About Lorraine
Lorraine Gauli-Rufo earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1991. She moved from law school into practice in the tri-state area and built a practice centered on criminal defense. Her training at Seton Hall provided a foundation in courtroom procedure and advocacy, and she has maintained a steady presence in New Jersey and New York courts since beginning her practice.
Her professional life has focused on representing people accused of crimes. She is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York. Over the years she has handled matters at various stages of the criminal process. That work has included appearances at arraignments, pretrial hearings and trials. She represents clients facing a range of criminal charges and works to protect their rights through each step of the process.
She has taken roles beyond individual cases. Since 2017 she has served as a trustee of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (ACDL-NJ). In that capacity she has participated in the organization’s efforts to provide education, resources and a collective voice for criminal defense attorneys across the state. Her service on the board reflects long-standing engagement with professional and defense-oriented legal communities.
Colleagues describe her courtroom manner as steady and direct. She prepares for hearings and trials with close attention to procedure and evidence. She also engages in the kinds of case assessment and negotiation that often determine how a criminal matter is ultimately resolved. She has been a regular presence in criminal courtrooms in New Jersey and appears in matters in New York as necessary for clients whose cases cross state lines.
Outside litigation she remains involved in professional activities that connect defense attorneys across the region. That involvement keeps her current on developments in criminal law and on changes in practice that affect daily courtroom work. Her years in practice and her role with ACDL-NJ shape how she approaches client matters and professional collaboration.
She currently serves as a criminal defense lawyer and represents clients in criminal matters in New Jersey and New York.
