Why You Should Choose a Female Certified Civil Trial Attorney for Your Personal Injury Case

For much of our history women were not permitted to practice law. While the percentage of female lawyers has increased from the 1950s when it was only 3% to 39% by 2023, those that litigate in the courtroom are still predominantly male. Statistics show that in personal injury cases, 79% of lead attorneys are men. However, in the world of litigation in New Jersey, a woman’s place is in the courtroom.

“There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness and the nerve to never take no for an answer.”
- Rihanna

The Impact of Women In The Courtroom

In the courtroom a woman’s perspective provides input that may help judges to see the same problem from a very different angle. An angle much different from the sea of male attorneys that fill the roster in New Jersey.

Such a statement could not be truer than seen by a young Ruth Bader Ginsberg who bestowed upon the U.S. Supreme Court and six landmark cases later in the 1970s with her fight against gender discrimination. Her arguments clearly allowed the male dominated Supreme Court to see the outdated laws as they related to gender discrimination and she changed that area of the law as we know it forever.

A woman lawyer unlike most male counterparts can exude emotion, passion, and sympathy when representing a client in the courtroom, by nature they are empathetic. While the court instructs a jury before deliberating not to allow passion, sympathy and bias to taint their thought process, ultimately we are all human and can not help but to feel, especially when it comes to those that have been injured in an accident or have lost a loved one.

Why Hire a Certified Civil Trial Attorney?

A 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 stringent standards set by the board and approved by the court.

What Does It Mean When an Attorney is Certified?

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:

1. Been a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for more than 5 years.
2. Fulfilled ongoing continuing legal education requirements.
3. Demonstrated a substantial level of experience in civil trial law.
4. Been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his/her work; and
5. Completed and passed a written examination in civil trial law.

The Certification Allows the Public to Know Who is Experienced

The certification program helps the public find attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law. The Certification helps the public and other lawyers to know who is experienced. Those that are certified are entitled to use the designation “Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney” on their letterhead, business cards, website, or in their advertisements. You should look for the symbol:

How Many Lawyers in New Jersey Are Certified Trial Attorneys?

There are roughly 75,000 active lawyers in New Jersey and only approximately 2.2% are certified. Out of the 2.2%, only approximately 30 women are Certified Civil Trial Attorneys. An astounding figure considering the number of active lawyers.

Benefits of Hiring a Female Certified Civil Trial Attorney for Your Personal Injury Case

After an accident, often people are unsure of what they should do. They are in pain, they could be losing wages and have mounting medical bills. People who have experienced trauma need a softer touch, a hand to hold.

A female attorney will offer moral and emotional support while fighting for your interests in court. In addition to adding personal comfort for some Plaintiffs, women are skilled at multitasking and listening. That ability to listen can elicit additional information which can be used as an advantage when arguing a case.

The American Bar Association Highlights Women In The Courtroom

“Women lawyers have many advantages in the courtroom – they connect well with jurors, particularly with women jurors, who often comprise half or more of the jury pool; are viewed as more credible and trustworthy, and are in many instances over-prepared rather than underprepared. Women litigators have ample reason to be confident in their effectiveness as trial counsel.”

Connect With a Female Certified Civil Trial Attorney Today

If you are injured you may find that a female certified civil trial attorney is more attuned to your needs and concerns and will foster a sense of collaboration, experience, skill and trust that you need to maximize your settlement. This can ultimately lead to a more positive attorney-client relationship and ultimately result in your personal injury case.

Certified civil trial attorney Natalie Zammitti Shaw and Sheri Breen established Injury Lawyers of NJ after practicing personal injury law together for almost 25 years at another firm. Their combined negotiated settlements total more than $500 million. Sheri and Natalie formed their own boutique law firm to offer every client the full benefit of their exceptional combined personal injury practice capabilities.