About Charles Patterson
Charles Patterson McKenna built his legal foundation at Rutgers School of Law–Newark, where he earned his J.D. in 2001 and concentrated on Alternative Dispute Resolution. The focus of his studies placed mediation and negotiated outcomes at the center of his training. It also set a predictable path for the work he would do in the years that followed.
His career has been centered in New Jersey. He is admitted to practice in the state and appears regularly before local tribunals and administrative panels. McKenna is listed as a lawyer at the Community Justice Center, an organization where procedural knowledge and client-facing skills intersect. His background in ADR informs how he approaches daily casework and how he prepares clients for settlement conversations and hearings.
McKenna holds a certification in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Division of Consumer Affairs, State of New Jersey. That credential complements his academic studies and underlines his role in resolving disputes outside traditional litigation when possible. It also qualifies him to act in settings where court-connected mediation or administrative dispute resolution is used to narrow or resolve contested matters.
Professional associations have been part of McKenna’s career rhythm. He has been a member of the American Bar Association since 2004 and joined the New Jersey State Bar Association in 2005. Locally, he became a member of the Middlesex County Bar Association in 2009 and remains active there. Those memberships keep him engaged with developments in state rules, court procedure, and best practices for dispute resolution.
Colleagues describe him as steady in the handling of procedural tasks and practical when dealing with opposing counsel. He tends to prioritize clarity in client communication. He lays out options, explains likely timelines, and works through settlement parameters before hearings take place. That methodical style is suited to the Community Justice Center’s emphasis on community-level access to legal processes.
McKenna’s work sits at the intersection of public-facing legal services and alternative dispute resolution. He continues to handle matters that benefit from negotiated settlements as well as contested proceedings that require administrative or court involvement. He currently practices law in New Jersey, concentrating on alternative dispute resolution and community legal services.
