ATTORNEY PROFILE

Biography of Liza M. López, Esq.

Liza M. López who is of Puerto Rican descent is licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and the United States District Court of New Jersey. Born and raised in New York City, Ms. López received a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York, College at New Paltz in 1989, and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers School of Law-Newark in 1997.

Ms. López served as Associate Counsel to the State-operated School District for three years, where she provided legal counsel to 82 schools within the Newark Public Schools system and varied administrative departments within the school district. Previously, she served as Pro Bono Coordinator of the Volunteer Lawyers Program at Essex Newark Legal Services for six years, where she was responsible for recruiting private practice attorneys to provide free civil legal services to low-income residents of Essex County.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. López worked as a Community Organizer with the Bronx Voter Participation Project (VPP) of the Community Service Society of New York. There, she organized issue-based campaigns, non-partisan “Get Out the Vote” campaigns, voter registration drives, and voter education workshops. She also coordinated and administered the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Ms. López served as President of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey for the 2005-2006 Term. In 2004, Ms. López worked closely with the law students of Seton Hall University Law School, Rutgers School of Law – Newark, Rutgers School of Law – Camden to establish the Hispanic Bar Association Mentorship Program. As a result, the Latin American Law Students Association of Seton Hall University Law School recognized her with the Inspiración Latina award alongside the first appointed Puerto Rican New Jersey Supreme Court Justice. In 2005, Ms. López co-chaired the first Community Legal Education Conference held at Rutgers School of Law – Newark where free legal seminars were successfully delivered to statewide community residents including seniors, parents, community agency participants and providers.

Ms. López is passionate about leadership and organizational development, coalition building, and community empowerment. She also served as a board member of the Newark-based North Ward Civic Association and an alumnus of Leadership Newark, Class of 2004.