Naeem Akhtar, Esq. earned his Juris Doctorate Degree (J.D.) from the Widener University Delaware School of Law. He also earned a Master of Business Degree (M.B.A.) from the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management with concentrations in Finance and Accounting. He also earned a Master of Science Degree in Taxation (M.S.T.) from Thomas Jefferson University. In 2016, he earned a Master of Laws Degree (L.L.M.) in Taxation from Temple University Beasley School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey.
Naeem Akhtar, Esq. has over 15 years of corporate experience. He has significant experience advising small and medium sized businesses structuring transactions and engaging in business matters. He has also successfully represented clients in family matters, criminal matters, estate planning, and in complex civil litigation.
He has significant experience providing criminal defense services in both the Municipal Court as well as the Superior Court. He has a passion for helping individuals charged with criminal offenses. Please visit the following website for additional information for criminal defense: criminal defense.
Legal Experience
Public Defender – Mercer and Burlington. Defend indigent persons in the Municipal Court after being assigned to cases by the Municipal Court Judge. Significant experience with motor vehicle laws, drug offenses, weapon offenses, municipal ordinances, domestic violence, offenses against public administration, advising incarcerated individuals, and plea bargaining.
Member, Lawrence Township Planning Board. Hear applications and make decisions on Subdivisions, Site Plans, and Conditional Uses. Adopt a Master Plan. Advise Township Council on changes to Land Use Ordinances. Review applications submitted by developers.
Coordinator, Superior Court of New Jersey Juvenile Conference Committee. This committee meets once a month to make recommendations to the Family Court Judge relating to minor, first time criminal offenses committed by juveniles. The committee meets with the juvenile to develop the factual basis of the incident and to determine whether the juvenile will accept responsibility for the offense. The Committee may recommend that criminal charges be dismissed based on terms of community service, fines, counseling, and restitution. Committee members are appointed for a three year term by the Assignment Judge.
New Jersey Municipal Court Mediator. Discussed issues of cases with parties to explore avenues to resolve disputes without a trial. Typical cases include but are not limited to: simple assaults that do not include personal injury, trespass, harassment, creating a disturbance, animal or pet complaints, annoying phone calls, property disputes, non-payment of bills, bad checks, and criminal mischief. Mediation occurs once a month.
Bar Panel Mediator at Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Special Civil Section. Mediated cases involving tort and contract disputes. Generally, at least one party in the matter is represented by an attorney. Mediation occurs once a month.
Attorney, Legal Services of New Jersey. Provided pro bono assistance. Cases include civil litigation and expungements.
Editorial Advisory Board, New Jersey State Bar Foundation. Review newsletter articles for substantive accuracy, structure, and grammar.
Supreme Court of New Jersey Criminal Practice Committee. Appointed for a two year term by Acting Administrative Director of the New Jersey Courts. Significant rules reviewed include: representation of indigent defendants whose highest charge is a domestic violence related disorderly persons offense and who have been detained pretrial, eligibility for pretrial intervention, post release revocation discovery, plea forms, waived juvenile defendants, pretrial release conditions for persons charged with homicide, and discovery for release revocation hearings.
Supreme Court of New Jersey, Fee Arbitration Committee. Appointed by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner for a four year term in Mercer County. Participate in three member arbitration panels to adjudicate cases involving fee disputes.
Supreme Court of New Jersey, Working Group on the Duty of Confidentiality and Wrongful Convictions. Appointed to workgroup by Acting Administrative Director of the Courts. Explore and offer recommendations to R.P.C. 1.6 that would create an exception to a lawyer’s duty to maintain confidential information relating to the representation of a client when that information demonstrates that an innocent person has been wrongfully convicted of a crime with significant penal consequences.
New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts. Prepared legal research and analysis. Assisted in the preparation of cases for litigation. Performed ad hoc research quickly, but accurately.
Attorney, Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Reviewed paperwork advocating claims of innocence submitted by individuals convicted of capital criminal offenses in the state of Pennsylvania. Reviewed police reports, evidence, and court records to identify colorable claims of innocence. Conduct research and prepare motions. Prepare strategy. Collaborate with staff to provide criminal defense services.
New Jersey Appellate Division Pro Bono Civil Pilot Program. Represented low income parties who can not afford representation in the Appellate Division. Cases limited to domestic violation, child custody / visitation, and special civil cases.
Appointed Member, Municipal Alliance on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Committee, Lawrence Township. Consult with and advise Township Council on matters pertaining to alcoholism and drug abuse. Identify alcoholism and drug abuse prevention, education, and community needs in the township. Seek funds from county and statute authorities to advance substance abuse programs. Committee members are appointed by the Township Council.
Trustee, The Child Care Connection. Board member of Finance and Audit Committees. Strategically oversea financial operations along with financial statement preparation and audit. Participate in childcare initiatives including training and regulation.
Trustee, Minorities in the Profession Section, New Jersey Bar Association. Identify and advance concerns of minorities in the legal profession. Coordinate forums and discussion panels to discuss issues impacting minorities.
PUBLICATIONS (FORTHCOMING)
Is the smell of burnt marijuana emanating from a vehicle sufficient probable cause for searching an entire vehicle without a warrant? While the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals does not take a firm position on this issue, the Fifth and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals have concluded that the entire vehicle can be searched. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has concluded that the entire vehicle can NOT be searched.