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14 Dec, 2018 by Anonymous
Josh was a fantastic lawyer from start to finish - and after! I got arrested for the first time ever and was charged with 4th degree Stalking. The whole story was overblown by the police and prosecutors, to the point that even the "victims" were not adamant about my arrest - they repeatedly declined to even file complaints against me for harassment when encouraged by police. Furthermore, police repeatedly asked two children and two parents in as many suggestive ways as they could about whether or not I had acted sexually inappropriate towards them - time and time again, they all denied it. The whole thing was a mess. The prosecutor and police were overzealous and I feel used inaccurate and false information to give to the judge. Josh was an unbelievable help and without him and as hard as he tried to stand up for my rights this could've turned out so much worse. He went the extra mile. First, the state filed to have me detained. Josh immediately worked on ways to get me on pretrial release. I was in jail for 14 days. Josh filed motion after motion trying to get me out. He had me do psychological evaluations and used them, in addition to other evidence, to speak to different judges for my release. His representation of me was strong and his arguments right on point. One judge finally let me out on home detention. The prosecution appealed the judge, and the appellate court took my side. After 50 days on house arrest, Josh worked hard to let me leave NJ to go home to another state - something rarely allowed. He put together an excellent motion spelling out every point to the judge which showed, clear as day, that it was absurd to keep me on home detention because of financial hardship. The prosecution fought this, but after another psychological eval., I was free! At my PIP date, the prosecution didn't offer me a plea! Josh got me to apply to PTI, and the probation dept. rejected my app. Somehow, Josh was able to miraculously get the prosecution to allow me into PTI anyway. One final date came - I had a choice to plead not guilty and go to trial or plead guilty and get into PTI conditional on a guilty plea for 3 years with a psychological eval. and possible treatment. Right down to the end I wanted to fight it but Josh encouraged me to take the deal. I'm confident if I went to trial Josh would've been my first pick. He also raised 4th amendment issues and was confident he could've had evidence thrown out at trial. Finally, I think he did a great job behind the scenes working with the prosecutor's office to get a resolution. My point in telling all this is to say how thrilled I am with his representation. No lawyer is a miracle worker, and this didn't turn out perfectly, but I'll be no one could've done a better job or would've tried harder than he. He was also very respectful to me the whole time, listened well, was always available for questions, made the proper suggestions, etc. He visited me in jail periodically for updates. He spoke in a commanding and intelligent manner to the judge and his arguments were clear. He went the extra mile and tried hard - even got my PTI moved to another state. He even followed up afterwards, and after my plea, he walked me over to the probation office on the street. Great lawyer, great guy, great representation, and great effort! I recommend him highly - you'll get a slightly above average price for WAY above average representation and stellar effort!! Criminal charges are a mess, so get yourself a good lawyer who cares and will put in the time! 9 out of 10!

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29 Jun, 2021 by Sai tejas
She helped me out with my immigration process. Very grateful to her. Thank You.
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28 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
Aleksandra defended me in an immigration case and consulted me on my divorce case, she is very knowledgeable of her specialty subjects, sharp and quick with the right responses in court and outside, polite but cunning in interrogation technique, always returned my calls and texts in a timely manner, always had the right answers and solutions for my case, I was never misled by her during my entire 4 days in court, she came to me as a recommendation and I am glad I chose her to defend me against many false allegations and gave me back my rights, she loves helping people and what she does and I believe that's what drives her to be this good at what she does.
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20 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Ms Alessandra, is one of the best layer that I have ever met. ICE has gave my just two weeks to buy Plan tickets to go home. Mr Alessandra was told about my case. She met with me and my husband on a very shot notice. She filed a stay of removeral for us. Happy to say the stay is approved and we are in the United state and are very happy! I would recommend her to anyone with a hard case. She is one of the best layer you can ever meet. She, will sit and listen to all of your concerns.
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03 May, 2019 by Anonymous
A close family member was arrested and charged with a serious felony. At the time of their arrest, they were diagnosed with serious mental illness and went to a cell in the forensic section of the state mental hospital. When their case came up they were transferred to a mental health section of the county jail. Although I was the victim and hoped to get treatment for my relative, the state automatically pressed criminal charges under the state's domestic violence laws. Initially, my relative was defended by a public defender, which was a relief given the cost of hiring a defense attorney. But the public defender was so overworked and overloaded with cases I am surprised he could remember my relative's name. Neither my relative nor anyone else in the family could find out much about how the case was going because the public defender spent so much time in court defending a great pile of case-after-case. Little by little I learned that the prosecution's case was relatively strong. The prosecution piled on every possible charge the prosecutor could imagine, and remained adamant in pressing for maximum, non-concurrent sentences for all charges -- up to 30 years in prison. The public defender conducted negotiations with the prosecutor and was slowly working toward a deal. All my relative had to do was plead-out and they could get off 'light' -- with only eight years in state prison. This seems to be the way law works these days. Forget all about all the lawyer and cop shows you might have seen on tv or in the movies. Very few defendants risk going to trial in our legal system which has become so heavily weighted in favor of the prosecution. I couldn't fault the efforts of the public defender given his situation but I didn't need to learn any more. I started hunting for a private attorney to defend my relative. Finding a good criminal defense attorney is not as easy as I expected. There are many attorneys who practice criminal defense -- for shoplifting or DUI charges -- but relatively few who will practice and are experienced at defending in serious felony cases. My search was further complicated by my relative's mental illness and the state's insistence on treating their case as a criminal case. I feel very fortunate to have found Ryan Gilbert, LLC. He was both experienced with handling criminal cases like my relative's and knowledgeable in the special case law involved in what is called a Krol case -- named for the defendant whose defense case pioneered this area of criminal law. In addition, Ryan Gilbert knew what expert witness to retain to best forward my relative's defense. I believe the testimony of this expert witness together with Ryan Gilbert's patience and expertise was crucial in determining the outcome of this case. There were several difficult personalities Ryan Gilbert had to deal with in handling my relative's case. I remain impressed by his ability to understand and skillfully maneuver through the often delicate relations with these difficult people. Unlike the public defender, it was easy to reach Ryan Gilbert and he was forthcoming and plain spoken about how the case was progressing. Ryan met with state prosecutors in court and in side negotiations for over a year. At the end of this ordeal the state finally recognized that my relative suffered from mental illness and the state's interests would be best served if this relative were placed into the state mental health system as a Krol patient. Mounting a criminal defense requires considerable time and energy in addition to resources like the expert witness Ryan Gilbert obtained to further this case. Hard work, and great skill and expertise deserve adequate compensation. The defense of my relative was neither free nor exorbitant, and worth more than every penny it cost. How much would you value each year in the life of someone you love?
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20 Oct, 2017 by Andrew
Mr. Gilbert gets the job done. Due to medical reasons, my case was handled with me on the other side of the continent! Mr. Gilbert was able to expedite my case and have it settled in what I consider record time. Fees are more than reasonable, especially given the excellence in representation that Mr. Gilbert is able to provide. As long as Mr. Gilbert remains in practice, I will always have a lawyer in NJ.
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19 Jan, 2015 by George
Ive been using Ryan Gilbert since 2009, Ryan is a very good trustworthy lawyer. I currently retained Ryan in the most crucial time of my life a custody case in which im trying to keep my son. I used another firm and it was costing me ridiculous amounts of money with little to no work done on their end. Im not saying custody cases arent expensive nor Ryan is going to work for free but he wont rob you he will be fair and work hard for you and thats all i asked. I highly recommend Ryan for anyone seeking a professional/fair attorney!
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09 Dec, 2024 by Flora wang
I contacted Blinder law with a great deal of confusion, seeking clarification on the process on how personal injury cases progress from beginning to end to understand how one should go about structuring their steps and collecting necessary evidence. I appreciated how patient Mr Blinder was when he contacted me. My questions were thoroughly answered and was very helpful to planning my next steps.
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08 Dec, 2024 by Brazen leya
I had a small interaction with Mr Edward and he made me understand a little bit about what not to do if I ever got embroiled in a personal injury case
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05 Dec, 2024 by Lauren lombardo
Great lawfirm, would recommend 100%. From the start they answered all my questions, very personable staff and Mr. Blinder answered all my questions clearly and took his time to make sure I felt comfortable before proceeding with my case.
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What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer?

Hiring the right lawyer is crucial for the success of your case. Here are some important questions to ask during your initial consultation:

  1. What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
    Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case.
  2. How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
    Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses.
  3. Who will be handling my case?
    Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals.
  4. What is your approach to resolving cases like mine?
    Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
  5. What potential outcomes can I expect?
    While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience.
  6. How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
    Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times.
  7. What is the expected timeline for my case?
    Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish.
  8. Do you have references from past clients?
    Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness.
  9. What challenges do you foresee in my case?
    Understanding potential obstacles helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations.
  10. Are there alternative ways to resolve my legal issue?
    Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.

Can a Lawyer Represent Me in Courts Outside of New Brunswick, New Jersey?

Whether a lawyer can represent you in courts outside of your city or state depends on their licensure and the jurisdiction of the court:

  • Within the Same State:
    Lawyers licensed in a particular state can typically practice anywhere within that state, including all cities and counties. They can represent you in both state and federal courts located in that state.
  • Outside of Their Licensed State:
    If your case is in a different state, the lawyer must be licensed in that state to represent you. However, there are exceptions:
    • Pro Hac Vice Admission: An out-of-state lawyer can request special permission to represent a client in a specific case in another state. This requires filing a motion with the court and often working in conjunction with a local attorney.
    • Federal Courts: If your case is in federal court, a lawyer licensed in any state may be able to represent you, provided they are admitted to practice in that particular federal court.
  • International Representation:
    For cases outside the United States, different rules apply, and the lawyer may need to comply with the foreign country's legal requirements or collaborate with local counsel.

It's important to discuss your specific situation with the lawyer to determine if they can represent you in the desired jurisdiction and what steps may be necessary to do so.

How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer

Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:

  • Verify Their License:
    Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. Most state bar websites have an online directory for this purpose.
  • Experience and Specialization:
    Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. Review their website, professional profiles, and case history.
  • Disciplinary Record:
    Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association's records.
  • Client Reviews and Testimonials:
    Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Google, or Yelp to gauge client satisfaction and experiences.
  • Professional Memberships:
    Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field and adherence to high ethical standards.
  • Awards and Recognitions:
    Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation in the legal community.
  • Consultation Assessment:
    Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns.
  • Ask for References:
    A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients who can speak to their abilities and professionalism.

What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?

To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:

  • Relevant Documents:
    Bring all documents related to your case, such as:
    • Contracts or agreements
    • Correspondence (emails, letters, texts)
    • Legal notices or court papers
    • Financial records (if applicable)
    • Evidence (photos, videos, receipts)
  • Written Summary:
    Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and parties involved. This helps the lawyer quickly understand the context.
  • List of Questions:
    Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, fees, or the lawyer's experience.
  • Financial Information:
    If your case involves financial matters, bring relevant documents like pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, or invoices.
  • Contact Information:
    Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case, including their names and contact information.
  • Personal Identification:
    Bring a valid photo ID for verification purposes.
  • Pen and Notebook:
    Take notes during the consultation to remember important points discussed.
  • Budget Constraints:
    Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations so the lawyer can provide appropriate guidance on fees and payment options.
  • Openness and Honesty:
    Be prepared to discuss your case candidly. Full disclosure allows the lawyer to give accurate advice and anticipate potential challenges.
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