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THERESA A. LYONS, ESQ., M.S.W.
(908) 575-9777
theresa.lyons@heerlyons.com
EDUCATION:
Rutgers University School of Law - Camden, NJ
Juris Doctorate, 2001
Honors: Graduated with High Honors (top 5%) Founding Editor in Chief of Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion
Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work - New Brunswick, NJ
Master of Social Work 2001
Honors: Dean’s Award for most “Outstanding Administrative, Policy, and Planning Student Award,” as bestowed by Dean Mary Edna Davidson.
Montclair State University - Upper Montclair, NJ
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Minor in Business Administration, 1992
Honors: Dean’s List
Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Uiversities
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP:
New Jersey Supreme Court, 2001-02 Term
Law Clerk to the Honorable Peter G. Verniero, Associate Justice
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2004 to Present
Heer & Lyons LLP, Somerville, NJ
Attorney and Managing Partner
• Oversee day to day management of firm resources, personnel, and activities.
• Coordinate litigation ranging from multi-million dollar divorce cases to pro bono
advocacy for disabled children.
• Mentor and train students and young attorneys in the practice of law and
professional development.
2002 to 2004
Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP,
Florham Park, NJ
Attorney and Associate
• Served on team that was National Counsel to Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
• Litigated high profile complex matrimonial cases
• Advised mental health professionals employed in hospitals as to proper responses to subpoenas and required court testimony.
1999-2000
Legal Services of New Jersey, Edison, NJ
Legal and Social Work Intern at LSNJ State Headquarters
• Drafted motions, certifications, and orders for submission to New Jersey Superior Court
• Co-authored child support modification manual for pro se litigants
• Researched and compared new tobacco settlement bills to formulate strategies for advocacy
• Completed VAWA self petitions for immigrant victims of domestic violence
• Compiled State-wide survey and statistical analysis of child support delivery system in 19 different vicinages and authored position paper to be used for lobbying New Jersey State Senate for reforms to bureaucratic structures and systems
1997-1998
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
Social Work Intern at Children At Risk, Resources and Intervention
• Co-authored position paper on Medicaid reform for New Jersey Association of Infant Mental Health
• Founded community based advisory board, Friends of CARRI
• Assisted in therapeutic kindergarten for children placed out of district because of severe social, emotional, and psychological problems.
1994-1997
St. Peter’s High School, New Brunswick, NJ
Teacher: Spanish, Social Justice, and Ecumenical Scripture courses
• Created community service program and coordinated over 3,000 hours of service
per year
• Teacher of the Year 1995-96
1992-1994
Parent-Infant Care Center, New Brunswick, NJ
Counselor and Teacher for teen parents and their children
• Supervised Students Against Violence and Victimization of Youth
PUBLICATIONS:
Amicus Curiae national survey of domestic violence statutes across all 50 States, submitted on behalf of Partners for Women and Justice and relied upon by New Jersey Supreme Court in Shah v. Shah, 184 N.J. 125 (2005).
Once Upon a Daubert Hearing: The Admissibility of Novel Theories, 3 Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Expert Evidence Report 15, 369 (2003).
When Reasonable Efforts Hurt Victims of Abuse: Five Years of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, 26 Seton Hall Legislative Journal 2, 391 (2002).
Scientology or Censorship: You Decide: An Examination of the Church of Scientology, Its Recent Battles with Individual Internet Users and Service Providers, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and the Implications for Free Speech on the Web, 2 Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion 1.1 (2000).
SPECIAL HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS:
2006 Super Lawyer Rising Star as published in the August 2006 New Jersey Lawyer newspaper and New Jersey Monthly magazine.
2003 Appointment by the Managing Partners as one of only four representatives to the Associates’ Committee at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, an organization that serves as liaison for approximately 100 other attorneys
2001 Dean’s Award for the most “Outstanding Administration, Policy, and Planning Student Award,” as bestowed by Dean Mary Edna Davidson of the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work.
2001 Rutgers School of Law – Camden, Pro Bono Award for extended participation in the Community Dispute Resolution Committee Mediation Project.
2001 Dean’s “Special Recognition for Pioneering the Joint Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work Degree Program” as bestowed by Dean Mary Edna Davidson of the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work.
1999 Hunter Moot Court Competition Top 10 Oralist.
1996 Mayoral Proclamation from James M. Cahill for Teacher of the Year Award for service as teacher at Saint Peter’s High School.
TRAINING AND TEACHING:
2004 to Present
Partners for Women and Justice, Montclair, NJ
Trainer
• Train and educate pro bono attorneys across State to prepare them to represent victims of domestic violence in continuing family law litigation.
2002 to Present
Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work - New Brunswick, NJ
Visiting Part Time Lecturer
• Law and Social Work Module
• Issues in Social Policy: Children and Families
PERSONAL INTERESTS:
• Foster and Adoptive parent to New Jersey’s abused and neglected youth.
• Travel, baking, and public speaking.
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