About Liza M. Lopez, Esq.

Liza M. López is an accomplished attorney and educator with an extensive background in public service, law, and education. She graduated from SUNY College at New Paltz in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a minor in Law and Politics. Her commitment to public service began early in her career when she worked as a Research Assistant at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at CUNY Hunter College and later as a Community Organizer with the Bronx Voter Participation Project.

Ms. López’s passion for effecting broader societal change led her to pursue a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, which she completed in 1997. Over the next 34 years, Ms. López built a distinguished career in both law and education. She served as the Pro-Bono Coordinator for Essex-Newark Legal Services, Associate Counsel for the Newark Board of Education, and is currently the Lead Law Teacher at the Thurgood Marshall Law Academy of University High School of the Humanities, where she has spent 18 years preparing students for success. She is known for her excellence in teaching, having been consistently rated as a highly effective educator for over a decade.

In addition to her teaching, Ms. López is an Adjunct Professor at Essex County College’s Paralegal Studies Program and has co-taught dual enrollment courses in collaboration with prestigious institutions like Brown University and Howard University, allowing her students to earn college credits while still in high school. She also earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in 2016, further cementing her expertise in both education and leadership.

Ms. López maintains a successful law practice specializing in real estate law, where she assists first-time homebuyers by reviewing and explaining legal documents, ensuring contracts are valid, and guiding clients through the complex legal processes involved in purchasing a home. Her legal practice, combined with her passion for education, allows her to make a positive impact on the lives of many.

Beyond her professional roles, Ms. López has served in various leadership positions. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Paralegal Studies Program at Essex County College and Advisory Board for the Law and Public Safety Academies of the Newark Board of Education. Additionally, she has been a member of the Board of Trustees for Belleville Public Schools, Alumni Council of SUNY College at New Paltz and the NJ State Commission on Police Standards. She is also a past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and Leadership Newark Fellow, Class of 2004.  She was also designated Teacher of the Year 2020 and 2018.

Through her diverse roles, Ms. López continues to make meaningful contributions to both the legal and educational communities, demonstrating a deep commitment to public service, community involvement, and the advancement of her students.