ALLISON C. WILLIAMS, ESQ.

Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney

 CHILD WELFARE COUNSEL

Williams Law Group, LLC,

1945 Morris Avenue, Suite 7, Union, New Jersey

(908) 810-1083 awilliams@awilliamslawgroup.com

BAR ADMISSION: Admitted in New Jersey (December 2003) and New York (April 2004)

EDUCATION

Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York, Juris Doctor, May 2003

Honors: Top 30% of class; Cum Laude graduate; Highest Grade – Employment Discrimination, Fall 2001; Highest Grade – General Counsel, Spring 2003; Corporate Counsel Certificate; Dean’s List

Florida State University School of Communication, Tallahassee, Florida; Master of Science, Communications – Corporate Communications, August 2000

Honors: Summa Cum Laude graduate; Most Outstanding Graduate Student, Spring 2000; Dean’s List;

Florida State University School of Communication, Tallahassee, Florida; Bachelor of Science, Communications – General Communications, December 1998

Honors: Magna Cum Laude graduate; Dean’s List; African American studies scholar certificate

HONORS/AWARDS

Fellow of the American Acamedy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney

Guardian Ad Litem in DYFS (now DCPP) Matters – Appointed in several FN matters

Rising Star Attorney – New Jersey Super Lawyers Publication – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

SuperLawyer Attorney – New Jersey Super Lawyers Publication – 2014

Pinnacle Professional of the Year (Law) – Continental Who’s Who Lifetime Member – 2013

Woman of the Year – National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) – 2013

ABWL Young Lawyer Change Maker Award – April 2009

Circle of Excellence Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award – June 2008

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

New Jersey Supreme Court Committee – Board on Attorney Certification, Matrimonial Committee Member (2012 – present)

Certified Attorneys Section of New Jersey State Bar Association (Chair, 2012-2013)

New Jersey Family Lawyer, Associate Editor (2007 – present)

New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Section (2004 – present)

New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Young Lawyers (2004 – present)

Legal Aid Society Trustee (2007 – present)

Monmouth County Bar Association – Chair, Young Lawyers Division (2006-2008)

Monmouth County Black Lawyers Caucus, Founder (2008 – 2009)

Women Lawyers in Monmouth (2005 – present)

Middlesex County Family Law Committee (2005 – 2008)

Union County Bar Association (2009 – present)

New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ) Matrimonial Law Section (2006 – present)

Monmouth Vicinage Advisory Committee on Minority Concerns (2006 – 2009)

Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce (WMCC), Women in Business Committee (2005 – present)

WMCC Management Symposium, Founder and Chair (2007 – 2009)

Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey (2007 – present)

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS

David vs. Goliath: Defense Strategies for Litigating the Abuse and Neglect trial Initiated by the

Division of Youth and Family Services, New Jersey Family Lawyer, November 2008

I Hate You, Dad! Now, Where’s My Tuition Check? – The Middlesex Advocate, April 2009

The Impact of Marital Fault on Custody Proceedings, New Jersey Lawyer, August 2009

The Scope of Caseworker Testimony in DYFS Proceedings, ICLE Seminar Materials, October 2009

The Scope of Caseworker Testimony in DYFS Proceedings – An Update, ICLE Seminar Materials – May 2010

Top Ten DYFS Cases to Know – ICLE Seminar Materials – May 2010

Here, Say Hearsay! A Critique of Evidence Issues in Title 9 DYFS Cases – October 2010

DYFS and Adoption Practice – June 2011

Separate and Unequal: Are children of unmarried parents disadvantaged by Summary Procedures in Non-Dissolution Actions? – September 2011

How to Gain Access to DYFS Records when Not in a DYFS Case – November 2012

Play by the Rules … But Which Ones? A Critical Analysis of the Rules that Apply in Child Protection Cases – June 2013

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Moderator/Co-Chair, ATLA-NJ Boardwalk Seminar for Matrimonial Support Staff (2006 – 2008)

Moderator/Chair, ATLA-NJ Meadowlands Seminar for Matrimonial Support Staff (2007)

Moderator/Founder, WMCC Management Symposium (2007-2008)

Brookdale Community College High School Law Symposium – State of the Law: College

Contribution Obligations in Family Court (March 2007)

“Matrimonial File Closing Procedures,” ATLA-NJ Boardwalk Seminar for Matrimonial Support

Staff, April 2006

“Divorce in New Jersey: What to Expect When You’re Expecting the Worst,” Alpha Kappa Alpha

Sorority Financial Awareness Seminar, June 9, 2007

“Motion Practice” ATLA-NJ Boardwalk Seminar for Matrimonial Support Staff (2007 – 2008)

Title IX Perspectives: Litigating the DYFS Proceeding, LDEM, March 2009

“Scope of Caseworker Testimony in DYFS Proceedings”, Hot Tips for Family Law Practitioners – October 2009

“Trial of a Contested Abuse and Neglect Case” – NJAJ Presentation – November 2009

“Defending DYFS Cases: An Essential Primer” – May 8, 2010

“NJSBA Convention Panel – Impact of DYFS Findings on Custody Proceedings” – May 20, 2010

“The Other Family Part” – ICLE – December 2010

“Adoption Practice: A 2001 Update” – September 2011

“Defending Abuse & Neglect Cases” – ICLE – December 2011

“Evidence for Family Lawyers” – ICLE – August 2012; November 2012

“DYFS/DCPP Cases: A Primer” – Barry Croland Family Law Inns of Court – January 2013

“Demystifying the CIC Docket” – Union County Bar Association CLE presentation – April 2013

“Defending DCPP Cases: An Essential Primer” – ICLE – April 13 & 27, 2013

“NJSBA Convention Panel – The DYFS/DCPP & Family Law Overlap” – May 15, 2013

“Representing the Drug Addicted Client in Family Law Cases” – Haydn Proctor Inns of Court – December 2013

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Williams Law Group, LLC, Union, New Jersey, Founder/Owner August 2013 – present

Established a Law Practice devoted to Child Welfare Parent Defense, Matrimonial Law and Family Law practice, and related litigation. Provide representation in a full array of family law matters, with a particular interest in and focus upon Child Welfare litigation, administrative hearings/appeals, appellate work and consultation of Matrimonial counsel in child welfare investigations.

Paragano & Williams, LLC, Union, New Jersey, Co-Founder and Partner  January 2013 – August 2013

Provide representation in a full array of family law matters, with a particular interest in and focus upon Child Welfare litigation and administrative hearings/appeals. Handle substantial practice in DYFS/DCPP litigation and representation.

Pitman, Mindas, Grossman, Lee & Moore, P.C. Springfield, New Jersey; Senior Associate Attorney August 2009 – January 2013

Provide representation in a full array of family law matters, including divorce, child support, child custody, interstate litigation, DYFS litigation and administrative hearings/appeals, domestic violence litigation, and appeals. Handle substantial practice specializing in DYFS Litigation.

Lomurro, Davison, Eastman & Munoz, P.A. Freehold, New Jersey; Senior Associate Attorney June 2005 – July 2009

Provide representation in a full array of family law matters, including divorce, child support, child custody, interstate litigation, DYFS litigation and administrative hearings/appeals, domestic violence litigation, and appeals.

Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla & Ullmann, P.A. Newton, New Jersey; Associate Attorney September 2004-June 2005

Assisted clients with the resolution of matrimonial litigation, including filing pleadings, preparing Motions and Orders to Show Cause, negotiating settlements and appearing in Court on Motions and Uncontested Divorce hearings.

Honorable James A. Farber, J.S.C.; Newton, New Jersey; Judicial Clerkship September 2003 – August 2004

Managed substantial matrimonial and non-dissolution motion calendars. Read and researched applications, made recommendations and prepared orders. Oversaw, created and reviewed assignments for family law intern.

Children’s Rights Clinic/Syracuse University College of Law; Syracuse, New York; Student Attorney May 2003 – August 2003

Represented two childhood SSI cases. Involved in the late stages of discovery in federal litigation. Conducted research on various issues for all three cases. Completed various projects while preparing for two bar exams.

Judge/Professor Elijah Huling; Syracuse, New York; Research Assistant June 2002 – May 2003

Researched issues for Judge Huling in his capacities as judge, attorney and law professor.

Law Office of Anita Roberts, Esq. Manlius, New York; Law Clerk June 2002 – May 2003

Researched legal claims involving various tenets of employment law. Assisted in preparation for trial and with summary judgment motions. Interviewed witnesses, performed client intake and assisted in trial preparation.

Public Interest Law Firm Clinic/Syracuse Univ. College of Law Syracuse, New York; Student Attorney August 2002 – May 2003

Conducted an unemployment insurance hearing. Initiated a school disability case. Drafted pleadings for and gave consultations in employment law cases. Delivered community education seminar on domestic violence law. Prepared SSI appeal.

Honorable Bryan Hedges (Unified Court System – Fifth Judicial District) Syracuse, New York; Law Intern June 2001 – August 2001

Drafted court orders. Drafted decisions on objections to orders of the Hearing Examiner. Researched case law. Evaluated motions before the court and advised the judge on the state of the law.