In February of 2020, CWAH Partner, Michael J. Ash was designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a certified trial attorney. For more information about the civil trial certification, please refer to the New Jersey Supreme Court website.
“Certified civil 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 civil trial practice. The Supreme Court, through its Board on 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.
A certified attorney is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. A New Jersey attorney who is certified by the Supreme Court as a civil trial attorney must have:
- been a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for more than 5 years,
- fulfilled ongoing continuing legal education requirements,
- demonstrated a substantial level of experience in civil trial law,
- been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his or her work, and,
- taken and passed a written examination in civil trial law.
New Jersey Rule of Professional Conduct 1:39-6(d) allows certified civil trial attorneys to pay referral fees “without regard to services performed or responsibility assumed by the referring attorney.” Importantly, that rule does not abrogate two specific provisions of Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(e), which requires that the client must be notified of any fee division and that the client must consent to the participation of all the lawyers involved.
CWAH is able to offer referral fees for attorneys who refer specialized litigation including eminent domain and tax appeals cases.