weeks through the NJSBA website, www.njsba.com....Read more >>>
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Ready, Set, Go for the Annual Meeting and Convention By Barbara Straczynski 05/12/09 Welcome to the first Annual Meeting and Convention blog. NJSBA staff will be blogging about convention happenings on these pages, and we invite you to visit often and comment as well when you have something to say. And, I really don’t think there are many of you out there who don’t have something to say. (smile,wink) ...Read more >>>
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