The New Jersey Attorney General's Advocacy Institute was established by Former Attorney General John J. Farmer, Jr. in May 2000 to enhance the administration of justice in the State and ensure the highest degree of professionalism by attorneys representing governmental agencies before the Courts and in administrative proceedings. The Advocacy Institute offers a broad range of programs to address the advocacy skills needs of governmental lawyers, including Deputy Attorneys General, Assistant Prosecutors, Municipal Prosecutors, agency attorneys and attorneys who represent other governmental entities.

The Institute offers practical skills programs as well as lectures on substantive areas of law. In addition, it will serve as a clearinghouse for best practices and will produce handbooks and practice manuals for use within the NJ Department of Law & Public Safety.

The Institute's First Year

During the first year, the Institute developed and offered 20 practical skills and seminar programs with attendance of more than 1200 attorneys from the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety, County Prosecutor's Offices, other State agencies and Attorneys General's Offices in other states. The Institute's programs offer not only quality legal training, but also a forum for bringing together attorneys within the law enforcement community in the State and across the nation. Among the Institute's learn-by-doing course offerings are a five day NITA-style Trial Advocacy Program, a three day NITA-style Examination of Experts Program and a three day NITA-style Deposition Skills Program. In addition, the Institute runs several seminar series, including the Distinguished Trial Attorney Seminar Series, which features presentations by distinguished trial attorneys within the State; the Nuts and Bolts Seminar Series, which focuses on presentations relating to practical and substantive areas of the law relating to trial advocacy and the Trial Advocacy and Evidence Seminar Series. Faculty for these programs was diverse, bringing together talented attorneys and teachers from private practice, Divisions within L&PS, Law Schools and Attorney General's Offices in other states. Additional programs are under development, including a Grand Jury Skills practical program; a Use of Technology in Litigation practical program and an Investigation of Economic Crime practical program.

Institute programs are offered in Trenton and Newark, depending on the nature of the program and the availability of facility space. As an added benefit for attending attorneys, Institute programs qualify for credit towards the Continuing Legal Education requirements in Pennsylvania and New York, as well as toward the New Jersey Trial Certification program.

Among the significant activities for the first year are the following:

• established the Distinguished Trial Lawyer Seminar Series to bring prominent members of the bar to speak to Departmental attorneys about trial issues. Seminars included: Professor Thomas Mauet on Lessons from Recent Jury Studies; Michael Critchley on Trial Preparation; Joseph Hayden, Benjamin Clarke and William Lundsten on Opening Statements, and Carl Poplar on Cross Examination.
• established the Nuts and Bolts Lecture Series to address substantive and practice issues relevant to a broad range of attorneys within the department and to bring attorneys together from various parts of the Department. Seminars included: Government Integrity and Procurement Law Update, which focused upon recent developments after the enactment of Chapter 440 of the public laws of 1999 and Interlocutory Appeals: The Why, When and How.
• established the Trial Advocacy and Evidence Law Seminar Series to address specific topics relating to trial practice and evidence in a lecture and demonstration format. Seminars included: The Ten Commandments of Cross Examination and Refreshing Recollection, the Best Evidence Rule and Perception. Practical handouts were developed and distributed.
• developed learn by doing programs for Trial Skills, Deposition Skills, Examination of Experts Skills and Trial Skills for Economic Fraud Cases and ran thirteen ( 13) such programs. There were three (3) five day Trial Advocacy Skills Programs, four (4) three day Deposition Skills Programs, a Telemarketing Fraud Skills Program, two (2) Train the Trainers Program and an Examination of Experts Skills Program. Attorneys from the Attorney General's Offices of Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington state, as well as the several County Prosecutor's Offices have participated in our programs as either faculty or students.
• participated in the development, planning and teaching of a four day Trial Skills Program for Legal Services Attorneys sponsored by the American Bar Association, held at Seton Hall Law School.
• participated in the development, planning and teaching of two five day Trial Practice Academies sponsored by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) which were attended by attorneys from more than forty states.
• obtained of a Federal Byrne Grant for the Institute.
• developed other programs which have yet to be scheduled, including an OIFP Trial Skills Program, a New Employee Orientation Program, a Division of Consumer Affairs Investigation and Evidence Gathering Program.
• provided assistance to other Attorney General's Offices concerning establishing effective training programs.
• participated in the planning of a two day NAAG Professional Development and Training Conference. Made three presentations at the conference: Modeling Professional Development Programs that Work; Planning Management Training Programs, and the Nuts and Bolts of Establishing a Professional Development and Training Program.
• developed a Trial Skills Training Program for consideration by the NAAG Antitrust Multistate Task Force.

1. Who may enroll in New Jersey Advocacy Institute programs?
2. Is there any fee for Institute programs?
3. How do I apply to register for a program?
4. Once I have notified the Institute that I wish to attend a program, am I registered?
5. How do I know if a program is appropriate for my skill level?
6. How can I find out when new programs are announced?
7. What about Continuing Legal Education credit?

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1. Who may enroll in New Jersey Advocacy Institute programs?

Institute programs are open to attorneys in the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety and other state and local governmental entities within New Jersey, including county prosecutors' offices. Particular programs may be open to governmental attorneys in other jurisdictions, whether state or federal, as well as paralegals and investigators employed by governmental agencies. Institute programs are NOT open to the private bar. If you have any questions about whether or not you are eligible to attend a particular program, e-mail us.    Top of page

2. Is there any fee for Institute programs?

There is no fee for employees of the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety. Currently, employees of other governmental agencies may attend at no charge when space is available.  Top of page

3. How do I apply to register for a program?

There are three ways you can register - online, by e-mail or by fax. To register online, simply go to the registration page and complete the process described there. To register by e-mail or fax send the following to AdvocacyInstitute@lps.state.nj.us or (609) 984-3974 (fax): the name and date of the course, your name, your agency, your phone number and mailing and e-mail addresses.       Top of page

4. Once I have notified the Institute that I wish to attend a program, am I registered?

Once we receive your request to register for a course, the Institute will notify you whether we have space to confirm your registration. If you do not receive confirmation, you cannot be guaranteed a place in the program. Please check with us by e-mail if you are unsure as to whether you are a confirmed registrant.      Top of page

5. How do I know if a program is appropriate for my skill level?

Institute program announcements describe the appropriate skill level for each program. For skills programs, we endeavor to group participants by skill level to ensure that each participant is taught at his/her skill level. If you are unsure about the appropriateness of any program for your skill level, contact the Institute.      Top of page

6. How can I find out when new programs are announced?

The Institute has an e-mail mailing list for new course announcements. If you do not already receive them, e-mail us with your e-mail address and the name of your agency. You will be added to the Institute mailing list. In addition, new courses will be posted on our web page as soon as they are announced.     Top of page

7. What about Continuing Legal Education credit?

The Institute is an accredited Pennsylvania CLE provider. Institute courses are eligible for CLE credit in Pennsylvania and New York (through New York's approved jurisdiction policy). The eligible credit hours for each course are listed on each program announcement. Top of page