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In most jurisdictions  a “felony” is considered a serious crime.  In New Jersey our criminal justice system generally involves either indictable or non-indictable offenses with the indictable being considered akin to felonies in other jurisdictions.  Needless to say, these are serious charges involving consequences of magnitude which can result in imprisonment upon conviction.  In any indictable matter in New Jersey, a client is entitled to an attorney, whether that be private counsel or a public defender.  If you are indicted for a criminal offense in New Jersey, it is important to contact an experienced attorney immediately to determine your rights  and any available defenses that can be raised to the charges.

Certified Civil Trial Attorneys

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The Supreme Court of New Jersey has directed the Board on Attorney Certification to administer the attorney certification program in an effort both to protect consumers from false advertising and to raise the level of competence of attorneys in this State. This program is designed to help the consumer make an informed decision when seeking and selecting a lawyer.

When the New Jersey State Supreme Court designates attorneys as “Certified Trial Attorneys”, it means that such attorneys have attained a level of experience and skill at trial, and that they are proficient at pursuing litigation through trial. The Supreme Court, through its Board of 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.

What are the requirements for an attorney to become a “Certified Trial Attorney”?

  • An attorney must be a member in good standing for at least five years;
  • An attorney must verify that they have completed the mandatory number of trials in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey;
  • An attorney must have taken continuing legal education courses in the 3 years prior to filing an application;
  • An attorney applying for Certification must submit peer attorney and Judge references from those who would acknowledge and confirm the attorney’s skills, ethics and character;
  • Lastly, an attorney must pass a written exam covering various aspects of trial practice.

Less than 2% of the 70,000 licensed attorneys in New Jersey are certified.

Schibell, Mennie & Kentos, LLC, have three Certified Civil Trial Attorneys: John Mennie, Mark Kentos and John McLaughlin.