Vanarelli & Li, LLC is proud to announce that Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. has been named to the 2014 Super Lawyers list in Elder Law and Special Needs Planning. Elder Law and Special Needs Planning are legal specialties focusing on the legal needs of seniors and people with disabilities. The major legal practice areas within Elder Law and Special Needs Planning include estate planning and trust administration; Social Security, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid and other public benefits; probate litigation and will contests; disability planning, including guardianships and special needs trusts; and the protection of elders and the disabled against abuse, neglect, and  exploitation. Mr. Vanarelli was named to the Super Lawyers list in each of the past eight (8) years.

There are more than 85,000 attorneys practicing in New Jersey in 55 specialty categories, but only five percent (5%) are named to the Super Lawyers list each year. The Super Lawyers list identifies those lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes peer evaluations, a credentials review, and review by a blue ribbon panel of leading attorneys. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The Super Lawyers selection methodology can be found here.

A brief history of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s recognition of the “Super Lawyers” designation may be appropriate. In 2007, the New Jersey Supreme Court appointed a Special Master to conduct an investigation into the validity of the selection methodology used by “Super Lawyers” and other attorney ranking services. After a year-long investigation, the Special Master issued a 304 page report, concluding that the “Super Lawyers” methodology for selecting outstanding attorneys was valid. As a result, in 2008 our Supreme Court, for the first time, permitted attorneys to publicly identify themselves as having been selected for inclusion in the list of “New Jersey Super Lawyers.” In re Opinion 39 of the Committee on Attorney Advertising, 197 N.J. 66 (2008)

Vanarelli & Li, LLC congratulates Mr. Vanarelli on being named to the Super Lawyer List in New Jersey in 2014, and in prior years.