Newsletter

The Third Twin By Ken Follett I am a HUGE fan of Ken Follett and his historic fiction books. Those books are usually 900 -1000 pages each! But they are worth the read. He is a wonderful author and storyteller and each of his books, whether read in the series or individually, are gripping with […]

For your information, helpful websites: www.njleg.state.nj.us/ the New Jersey Legislature’s site; enables you to find bills by subject and track where any proposed bill is in the process. www.judiciary.state.nj.us/ the New Jersey judiciary site; includes a legislative news site that lists new laws by subject (e.g., family, criminal), bills on the Governor’s desk and legislative […]

Busy lawyers focused on any area of practice may feel the pull to take research shortcuts by tapping into a collective brain trust via posts on a listserv of experienced practitioners. Listserv groups are a valuable tool to learn of developments in the law and find direction on specific legal issues. Using a listserv to […]

Whether you have written your resume 6 months ago or 5 years ago, it is always a good idea to periodically review your resume. As a legal recruiter, I meet many excellent attorneys who unfortunately miss out on great opportunities due to weak resumes. Reviewing your resume will make you spot inconsistencies, mistakes and omissions […]

Erica Fields is the newly elected Secretary of WLIB. She brings energy and enthusiasm to this position. I highly encourage you to connect with her at WLIB events (or any other events), as she has a wide variety of interests including playing the game, “Call of Duty”, which helps relieve stress in an entertaining manner. […]

You are harried as you are trying to head out the door for a special night. You have helped the kids with homework, made their dinner, secured a babysitter and gotten dressed. But have you thought of everything? Does the new New Jersey Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-69 et seq. (“the Act”), […]

Welcome to the WLIB Fall Newsletter! I am so grateful to the members who contribute to the newsletter each season. Thank you for putting your time and effort into wonderful articles about things that are important to all our members. And – of course – thanks to Linda Spiegel for her dedication as our Editor […]

We are used to seeing K-9 officers assist human handlers on drug busts. We do not bat an eye at seeing a dog help its visually impaired owner cross the street. Now, with the New Jersey Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Players Place II Condominium v K.P. and B.F. (A-60/61-22) (088139), we will certainly be […]

Artificial intelligence is technology that replicates human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. In the last year, the availability of AI products has significantly increased necessitating action to protect legal professionals and our clients. In late 2023, the NJSBA created a Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and the Law composed of 27 attorneys and industry experts to […]

Welcome to the Summer edition of the WLIB Newsletter. I want to thank Linda Spiegel, our editor in chief, and everyone who contributes to the Newsletter. The contents of our Newsletter exemplify the diversity that each of us brings to this wonderful organization. Congratulations and thank you thank Diane Lucianna, our outgoing President, for her […]

One of the pleasures of interviewing individuals for WLIB articles is that I, the interviewer, get to speak with a wide variety of people. Some I know, some are new, and all are a pleasure but most notably, all are excited about the law and being a part of the legal community. Laura Sutnick exemplifies […]

Weekend Getaways by Amy S. Maclsaac, Esq At 5:12am on April 5th, a SpaceX Falcon launched, carrying a batch of Starlink satellites to space. We were able to see the rocket during our visit to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) the day prior to launch. After visiting the KSC, I have a new interest and […]

Before We Were Yours By Lisa Wingate Queenie and Briny ruled the Kingdom of Arcadia, a shanty boat on the Mississippi River in the 1930s. They, along with their children, Rill, Fern, Lark, Gabion and Camellia, called the Arcadia home. Briny built the Arcadia and the family lived a life of freedom and ease along […]

Beware of the Robot Revoluton: The Pessimistic Attorney’s Guide to Avoiding AI and Embracing Human Error and Inefficiency In the ever-changing landscape of the legal profession, it is important to recognize the enduring value of established practices. This article serves as insight on how to maintain traditionalism amidst the rise of Artificial Intelligence in our […]

This is my last President’s Message and I treasure the past two years of my presidency and the good work our organization has done. The theme for my presidency was “camaraderie.” I felt that the years of COVID had caused a distancing of us, and we needed to regroup and get to know each other […]

Weekend Getaways by Amy S. Maclsaac, Esq. After our trip last fall to Las Vegas, my mother and I headed back out West to Northern California. We took a week-long trip this September as part of a tour of San Francisco and the Yosemite Valley. If you don’t mind a long flight and time change, [...]

Restaurant Review By: Kathleen A. Hart, Esq. Scotty’s Bar & Grill: 172 Piermont Road, Cresskill, NJ 07626 (201) 222-1100 As many know, my husband would rather eat something between two pieces of bread than a fancy meal. As we tend to go to the same places, when I heard there was a new restaurant in […]

I, Alex Cross By James Paterson Power and greed are never a good combination and that is surely the case in this James Patterson book. This book is the 16th in the 30-book series by Patterson featuring his character Dr. Alex Cross, DC Metro Police Homicide Detective and FBI profiler. Alex Cross is living with […]

I am very satisfied with the events we have had in the past few months. The Tribute to Our Founders which was held in October at Fresh and Fancy Farms was a beautiful event in a beautiful setting. The mums were brightly colored, the tables were outside, the wine was flowing, the pizza oven was [...]

Kim served as President of WLIB when it celebrated the organization’s 20th anniversary in 1996. Her President’s Message in the program reflected on the changes for women practicing law in the decades prior to 1996.

Gayle D. Hargrove Recipient of the WLIB Lifetime Achievement Award By Kelly Castor, Esq. On Jun 20, 2023, at the joint WLIB and BCBA Diversity in the Profession Award Dinner, Gayle Denise Hargrove was presented with the Women Lawyers in Bergen Lifetime Achievement Award. Gayle is the first ever recipient of this award. For the [...]

Weekend Getaways by Amy S. Maclsaac, Esq. It was the dog days of August with only a few weeks left before school started so my family and I headed to America’s Historic Triangle in Virginia – Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. The trip is a 6-7 hour drive down I-95, depending on how many pit [...]

By: Carmela L. Novi, Esq. For your information, helpful websites: www.njleg.state.nj.us/ the New Jersey Legislature’s site; enables you to find bills by subject and track where any proposed bill is in the process. www.judiciary.state.nj.us/ the New Jersey judiciary site; includes a legislative news site that lists new laws by subject (e.g., family, criminal), bills on […]

Linda F. Spiegel, Esq. is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University and the Boston University School of Law. She is a Past President of Women Lawyers in Bergen County (WLIB), a past Trustee of the Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), is Editor-in-Chief of the WLIB Newsletter and Editor of the NJAPM (New Jersey Association […]

By: Kathleen A. Hart, Esq.. This summer simply went by and I am sad to say, we did not dine out much. Likely a combination of the weather, vacation and my husband’s broken foot. Long story, moral is don’t kick a car while wearing crocs as it does not end well. However, I did manage to put together a small sixtieth birthday for the big guy for a few friends and family. Here are some of the recipes I served, and I hope you enjoy!

Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury Hello Book Lovers! Summer is always a time for me to read LOTS of books. I have read many over these warm, somewhat lazy days. My favorite time to read is on the beach with my toes in the sand. So the question was what to review for you this […]

Bergen County Welcomes the Honorable Julie Lee Kim, J.S.C. to the Family Division By: Evelyn F. Nissirios, Esq. I recently had the honor and privilege of interviewing the Honorable Julie Lee Kim, J.S.C., our newest female Judge appointed to the Bergen County Superior Court Family Division on June 26, 2023. While Bergen County has over […]

I am once again writing my message to the Women Lawyers in Bergen members and readership. I am wondering who is actually reading this? I rarely get a comment on my President’s Message and wonder if anyone is reading this Newsletter? This Newsletter is a beautiful work of art. It is an organized, quarterly report […]

Beach Road, a road peppered with mansions in East Hampton, is the epitome of the haves and have nots. The wealthy who travel to the Hamptons on weekends and holidays, and those that take care of the homes and properties throughout the year. One such home, owned by the movie star, T. Smitty Wilson, had [...]

WLIB has proven to be a wonderful source of information and activism on the issue of diversity. On June 7th, WLIB sponsored a stimulating CLE organized and moderated by WLIB Treasurer Sheila O’Shea. The CLE was held at Fresh and Fancy Farms (our favorite place) and the topic was Diversity in the Profession. The panelists […]

If you have the time, I highly recommend reading this historical novel by Ken Follett. As you know from my prior reviews, I do not gravitate toward historical novels, but they sometimes fall in my lap and I find them interesting and worthy of my precious free time. This novel, and others by Follett, are […]

As I am concluding my first year of presidency of WLIB I feel a sense of accomplishment of one of my goals – camaraderie among members. Since COVID forced us into a virtual world, WLIB had become distant and fragmented because of the need to basically resort to virtual events instead of in-person events. Since […]

On Friday, October 28th, Women Lawyers in Bergen hosted an event which to me was hugely important and fulfilling. It was our First Annual Rally Against Breast Cancer and it was held on the green outside the Bergen County Courthouse. It was a huge effort to effectuate, and our committee worked on it since July. […]

WLIB congratulates Senator Kamala Harris on the momentous occasion of becoming first female Vice President in US history—an event that broadens the horizon of the possible for American women.