Boardwalk Seminar 2026:
Women Litigators' Luncheon

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The Power of Perspective: 
A Woman Litigator’s Journey - From Trial Lawyer to the Appellate Bench

Keynote Speaker:
Hon. Ellen Torregrossa-O'Connor
Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division

Judge O’Connor was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division in August of 2024, after completing her temporary assignment there from March through May of 2024. Prior to that transfer, she served as the Presiding Judge of the Family Division in Monmouth County, where she managed the division and handled diverse family matters.  After her appointment to the Judiciary in December of 2017 and prior to moving to the Family Division, she sat as a trial judge in the Criminal Division.  

Judge O'Connor's career as an attorney began after completing an appellate clerkship with the Honorable Thomas F. Shebell, Jr., P.J.A.D., when she joined the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., where she practiced criminal and civil litigation, representing individuals and corporate clients in all stages of criminal proceedings, white-collar litigation, licensing, health care, and regulatory matters in both State and Federal court. She also handled juvenile cases, administrative matters, and significant appellate matters as a member of the firm’s Appellate Practice group.  She left the firm briefly early in her career to gain trial experience as a trial prosecutor at the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Judge O’Connor then returned to the Wilentz firm’s litigation practice in 2002, where she remained for fifteen years as shareholder and eventually General Counsel, serving as the firm’s key advisor in matters regarding the law governing attorneys, firm litigation and internal governance issues, risk management, and policy implementation. 

Judge O’Connor’s professional memberships and appointments have included the New Jersey Women Lawyers’ Association (Board of Trustees), the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (President-Elect and Legislative Committee), the New Jersey Association for Justice (Board of Governors and Co-Chair of Criminal Section), the Monmouth Bar Association (Trustee and Co-chair of Criminal Practice Committee), and the New Jersey Supreme Court Committees on Jury Selection and Shackling of Youth (Committee Member). She is the prior recipient of the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. She also served as a member of the District IX Ethics Committee for several years before joining the Judiciary.
    
While on the bench, she has served on the Supreme Court Committees on Jury Selection, Family Practice, and Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement.  She co-chaired both the Statewide Committee on Juvenile Justice System Improvement and Monmouth County Youth Services Commission, and chaired the Monmouth Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Judiciary Juvenile Committee.

All members are invited to attend.

Luncheon Schedule:
11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Luncheon

12:25 pm - 12:30 pm
Welcome & Introduction by Co-Chairs

12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Keynote Speaker: Hon. Ellen Torregrossa-O'Connor

1:15 pm - 1:30 pm
Questions & Answers

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Boardwalk Seminar® 2026 will feature 32 programs presented  for trial attorneys and includes outstanding local and regional speakers along with top national speakers. 

A cornerstone of NJAJ’s mission is to advance the education and skills of the membership. 

This year's program features three days of thought leadership on topics related to improving the practice of plaintiff trial attorneys. Our faculty includes top litigators from across the country. 

 

* * * Special Offer * * *
Join NJAJ & Save $300 on Boardwalk Seminar registration.
If you join the New Jersey Association for Justice when registering for the Boardwalk Seminar 2026, you will receive the member registration fee ($200 less than the non-member rate) and as a part of this special offer you will receive an additional $100 off of the registration fee. Join NJAJ.

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MCLE Credits
New Jersey - (Earn 1.20 Credits/Earn 0.0 Ethics Credits)
New York - (Earn 1.0 Credits/Earn 0.0 Ethics Credits)
Pennsylvania - (Earn 0.0 Credits/Earn 0.0 Ethics Credits)

This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.20 hours of total CLE credit.

Of these, 0.0 qualify as hours of credit for Ethics/Professionalism, and 0.0 qualify as hours of credit for Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias.

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Full-Time Judges, Full-Time Law School Professors, 
Judicial Law Clerks & Law Student Members
Registration is complimentary for the seminar.
Pre-registration is required.

Course Materials

Course Materials
The seminar course materials will be online for attendees to download on April 24, 2026.

Registration on or after April 29th: 
An additional $25 will be added to fees for registering on the day of the program.

REGISTER FOR BOARDWALK SEMINAR 2026

If you have a disability that will require special assistance or services, 
please send a letter describing your needs.