The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Board of Trustees, the Association's governing body, presented the 2020–2021 preliminary budget and took action on other matters at its March 17 meeting, which convened by conference call.

The trustees approved a preliminary general operating budget for 2020–2021. The fiscal year starts July 1.

The proposed budget reflects roughly $12 million in projected revenue and nearly the equivalent in projected expenses. The plan continues to invest in infrastructure upgrades and producing events, seminars and conventions that keep members up-to-date and provide benefit to their practice and professional endeavors. The preliminary budget will be reviewed, especially in light of issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, before it is finalized in June.

The trustees supported an idea to increase the jurisdictional amounts used in the special civil courts. Though a report of the Supreme Court Committee on Special Civil Part Practice proposed an increase of $20,000 for special civil claims and $5,000 for small claims, the Association favored a different increase in relation to special civil claims. The NJSBA will urge the Judiciary to raise the limits to $25,000 for special civil claims, as opposed to $20,000.

The trustees also supported all the recommendations in the biennial report of the Supreme Court Committee of the Tax Court of New Jersey, which were largely clarifications or language updates. One proposal was an amendment that would make clear that all entities, other than sole proprietorships, need to be represented by an attorney in the tax court.