Certified Civil & Criminal Trial Litigation

Through a process involving testing, enhanced continuing education requirements, recommendations from other lawyers and judges, and a detailed examination of professional experience, the New Jersey Supreme Court designates less than 2% of the state’s lawyers as Certified Civil or Certified Criminal Trial Attorneys.

Of the approximately 55,000 practicing attorneys in New Jersey, only 1,200 are board certified and of those, only a small percentage are certified in both the Civil and Criminal areas. The certification program helps consumers find attorneys who have a recognized level of competence in specialized fields of law. Ed Borden is one of those attorneys.

“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 or civil trial practice. The Supreme Court, through its Board on Trial 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.

An attorney must meet the following requirements to become Board certified:

  • must be a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for at least three years
  • in the three years prior to filing an application, must have taken substantial continuing legal education courses
  • must show a substantial involvement in preparation of litigated matters and demonstrate primary responsibility for a specific number of completed trials in New Jersey
  • 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 a written examination covering various aspects of trial practice

The certification program helps consumers find attorneys who have a recognized level of competence in specialized fields of the law. Certification also helps the lawyers by giving them a way to make their experience known to the public and to other lawyers.

Although many practicing trial attorneys now advertise in newspapers, on television and on the internet, only attorneys certified by the Supreme Court are entitled to use the designations “Certified Civil Trial Attorney” or “Certified Criminal Trial Attorney.”

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 on the internet where hundreds, or even thousands of lawyers are listed. But how do you choose one lawyer over another and how can you be sure that you will choose the right attorney to handle your particular legal problem?

Finding the right lawyer is to your benefit and to the lawyer’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.

For more information or to set up a consultation, please call us at 856-354-7700, or e-mail Edward F. Borden, Jr..

Anyone in need of more information regarding the certification program should address questions to:

Board on Trial Attorney Certification
CN 970 Trenton, New Jersey 08625
(609)777-0366