Attorney Profile

John Paragano, Esq., provides representation in a full array of Criminal, Municipal and Family Law matters, including but not limited to divorce, child support, child custody, interstate litigation, child welfare litigation, violent crimes, sex crimes, administrative hearing/appeals, domestic violence and appellate work. Mr. Paragano ran his own firm for 20 plus years.

Mr. Paragano served as Municipal Court Judge for the Township of Union from January 1999- December 2005. Municipal Court Judge for the Township of Union, the 14th largest town in New Jersey with a population of approximately 50,000, is responsible for adjudicating all motor vehicle violations, disorderly person’s offenses, and township ordinance violations.

Mr. Paragano also served as General Counsel to the General Assembly Democratic Caucus in 1992 and was responsible for acting as Counsel to the General Assembly Judiciary Committee, representing Democratic members and staff in front of the Legislative Ethics committee, and providing legal counsel and advice to Democratic members and minority staff in the General Assembly of the State Legislature.

Immediately following law school, Mr. Paragano was an Associate at DeCotiis, Philips & Lundsten in Roseland, New Jersey from September 1990 to February 1992. As an Associate, Mr. Paragano engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on complex civil and criminal litigation.

While in Law school, Mr. Paragano worked for the United Sates Department of Justice, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Misdemeanor Trial Section, as a Paralegal Specialist responsible for the Government’s reply to all defense motions filed in the District of Columbia misdemeanor cases, conducting research on legal issues and precedents, and tracking defense motions to assure all government motions are submitted prior to court date. Mr. Paragano also clerked for the United Sates Department of Justice, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Chronic Offenders Unit, and was responsible for legal research, preparing legal memorandum and motion response, and assisting Assistant United States Attorney with trial preparation.

Prior to serving as Judge, Mr. Paragano served on the Union Township Committee from 1993-1999 and also served as Deputy Mayor 1995 & 1997, Police Commissioner 1997-1998, and Public Works Commissioner 1995 – 1996.

Mr. Paragano obtained his law degree from George Washington University, National Law Center, Washington, D.C. and his undergraduate degree from George Washington University where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in International Affairs with an area of concentration of International Politics. At George Washington, Mr. Paragano received Outstanding Academic Achievement Citation Award from George Washington University in 1987 and an Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from the School of Public and International Affairs in 1987 for graduating in the top two percent of his class. Mr. Paragano also studied at Loyola University Rome Center, Rome, Italy from 1985-1986.

John Paragano, Esq. LLC has offices in Union County and Monmouth County, NJ and serves the entire state of New Jersey including Union, Essex, Bergen, Hudson, Morris, Somerset, Monmouth, Ocean and surrounding counties.