The following is a summary of actions taken at the May 17, 2017, meeting of the New Jersey State Bar Association Board of Trustees at the Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City. This summary does not constitute official minutes.
New trustee: The Board of Trustees approved a new member to fill a vacancy for a representative from Cape May County. Carol N. Goloff, of The Law and Mediation Offices of Carol Goloff in Northfield, will replace Stephen Barry, who stepped down from the board to join the association’s Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee. She handles primarily family and real property, trust and estates work. Read her bio here.
In addition to Goloff, the incoming class of trustees is:
• Andrea J. Sullivan, who is a Middlesex County trustee;
• Eugenia M. Lynch, who is an Ocean County trustee;
• Thomas Paul Fischer, who is a Warren County trustee;
• Jonas K. Seigel, who is a Young Lawyers Division trustee;
• Jeremy Farrell, who is an at-large trustee;
• Michael F. Schaff, who is a section/committee trustee; and
• Amy Vasquez, who is a section/committee trustee.
Amicus: The trustees said the association should seek to be an amicus party in Van Riper v. Division of Taxation, which involves an irrevocable trust and deals with the issue of inheritance tax. The case is pending in the Appellate Division and would address whether attorneys are liable in advising clients about using such trusts in estate planning.
Internship program: The board agreed to launch an internship program as a way to connect soon-to-be lawyers with a network of law firms vested in nurturing the future of the profession.
The program’s mission is to create ways for law students to find meaningful opportunities to gain direct legal service experience that will help them embark on their career path, and provide experienced lawyers the opportunity to foster professionalism and a dedicated work ethic among the next generation of attorneys.
The NJSBA will coordinate with the state’s law schools to generate possible candidates for internship positions; create a portal for law firms to review candidates; help potential candidates prepare for interviews and provide workshops on workplace etiquette; and develop a system to support and track interns during the early years of their professional experience. Law firms interested in the program can learn more by writing to [email protected]
Committee on Character comments: The trustees approved comments about the proposed amendments to the procedures used by the Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness when reviewing candidates to be admitted to practice in New Jersey. The association generally supported amendments that aim to streamline and expedite the review process. Read the letter here. It is the association’s understanding that the proposed amendments and any comments submitted will be further reviewed by an ad hoc committee appointed by the Court to examine the entire process.
Upcoming events: The trustees approved contracts for upcoming events, the 2018 Family Law Retreat in St. Thomas from March 21-25, and the summer CLE Fest, which will be held at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City on Aug. 11.