A "Certified Trial Attorney" is a designation granted by the New Jersey Supreme Court to attorneys who are able to demonstrate sufficient levels of experience, education, knowledge and skill in criminal and/or civil trial practice. The Supreme Court, through its Board on Trial Attorney Certification, designated only those lawyers who apply for certification and who are able to meet the standards set by the Board and approved by the Court.

It's confusing trying to choose a trial attorney. You may have never needed a trial attorney before, so you ask a friend to refer you to someone, or look in the Yellow Pages 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?

To help you make that choice, we have listed some questions below about choosing a qualified and highly trained attorney with expertise in the area of law relating to your special problem.

Finding the right attorney is to your benefit and to the attorney's as well. That is why the Supreme Court of New Jersey has directed the Board on Trial Attorney Certification to carry out the certification program in an effort to raise the level of competence of trial attorneys in this State. This program is designed to help you make an informed decision when seeking and selecting a trial lawyer.

In the state of New Jersey, for an attorney to be Board certified, they must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for at least 5 years
• In the 3 years prior to filing an application, must have taken continuing legal education courses
• Must have substantial involvement in preparation of litigated matters and demonstrate primary responsibility for a specific number of completed trials in New Jersey Superior Court
• Must demonstrate an unblemished reputation by submitting a list of attorneys and judges who will attest to the applicant's character and ability
• Must pass written examination covering various aspects of trial practice.

The Certification program helps consumers find attorneys who have a recognized level of competence in specialized field of the law.

Certification also helps lawyers by giving them a way to make their experience known to the public and to other lawyers.

Certification is good for seven years. To be recertified, an attorney must apply for recertification every seven years and meet requirements that are similar to certification.

As of 1999, out of approximately 68,700 lawyers in New Jersey, 1,450 were Board certified.

Please call us at (973) 292-0016 to discuss your needs, or send us an e-mail at RSmith@Smith-Doran.com. Briefly describe your problem and provide us with your telephone number or e-mail address and the best time to contact you. We will assess your case and contact you promptly. All consultations are free of charge and confidential.