Amanda Yu - Hackensack, NJ

Overview

Amanda M. Yu joined Lesnevich, Marzano-Lesnevich, O'Cathain & O'Cathain, LLC, as an associate in 2017. Born and raised in New Jersey, Amanda earned her B.A. from Rutgers University as part of the last graduating class of Rutgers College. She then earned her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in May of 2014.

Amanda began her legal journey when she interned at Central Jersey Legal Services in New Brunswick while attending Rutgers. She became determined to attend law school and her passion for family law was ignited. Amanda stays close to the Rutgers community through her work with the Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance conducting trainings and information sessions for students, faculty, and staff on temporary and final restraining orders.

While in law school, Amanda joined the Domestic Violence Action Center through which she became a trained Courtroom Advocate for Sanctuary for Families assisting domestic violence victims in obtaining Orders of Protection. Amanda was also awarded the prestigious Deborah T. Poritz Summer Public Interest Legal Fellowship through which she was able to return to CJLS and practice under R.1:21-3(b). Amanda was also selected to participate in Fordham's Family Advocacy Clinic where she fought tirelessly to prevail against the New York City Department of Education on behalf of underprivileged students seeking a free, appropriate, public education. She then became a Teaching Assistant for the clinic and guided other students in their casework as well as maintained her own caseload. For her time and dedication, Amanda was awarded the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award, summa cum laude, for completing more than 1000 hours of pro bono or community service work during law school.

In addition to gaining invaluable experience during her time at Fordham, Amanda was elected to be the Student Bar Association President and served in that capacity during her final year of law school. She continues to be involved in the Fordham Law community through her membership of the Fordham Law Alumni Association and the Recent Graduates Committee. She also serves as an executive board member on the Fordham Alumni Attorneys of Color - New Attorneys Division.

After graduation from law school, Amanda served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Linda E. Mallozzi, J.S.C. She began her clerkship assigned to the non-dissolution, domestic violence, and contempt cases, but spent the majority of her year handling dissolution cases.

Amanda practices exclusively in the field of family and matrimonial law. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey, the District of New Jersey, and New York. Amanda is a member of the Family Law Section and Young Lawyers Division of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Somerset County Bar Association, the Union County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.