Kristen Epifania
Office of the Public Defender
Kristen Epifania is an Assistant Deputy Public Defender with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, Monmouth County Region.
Kristen graduated from Brooklyn Law School, where she received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship, the Lisle Scholarship, and the Lark-Barranco Scholarship. She studied a diverse array of law, including immigration and asylum law and trial advocacy. Focusing on her passion for the criminal sector, Kristen pursued a specialized Certificate in Criminal Law, which required studies in Federal Criminal Investigations, Criminal Procedure and Evidence, Securities Fraud, Law and Police Policy, Forensic Science, and New York Criminal Procedure.
Upon graduating from law school, Kristen continued working with a Manhattan-based criminal defense firm, where she worked on both felony and misdemeanor matters throughout New York City. Additionally, Kristen gained practical experience on both the state and federal levels while at BLS. She worked with the Kings County District Attorney's Office in the Crimes Against Children bureau, assisting with the prosecution of sex crimes, assault charges, and homicides. She also worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, handling immigration matters that intersected with the criminal sector. Seeking to be involved in the community, Kristen dedicated pro-bono hours in Memphis, Tennessee, working as a Juvenile Justice Representative with the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office, as well as with Sanctuary for Families in New York, where she assisted with divorce proceedings stemming from domestic violence and sex trafficking cases.
Currently, Kristen is admitted to practice in the states of NY and NJ, as well as the Southern and Eastern Districts of NY. She is a member of the NJ Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the NY State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as the NY State Bar Association.
- Brooklyn Law School
- J.D. (2016) | Law
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- Honors: Dean’s Merit Scholarship, the Lisle Scholarship, and the Lark-Barranco Scholarship
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- Marist College
- B.A. (2012) | English Literature
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
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- Assistant Deputy Public Defender
- Office of the Public Defender
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- Associate Attorney
- Law Offfices of Julie Rendelman LLC
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- Civil Litigation Intern
- United States District Attorney's Office - Eastern District of New York
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- Crimes Against Children's Bureau Intern
- Kings County District Attorney's Office
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- Juvenile Justice Representative
- Shelby County Public Defenders Office
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- Student Legal Representative
- Sanctuary for Families
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- People of the State of New York v. John Doe
- Appellate Brief, Second Judicial Department
- United States v. John Doe
- Sentencing Memorandum
- Criminal Defense Career Paths, Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York
- Brooklyn Law School
- Certificate in Criminal Law
- Brooklyn Law School
- Rising Star
- Super Lawyers
- Rising Star
- Super Lawyers
- Top 40 Under 40
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Top 40 Young Lawyer
- National Alliance of Women in Law
- Rising Star
- Super Lawyers
- New York City Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Bar of the Southern District of New York
- Licensed Attorney
- - Current
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- State Bar of New Jersey
- Licensed Attorney
- - Current
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- Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey
- Member
- - Current
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- New Jersey State Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- - Current
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- State Bar of New York # 5512710
- Licensed Attorney
- - Current
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- New York State Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- New Jersey
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- New York
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- Federal Circuit
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- Credit Cards Accepted
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Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Flexible payment plans.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights
- DUI & DWI
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- White Collar Crime
- English: Spoken, Written
- Q. How do I defend myself against my wife who wants an order of protection over false claims?
- A: If she has already filed a petition for an order of protection, you will have to appear in family court. You should speak with an attorney to go over the specifics of your case, including the issue of her green card, as that can certainly go to her credibility. If you still have the messages she's referring to, it would be helpful to go over those with an attorney as well.
- Q. What's the sentencefor a class D felony charge
- A: The possible sentence will range depending on a variety of factors, including whether you have a prior conviction, what that conviction is for, etc. Speak with an attorney about your specific case facts to get a better understanding of where you stand.
- Q. Hi I was a. Used of shoplifting and was given a ticket to appear. This not my first time but the first time.
- A: Though jail is not likely, the DA's office will likely take the case more seriously than the previous one since it is not your first arrest. Nonetheless, a non-criminal disposition is still possible. Speak with your attorney and make sure he/she knows about your previous case.