In October of 2006, then NJ State Bar Association President Wayne J. Positan launched a disaster preparedness initiative for New Jersey law firms led by a newly created Task Force on Disaster Planning. Established to address what Mr. Positan described as a "dangerous complacency by the legal profession in New Jersey and the surrounding states" regarding the detrimental consequences to the economy, legal system and public at-large in the event of a large scale disaster, the Task Force on Disaster Planning moved forward to work with county and specialty bar associations, and other bar associations from the region, to safeguard mutual interests should a disaster strike the Mid-Atlantic region. Now known as the Regional Task Force on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Planning, this group shares information on disaster planning that has occurred or taken place, identifies areas where further efforts should be undertaken, discusses the responsibility and role of bar associations to provide such assistance and develop bar association disaster plans, and develops protocol defining how partnering city, county and state bar associations can assist one another in the event a disaster occurs.

The following information and resources provided by the Task Force on Disaster Planning are available for NJSBA members and all attorneys and law firms throughout the state. As the task force continues its mission, this page will be updated with additional resources.

NJSBA Brochure - Disaster Planning – What to do Now

Disaster Brochure – Disaster Planning – What do do Now PDF - Click here to download

Task Force on Disaster Planning Members

NJSBA Task Force on Disaster Planning Mission Statement

Op-Ed Piece: "The Time is now for disaster planning," March 19, 2007, reprinted with permission from NJ Lawyer Newspaper

Summit on Disaster Planning, March 28, 2007 – Program

Summit on Disaster Planning, March 28, 2007 – Participants

Summit on Disaster Planning – March 28, 2007 – Summary