Monday, May 24, 2010

Lawyers Gaming the System

I think the State would be surprised to learn how many lawyers there are that can maintain a private practice while simultaneously representing multiple towns, counties, and/or public schools with zero accountability to those overtaxed taxpayer-funded public agencies.  The practice gives a whole new meaning to the term "Super Lawyers".

By The Associated Press:

"New Jersey officials are investigating how a dozen private attorneys gained public pension credits in recent years.

The practice apparently continued after former Gov. Jon Corzine in June 2007 signed into law a bill that barred attorneys and others working for government under professional-services contracts from state pension rolls.

Treasury Department spokesman Andrew Pratt told The Record the lawyers were hired as employees by towns or other local-government agencies while maintaining their private practices.

Such arrangements give access to the state pension system and the promise of taxpayer-financed retirement and health-care benefits.

Pratt declined to release a list of the lawyers or the more than 40 towns or local-government agencies that have been contacted as part of the investigation."

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