What I Wish I Knew: Guidance for New Lawyers
Date: Jan 22, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, and Online
Member Price: $125.00
Non-Member Price: $145.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: For All Attorneys, Young Lawyers Division
Earn up to 6.1 credits, including 1.5 in Ethics! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
- Christopher L. Jackson, Esq.
- Chair, Young Lawyers’ Division, New Jersey State Bar Association
Presenters
- Bria Beaufort, Esq.
- Gibbons P.C., Newark
- David J. Bruno, Esq.
- Certified By the Supreme Court of New Jersey As a Criminal Trial Attorney
The Bianchi Law Group, LLC - Rasmeet Chahil, Esq.
- Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland
- LaDonna M. Cousins, Esq.
- Williams Law Group, LLC, Short Hills
- Bonnie C. Frost, Esq.
- Chair, Ethics Diversionary Program
Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost, Botwinick, Nunn & Musmanno, P.C., Denville - Nicole Fulfree, Esq.
- Lowenstein Sandler, Roseland
- Christopher J. Keating, Esq.
- Keating Law Firm, LLC, Moorestown
- Diana C. Manning, Esq.
- Second Vice President, New Jersey State Bar Association
Bressler Amery & Ross, PC, Florham ParkCertified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, is a Principal of Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. in the firm’s Florham Park, New Jersey, office. She concentrates her practice in complex commercial litigation and appellate advocacy, and has represented clients in those matters for more than 25 years.
Ms. Manning is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York, and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Southern District of New York, the Second and Third Circuit Courts of Appeals, the United States Bankruptcy Court and the United States Supreme Court. Past President of the Morris County Bar Association and Foundation, and Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (TANJ), she has served on TANJ’s Amicus Committee and is Secretary of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Ms. Manning has also been appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court as Chair of the District XA Ethics Committee and has been Vice Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Amicus Committee. Because of her depth of experience in the area of legal malpractice, she was also appointed to the NJSBA Blue Ribbon Panel Committee in Professional Malpractice.
Ms. Manning authored the “State of New Jersey” chapter of The Law of Lawyers’ Liability: Fifty-State Survey of Legal Malpractice (ABA/First Chair Press, 2012), which gives an overview of the laws governing attorney wrongdoing in each state, written by lawyers who practice in that state. She is a frequent lecturer for ICLE on legal malpractice and professional responsibility topics and the recipient of several honors.
Ms. Manning received her B.A. from Rutgers College and her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark.
(8/23) - Maximilian J. Mescall, Esq.
- Mescall Law, P.C., West Orange
- Patrick B. Minter, Esq.
- Donnelly Minter & Kelly LLC, Morristownis a founding Member of Donnelly, Minter & Kelly, LLC in Morristown, New Jersey, where he concentrates his practice in civil litigation with an emphasis on commercial litigation, professional liability defense, and chancery and probate litigation. He has represented clients in several cases which have resulted in published opinions, including Vastano v. Algeier, 178 N.J. 230 (2003), Hernandez v. Baugh, 401 N.J. Super. 539 (App. Div. 2008) and Marrero v. Feintuch, 418 N.J. Super. 48 (App. Div. 2011).
Admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Mr. Minter is a member of the American, New Jersey State and Morris County Bar Associations. He has been Chair of the Morris County Chancery Practice Committee and Co-Chair of the Morris County General Equity Mediation Committee, and is Past Chair of the District X Fee Arbitration Committee. He has served as Chair of the Morris Township Recreation Advisory Committee and on the Morris Township Ethics Board, and lectures for ICLE annually on avoiding legal malpractice and other topics.
Mr. Minter received his B.A., cum laude, from Providence College and his J.D., cum laude, from Widener University School of Law. He is also a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program and was Law Clerk to the Honorable Rocco L. D’Ambrosio, J.S.C.
(9/23) - Joseph A. Natale, Esq.
- Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis, Roseland
- Marc A. Rollo, Esq.
- Chair, Environmental Law Department
Archer & Greiner, Voorhees - Lynne G. Seborowski, Esq.
- Assistant Prosecutor, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Edison
- Brandon Lee Wolff, Esq.
- Immediate Past Chair, Young Lawyers’ Division, New Jersey State Bar Association
Brandon Wolff, Phoenixville
Presented in cooperation with the NJSBA Young Lawyers Division
Starting your legal career can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Join this practical program designed to help early-career lawyers navigate the legal field with confidence. Through panels featuring experienced practitioners, attendees will gain insight into building a professional identity, common ethical violations and how to avoid them, and professionalism and etiquette advice for the courtroom and beyond. In addition, attendees will have a rare opportunity to hear candid insight into the expectations of law firm partners when it comes to working with new associates.
Be sure to join us in person to take advantage of the networking luncheon, giving attendees the opportunity to connect with peers, mentors and leaders in the profession.
Program Agenda:
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9:00 | Introduction
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9:05 | Key Ethical Considerations for New Lawyers - Bonnie C. Frost, Esq.; Patrick B. Minter, Esq. and Joseph A. Natale, Esq.
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10:20 | Break
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10:30 | Reflections on Civility, Professionalism and Courtroom Etiquette - Bria Beaufort, Esq.; Christopher L. Jackson, Esq.; Maximilian J. Mescall, Esq. and Lynne G. Seborowski, Esq.
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12:00 | Networking Lunch
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1:00 | How to Find Your Niche and How to Market Yourself - David J. Bruno, Esq.; Nicole Fulfree, Esq.; Christopher J. Keating, Esq.; Marc A. Rollo, Esq. and Brandon Lee Wolff, Esq.
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2:10 | Break
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2:20 | Law Firm Partner Roundtable: Setting New Lawyers Up for Success - Rasmeet Chahil, Esq.; LaDonna M. Cousins, Esq. and Diana C. Manning, Esq.
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3:30 | Adjourn
Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
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Digital Materials & Environmental Commitment: As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, unless otherwise noted, all seminar materials are provided as digital downloads. You can access these materials through:
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