The New Jersey State Bar Association has awarded attorney Lawrence A. Friedman its 2016 Distinguished Legislative Service Award for helping to enact the Uniform Trust Code (“UTC”) in New Jersey.  The Distinguished Legislative Service Award is the Bar Association’s highest honor for noteworthy legislative service while the UTC codifies over 100 years of trust law into one comprehensive statute that is largely uniform over many states.

In bestowing the award, Bar Association President, Thomas Prol, noted,
This significant piece of legislation not only impacts the practice of trusts and estates law, but impacts young lawyers who may now find the practice of trusts and estates law more accessible.  Your efforts on drafting this legislation and ensuring its passage is exemplary of the kind of work the Association proudly encourages and supports and we are grateful for your service.

Larry drafted statutory provisions to protect special needs trusts and worked with Bar Association colleagues to resolve concerns of the Legislature and Governor and facilitate New Jersey’s enactment of the UTC in 2016.  Regarding Friedman and his colleagues, Bar Association President Prol also said,
“Their knowledge in this area of the law is unparalleled, and they continue to dedicate their efforts to teaching the UTC to their colleagues as evidence of their continued commitment to their profession.  In addition, their work has not gone unnoticed. They are called upon by legislative staff when questions arise in the area of trust and estate law. Their contributions to the association’s legislative program have proven invaluable.”

The Bar Association also awarded its  Distinguished Legislative Service Award to Lawrence A. Friedman in 2000 for his work in drafting earlier legislation to help New Jersey residents use special needs trusts.  Special needs trusts are an important tool that lawyers use to help people with disabilities enjoy a better quality of life.