Nia Gill ineligible to practice law for failure to pay fee

State Sen. Nia Gill (D-Montclair) has been ineligible to practice law for the last six months after failing to pay a registration fee required under New Jersey court rules.

Despite being notified of her ineligibility, Gill continues to hold a $70,416-a-year job as general  counsel for the Essex County Improvement Authority.

Gill went on the ineligible list on October 5, 2020 after not paying a $252 fee to the New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection.  The fund was established in 1961 as a way to reimburse clients who suffered losses as a result of a dishonest attorney.

The six-term Essex County senator would have been notified in writing that she was delinquent and would have been told that her name would be included on a list of ineligible attorneys.

Still, Gill has attended 6 of the 7 authority meetings since her ineligibility status became effective in her role as general counsel, records show.

As of today, Gill had not paid her registration fee, a spokesperson for the judiciary confirmed.

She needs to simply pay the annual fee in order to be restored to eligible status, the courts said.

Non-compliance is not considered a major violation, but it could be down the road.  After seven years on the ineligible list, the Supreme Court may move to revoke a license to practice.

Gill received her job as a counsel to the Essex County Improvement Authority in 2008.  She replaced former Livingston Mayor David Katz, who was nominated for a Superior Court judgeship.  Gill signed off on Katz, abstained on his nomination as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and that voted in support of his nomination in a full Senate vote.

The lawmaker did not immediately respond to telephone calls, voice mails and a 5:00 PM text message.