New Jersey State Bar Foundation

What New Jersey State Bar Foundation does

The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1958 that serves as the charitable and educational arm of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Headquartered at One Constitution Square in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the Foundation delivers free statewide law-related education to K-12 students, educators, and the general public across all 21 NJ counties, with operational support from a small professional staff under Executive Director Angela C. Scheck and governance provided by a volunteer Board of Trustees.

Its core program portfolio centers on three product groups. The mock trial ecosystem spans grades 3-12 and includes the Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition (214 teams, 3,000+ students), Law Adventure (grades 7-8), Law Fair (grades 3-6), plus ancillary contests (Courtroom Artist, Courtroom News Reporter). Educator trainings deliver free professional development on violence prevention, anti-bias, conflict resolution, peer mediation, restorative justice, and Holocaust education. A grant and scholarship portfolio funds 52+ nonprofit cosponsorships, 9 summer associate placements, 3 law fellows, law school scholarships for second/third-year students, peer mediation grants ($500-$1,000), and Court Night programming. Publications include The Legal Eagle, Respect newsletter, The Informed Citizen blog, and curriculum guides, distributed via mail order and free download.

The Foundation has no proprietary technology product; distribution runs through direct school engagement, 21 county bar association coordinators, a volunteer attorney Speakers Bureau (now with virtual Zoom delivery), and an online content hub. Revenue is drawn primarily from the IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey (mandatory for all NJ private-practice attorneys), supplemented by individual and corporate tax-deductible donations, Medal of Honor Award Celebration event proceeds (tickets $225-$250, sponsorships $2,500-$10,000), and engraved brick sales ($250-$1,000). All Foundation programs, publications, and grants are provided free of charge to the public.

Name

New Jersey State Bar Foundation

Legal name

New Jersey State Bar Foundation

Website

https://njsbf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1958 that delivers free statewide law-related education — including mock trial competitions for grades 3-12, educator trainings, publications, and law school scholarships — to K-12 students, educators, and the public across New Jersey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Education Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

History & Civics Competitions (History Bowl, Bee, National History Day) (EDAMAGAH), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Legal education programs
• Mock trial competitions
• Civics education services
• Law school scholarships
• Nonprofit legal outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

New Brunswick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. IOLTA Fund Grants: Primary funding from the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, mandated for all New Jersey attorneys in private practice. Funds law-related education programs, grants, and fellowships.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations supporting the foundation's mission of free law-related education.
3. Medal of Honor Event Revenue: Ticket sales ($225-$250/person), sponsorships ($2,500-$10,000), journal ads, and commemorative brick sales fund law school scholarships and programs.
4. Commemorative Brick Sales: Engraved bricks sold for installation at the New Jersey Law Center portico in three sizes (4x8, 8x8, 12x12) at prices from $250 to $1,000.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free statewide law-related education to New Jersey residents. Its core offerings include K-12 mock trial competitions (grades 3-12), educator professional development trainings in violence prevention, anti-bias, and conflict resolution, free publications and civics curriculum, grants and scholarships for law students and nonprofit organizations, and a volunteer attorney Speakers Bureau. All programs, publications, and grants are provided at no cost to participants and funded by IOLTA, corporate sponsors, and individual donations.

Product overview

The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1958 that serves as a free statewide resource for law-related education. Its product portfolio centers on educational programs for students (mock trial competitions for grades 3-12 including the Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition, Law Adventure, and Law Fair), educator trainings (violence prevention, anti-bias, conflict resolution, peer mediation), publications (The Legal Eagle, Respect newsletter, The Informed Citizen blog), and grant/fellowship programs (law school scholarships, summer associates, nonprofit law fellows, cosponsorships, peer mediation grants, Court Night). Additional offerings include a Speakers Bureau for attorney volunteer speakers, the Medal of Honor Award, and commemorative materials for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. All programs are free and funded by IOLTA, corporate sponsors, and individual donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition Annual statewide mock trial competition for high school students (grades 9-12) where student teams take on roles of attorneys, witnesses, and jurors using original case materials prepared by the NJSBF Mock Trial Committee. In 2025-2026, 214 teams and 3,000+ students participated. The state champion represents New Jersey at the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
• Law Adventure Competition Mock trial competition for 7th and 8th grade students who submit original mock trial cases suitable for classroom use to teach legal issues.
• Law Fair Competition Mock trial competition for elementary school students in grades 3-6 where students submit original mock trial cases to promote understanding of the law and justice system.
• Courtroom Artist Contest Competition for high school students to sketch their school's mock trial team in action during county mock trial contests.
• Courtroom News Reporter Competition Competition for high school students to cover mock trials in their counties and write articles; winning student accompanies the State Championship team to the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
• Educator Trainings Professional development trainings for New Jersey educators including violence prevention, anti-bias initiatives, conflict resolution, peer mediation, restorative justice, Holocaust education, and school climate workshops. Topics include Beyond Bias, Lessons from the Amistad, HIB Characteristics, Social Emotional Character Development, and Trauma Savvy School Culture.
• Publications Free law-related publications including The Legal Eagle (legal newspaper for kids), Respect (diversity and inclusion newsletter), The Informed Citizen (civics blog), Constitutionally Speaking, Bill of Rights Up Close, and audio versions of consumer guides.
• Law School Scholarships Scholarships awarded to students entering their second or third year at a New Jersey law school, including named scholarships such as Abram D. and Maxine H. Londa Scholarship, Theodore A. Schwartz Scholarship, Justin P. Walder Scholarship, and Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Scholarships.
• Cosponsorship Program Partnership program where NJSBF partners with New Jersey nonprofit organizations to broaden public education about the legal system through grant funding.
• Nonprofit Summer Associate Program Grants to New Jersey nonprofits to fund law students to work as Summer Associates during the summer, developing advocacy and legal skills.
• Nonprofit Law Fellowship Grants to New Jersey nonprofits to fund Law Fellows (law graduates or new attorneys) to work on public interest law projects.
• Court Night Program Cosponsored program with NJ county and affinity bar associations to open courts to the public and explain how the judicial system works, planned around Law Day USA in May.
• Peer Mediation Grants Mini-grants of $500 to ten schools per fiscal year and one middle school grant of up to $1,000 to promote positive school climate initiatives.
• Speakers Bureau Free program connecting volunteer attorneys to schools, senior citizens, and community groups to speak on 30+ law-related topics. Virtual option available via Zoom.
• Medal of Honor Award Annual prestigious award given to lawyers, law-related professionals, and lay people who exemplify significant contribution to the justice system and betterment of the legal profession in New Jersey. 2026 celebration scheduled for September 22.
• 250th Anniversary of American Independence Materials Free civics-based materials for the Semiquincentennial including posters, founding documents, quotes about democracy, Revolutionary trivia about New Jersey, and publications.
• Online Civics & Mock Trial Content Digital resources including mock trial lessons, civics activities, quizzes, and downloadable materials for educators and students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 students participate annually in mock trial programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.

• Community Health Law ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCosponsor partner for the annual Law and Disability Conference, held at the New Jersey Law Center. CHLP president noted Foundation has been instrumental in helping build a network of individuals and organizations working to better lives of individuals with disabilities.
• 180 Turning Lives AroundstandardStrategic or Co-development Partner2026-2027 cosponsor offering Court Advocacy program talks to support domestic violence survivors.
• American Civil Liberties Union of New JerseystandardStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 Summer Associate grant recipient hosting law students for public interest legal work.
• Garden State EqualitystandardStrategic or Co-development Partner2026-2027 cosponsor delivering Legal Literacy and Community Empowerment for LGBTQ+ New Jersey.
• League of Women Voters of New JerseystandardStrategic or Co-development Partner2026-2027 cosponsor for Voter Education: Know Your Voting Rights program.
• NJ LEEPstandardStrategic or Co-development Partner2026-2027 cosponsor for Legal Diversity Pipeline and College Access program.
• New Jersey State Bar AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization; the Foundation carries out the charitable and educational endeavors of the organized bar. NJSBA provides staff support and collaboration on programs including the Medal of Honor Award and Member Assistance Mental Health Project.
• County Bar Associations (21 NJ Counties)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCounty bar associations coordinate local mock trial competitions and Court Night programs. Each of New Jersey's 21 counties has designated coordinators for mock trial programs.
• RevolutionNJ PartnershipstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with New Jersey Historical Commission and Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. NJSBF is listed as PROUD PARTNER providing educational resources.
• Covenant House New JerseystandardStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 Summer Associate grant recipient. Foundation funding supports Atlantic City Youth Advocacy Center and law fellow position.
• Education Law CenterstandardStrategic or Co-development Partner2026-2027 Law Fellow host organization. Jonathan Acampora (Seton Hall '25) joined to work on school discipline advocacy for Essex County public school students.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York Bar Foundation: The New York Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the New York State Bar Association. Both organizations rely on IOLTA-style funding, sponsor law-related education competitions, and award law school scholarships in their respective states.
• Street Law: Street Law provides law-related education for high school students through classroom programs and mock trial competitions. Both organizations use volunteer attorneys as educators and focus on practical civics engagement in schools.
• Center for Civic Education: Center for Civic Education runs the We the People program and similar constitutional/civics curricula in K-12 schools. Both organizations provide free teacher training, classroom materials, and student competitions around constitutional law and the justice system.
• iCivics: iCivics is a leading nonprofit providing free civics education curriculum and games for K-12 students, founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Both NJSBF and iCivics deliver no-cost law and civics instructional content to schools nationwide or statewide, competing for similar educator attention and philanthropic funding.
• Texas Bar Foundation: The Texas Bar Foundation is a statewide nonprofit affiliated with the State Bar of Texas that provides grants for law-related education and access to justice. Both share the bar-foundation operating model: IOLTA funding, scholarships, and free public legal education.
• Constitutional Rights Foundation: Constitutional Rights Foundation provides civics and law-related education programs for K-12 students, including mock trial and youth litigation programs. Both NJSBF and CRF mobilize legal professionals to deliver classroom and competition-based civic learning.
• Florida Bar Foundation: The Florida Bar Foundation is the charitable and educational arm of The Florida Bar, funding law-related education, legal aid, and access to justice programs. Both are state-bar-affiliated 501(c)(3)s with IOLTA-style funding and grantmaking portfolios.

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association: The American Bar Association is the national umbrella professional association for lawyers, with a Division for Public Education. While NJSBF is the educational arm of the state bar, ABA operates as the broader national peer in bar-based civic education and lawyer volunteer mobilization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKgFx55IKTLm_mUrUH-GgTg
• Facebookfacebook.com/NJStateBarFdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-jersey-state-bar-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/njstatebarfdn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Jersey State Bar Foundation