From I 295 North

Take exit 21 toward Woodbury/​National Park. Follow signs for Woodbury and County Rd 640 East and merge onto County Rd 640 (Delaware St) and go 1.6 miles. Cross Broad Street and road will become Cooper Street. We are in the brick building 500 ft. up on the left, with parking in the public garage across the street on the right.

From I 295 South

At Exit 26, keep right at the fork and follow signs for I-295 S/​NJ-42 S/​Del Memorial Bridge/​Atlantic City.    Keep right at the next fork and merge onto I-295 South. Take exit 24A and merge onto NJ-45 South/​N. Broad Street towards Woodbury. At your fourth light (approx. 2 miles), turn left onto Cooper Street. We are in the brick building 500 ft. up on the left, with parking in the public garage across the street on the right.

The Carter Building

From Route 42 North

Take exit 12 for NJ-41 toward NJ-55/​Woodbury/​Runnemede/​County Route 544. Make slight right onto NJ-41 N (​Hurffville Road). Continue to follow NJ-41 North to Turn left onto Clements Bridge Rd (County Road 544).Turn right onto Cooper St (​County Road 706). We are in the brick building 2 miles up on the right, with parking in the public garage across the street on the left, 500 ft. before Broad Street.

View from the free parking garage across the street

From I 676 South and Route 130 South

Take I-676 South and merge onto I-76 East. Take exit 1C to merge onto US-130 S/​Crescent Blvd toward Brooklawn/​Westville.  At the traffic circle, continue straight onto County Rd 551 North. At the next traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Gateway Blvd (New Broadway). Continue to follow Gateway Blvd   0.5 and take a Slight left onto NJ-45 South (Gateway Blvd). Follow this 3 miles to the fifth light, and turn left onto Cooper Street. We are in the brick building 500 ft. up on the left, with parking in the public garage across the street on the right.

Once you get into the building, come down the hall and we are on the left hand side on the first floor. If you have trouble with steps, there are three in the front.  Let us know and we will come help you.

Sign on our door

Free parking is available in the street and also across the street in a parking garage. Please do not park in the lot next to our building, which is not owned by our building, or a strange man comes out and yells at you and puts signs on your car. It will be very odd and uncomfortable. We watch him do this 10 times a day from our window.

You can also park for free in the street across from the building

   A Free Educational Seminar

   Covering topics from the legal, financial and emotional aspects and more of divorce

           Divorce is not for the uneducated. Knowing what you are entitled to and how to make    sure your rights and property are protected are paramount. Who to trust, what to do and  how to get started are just a handful of the questions for those going through the process or considering a divorce. If you or someone you know are getting a divorce or thinking about divorce, then don’t miss a free educational seminar – The Complete Divorce Course on Thursday, December 8,  7p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Cherry Hill Library in their Half Conference Center, Lower Level.

 Lynda Hinkle is spearheading the educational seminar as part of her commitment to the community.  This program is designed to help anyone seeking advice about divorce and might be intimidated to take the first step and seek legal advice and meet with an attorney.

“My hope is that the seminar offers more than just an education about the legalities about divorce but offers  a better understanding that there are many professionals available to assist families deal with all the pertinent  issues surrounding divorce; from how to deal with the finances or the emotional dealings of divorce. Divorce does not have to mean disaster.  This seminar is one-stop-shopping on divorce,” said Hinkle.  “It’s my hope that anyone that is in a bad situation will take advantage of this unique opportunity to come, learn and ask questions in a friendly atmosphere. It’s critical to be well informed about divorce,” said Hinkle.

The line-up of speakers includes the following:

• Lynda L. Hinkle, L.L.C.  - The legal divorce process from beginning to end!
• Roseann Vanella - Professional Mediator - Mediation – Contemporary and Cost Effective Approach to Divorce.
• Kay Larrabee - The Divorce Concierge of South Jersey – Steps you can take before a divorce action occurs that can protect yourself, your children and your assets.
• Dr. Michael Plumeri - Clinical Psychologist – Divorce an Emotional Experience
• Lynn DeVasto, CRPC, CDFA - Wealth Advisor- “Getting with the Right Financial Decisions” 

RSVP to Lisa Bien at lisabien@bienmarketinggroup.com or call her at 609-314-0952.

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If this had occurred in New Jersey, the answer is yes…and teachers, professionals and even lay persons who witness abuse should be aware that there is a mandatory reporting statute in New Jersey. Failure to report suspected abuse can carry a fine of up
to $1000 and six months in jail as a disorderly persons offense (see NJSA 9:6-8.14). For those concerned about the possibility that an employer will retaliate, New Jersey also has a Conscientous Employee Protection Act (CEPA, N.J.S.A. 34:19-1) which is one of
the strongest whistleblower protection acts in the country. If an employee reasonably believes that illegal activity is taking place (such as failure to report child abuse as described above), they are protected under that Act from employer retribution.

In the coming months as the scandal at Penn State plays out, it is most important that we all remember that children’s voices are smaller, and they need our voices to be loud and unwavering to protect them. Child abuse is prevelant, real and creates
a lifetime of damage. Do your part, and your legal duty. If you suspect abuse, report it.

To report abuse in New Jersey, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 1-877-NJ-ABUSE. For more
information of the signs of abuse or how to report, visit http://nj.gov/dcf/abuse/how/ .

Many people who come to our office are new to the world of litigation and the hiring of an attorney. Many of our Clients, sensibly and understandably, have assorted questions about how and how much they will pay for our services. Common questions are “What do you mean when you say ‘retainer’?” “How much will this cost?” and “Is this a one-time fee?” In order to explain exactly how we as your attorneys will be paid and what it is that you the Client will be paying for, exactly, we like to provide everyone with what we hope is a brief but informative summary of how we as your attorneys earn and collect our fees.

Starting with the simplest and most straight forward issue, some legal matters are indeed billed by way of a one-time payment of a flat fee by our Clients. Things such as Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney, traditional legal documents which have been drawn up for hundreds of years by attorneys, are quite frequently created for clients by our office, and many others, for the payment of a one-time fee. Other legal work, however, is frequently more complex, takes more time, and has no certain date as its end. These matters are usually taken as an “hourly billable” matter and will require the payment of, and usually a refreshing of, what is called a “retainer”.

When it comes to an hourly billable matter requiring a retainer, we as your attorneys are only paid by you the Client for the time we actually spend working on the legal aspects of your particular matter. We do this so that you do not pay us for time not spent on your legal affairs and also so that we are accurately compensated for the time we do utilize on your behalf. When it comes to these minutes, we—like virtually all lawyers—bill in an initial six minute increment and then by the individual minute after six minutes. These billable minutes will be drawn from a retainer.

So, what is a retainer? A retainer is a lump sum paid to a law office in advance, from which the office will draw its fees as it works on a Client’s affairs. It is not a flat fee or a one-time payment. In fact, we—like most law offices—require Clients to refresh their retainer to its original amount when only 25% of the original retainer funds remain. But please be aware that we here at the Law Offices of Lynda L. Hinkle know that these are tough economic times and we recognize that many times a Client will not have at their disposal a sufficient amount of funds to refresh their retainer completely to its original amount once a matter has begun its course. We’re hard working attorneys who represent hard working Clients, and we understand fully the value of a dollar and your need to provide for your family and your necessities. Talk to us. We will find a payment plan that works for you. While the amount of a retainer will vary from matter to matter, its purpose will always be the same. The retainer is a pool from which the law office will draw its fees as it continues to work for our Client. This allows your attorneys to work for you without worrying about payment and it ensures you the Client that your money is being earned, since you will be billed and have the opportunity to examine your bill before we as your attorneys pay ourselves for our work. The retainer system ensures hard work and honesty in both effort and accounting on the part of your attorneys.

You will have detailed information on how our time was spent on your matter. If you have any questions or issues, we always welcome dialogue. If you need to conserve funds on your matter, we can offer suggestions on ways we can reduce costs such as chasing down information on your own to provide us so that we do not need to spend our time on assembling discovery, responding promptly to our questions, planning conversations with us for maximum value, and other suggestions unique to your circumstances on how matters can be settled more promptly.

There are lawyers who deliberately extend the time spent on matters to increase their billable time. We can promise we will never do that. To us, resolving your matter as quickly and efficiently as possible is job number one. That being said, no lawyer can guarantee the amount of time that will need to be spent on a matter. How the other side reacts, your own decisions about what you will accept in negotiation, and other factors can significantly increase or decrease your bill. One factor you CAN control however is hiring the right lawyer who will put your needs above their billing…that’s us!

Lynda L. Hinkle has been named one of SJ Magazine’s Top Attorneys in Family/Divorce for 2011. Hinkle was photographed at the Battleship New Jersey for the issue. About the photoshoot and the honor, she says “While I was growing up, my father worked on this battleship and others like them at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard…my mother and he worked hard to put me through college. All the honor really belongs to them, and being photographed on the Battleship New Jersey was like coming full circle. I will continue to try to provide my clients with service, professionalism and caring, along with my Associate Jeff Kerstetter and our Of Counsels Carol Otvos and Lou Simoni.”

Attorneys are selected for the list by recommendation of their peers in the profession.

Don’t let the suit and tie fool you, associate Jeffrey Alan Kerstetter is a blue collar guy. Born and raised along the shores of Lake Erie in Erie County, Pennsylvania, Jeff worked full time as a CDL truck driver to pay his own way through a BA cum laude in both Spanish and German at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania as well as a Juris Doctor at Rutgers Law School Camden. Count on Jeff to put real world wisdom to work on courtroom legalese.

Jeff practices primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, family law, and landlord/tenant.

About Lynda L. Hinkle

Lynda L. Hinkle has a background as an academic, an educator, and an activist. Her legal experiences include clerking at the Division of Law – DYFS, participating in the Child and Family Advocacy Clinic at Rutgers University School of Law – Camden, representing children in getting SSI determinations, representing and advocating for victims of domestic violence, and mediating in municipal and superior court. Now she puts all the talents developed in these areas into representing you!

Bar Admission

New Jersey

Past Employment

MP Journal, Editor in Chief of a Feminist, International Peer Reviewed Academic Journal 2007-Present.

Junior Attorney, Child and Family Advocacy Clinic

Financial Literacy Information Project Leader, Rutgers University School of Law

Summer Intern, Division of Law, Department of Youth and Family Services.

Research Assistant, Professor John C. Lore, Rutgers University School of Law, Children’s Justice Clinic

Adjunct Professor, Camden County College, Salem Community College, Fairton Federal Prison

through Cumberland County College

Contracted Long Term Substitute, Black Horse Pike Regional School District

Business Development, Microwarehouse

President and Owner, Dandelion Innovations, public relations and writing

President and Founder, Women Halting Online Abuse (Now Working to Halt Online Abuse)

District Representative, Congressman Robert E. Andrews

Education

Rutgers University School of Law – Camden.  J.D., May 2009.

Coursework/Activities Included:

•  Child and Family Advocacy Clinic
•  Child Abuse and Neglect
•  Domestic Violence Practice (Mini-Clinic)
•  Family Law
•  Social Welfare Law and Public Policy
•  Federal Income Tax
•  Externship with the Division of Law
•  DYFS
•  ADR
•  Advanced Mediation
•  Decedents, Wills, and Estates
•  New Developments Editor, Journal of Law and Religion

Rutgers University – Camden.  M.A. in English, January 2008.

Coursework/activities included:

• Presented papers at national and international academic conferences.
• Published multiple academic articles
• President of English Graduate Students Association
• Organized an academic conference at Rutgers.

Thesis: “Reaping the Whirlwind:  Regaining the Irish Catholic Literary Voice of 19^th Century America Through the Works of Christine Faber” based on  a book-length collection of an author’s short stories as published in Redpath’s Weekly from 1882-1884, with critical essays.

Advisor:  Dr. Holly Blackford.

Rowan University, M.S. in Teaching, Secondary Ed., August 2003.

Thesis:  “An Exploratory Study of the  Impact of Alternative Approaches to Treatment of Bullying Behaviors at the Middle/High School Level in  a Southern New Jersey School District.”

Advisor: Dr. Thomas Monahan.

Rowan University, B.A. in English, Honors Concentration, January 1993.

Activities included:

• Student Government
•  English Club,
• Avant Literary Magazine.

 Senior Thesis: “Decoding Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.”

Advisor:  Dr. Cindy Vitto

 Community Service

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties, 2010-Present.
  • Event Chair, Cooking for Kids’ Sake, a food tasting event involving South Jersey independent restaurants, 2012.
  • Restaurant Committee Member, Cooking for Kids’ Sake, 2011.
  • Volunteer, Cooking for Kids’ Sake, 2010.

• Cooper Hospital Foundation, 2011-Present.
  • Member of fundraising committee for Pink Roses/Teal Magnolias brunch to raise funds for breast and gynecological cancer, 2011

• Mock Trial Judge, 2010 and 2012.
  • Vincent J. Apruzzese High School
  • Gloucester County Family Courts

• Rutgers University Alumni Association, Alumni Leaders Council, 2011-Present.

Active participant in Alumni Association with the following service elements:

• Rutgers University Recent Graduate Council Member, 2009-Present
• Rutgers University Alumni Association Homecoming Committee, 2010-Present
• Rutgers University Alumni Association, Awards Committee, 2011
• Rutgers University School of Law Charter Group organizer for Small/Solo Firm, pending.
• Burlington County Advisory Council on Women, January 2012-Present
• Director of Community Food Drive, Food Bank of South Jersey, 2011.
• Planning Committee, Cooking for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) fundraiser, 2011
• Administrative Council, Pitman United Methodist Church
• Pro-Bono Attorney, Our Father’s House Nursery School, affiliated with Pitman United Methodist Church
• Ewomen Network Vision Committee, 2010-Present
• Bellmawr Lions Club, 2009-Present.
  •  Assisted in fundraising for charities assisting the physically and mentally challenged in the community
  •  Editor in chief of an international, peer-reviewed feminist academic journal.

 Special Honors 

• Named by peers as one of the best divorce lawyers in SJ Magazine for 2011
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, New Jersey Chapter Family Law Award, 2009
• Deborah Michael Richards Scholarship for Family Law, 2009
• Mary Philbrook Public Interest Student Award Honoree, 2008
• Marshall Brennan Fellow, 2007-2008
• Association for Public Interest Law Summer Grant Award, 2008

Published Articles

“Practice Management Tips for Community Service.” GP Solo Magazine (American Bar Association publication), pp. 24-25, Jan/Feb 2012 Edition

“Where No Human Aid is Possible. Or is It?:  How the Temperance Movement and Suffrage Movement Changed the American Family.”  MP Journal, Winter 2009 Issue.

 “Tithing to the Vortex: The Secrecy of Financial Records in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion. Vol.10, Fall 2008.  Available at:

http://org.law.rutgers.edu/publications/law-religion/new_devs/ND10-1TithingShort.pdf

“Harriet Martineau and the Separate Economy of ‘Domestic Service’.” Shawagunk Review. SUNY-New Paltz Graduate Annual.  April 2007 Issue.

“Women and Silence in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness ….or Patriarchal Fantasy 2.0.” MP Journal,

January 2007 Issue.

“The Superior Parent: Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Abolitionist ‘Fostering’ of Slaves.”  MP Journal. June 2007 Issue.

“The Machinist Rolls Up His Sleeves:  Whitman and the Working Class.” Mickle Street Review: An

Electronic Journal of Whitman and American Studies. Issue 17/18, Fall 2005.

“Between the Idea and the Reality Falls the Shadow:  White Teachers, Minority Students.”  The New

Jersey English Journal.  Ed. NJCTE.  2005.

“Dethroning Bullying.” Academic Exchange Extra, May 2005.

“’Susan Faludi’ and ‘Guerrilla Girls’ in Women and American Politics.” Ed. Lynne E. Ford, Facts on File, 2005.

“The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.”  Facts on File Companion to the American Novel, 2005.

”The Media Stereotyping Machine.” Glassworks Journal, Glassboro State College Press, 1992.

 Presentations 

“Caring for Elderly Parents.”  Trillutions, Marlton NJ, March 2012-June 2012.

“Divorce Course.”  Cherry Hill Public Library, Cherry Hill, NJ, December 2011, January 2012 and February 2012.

“Financial and Legal Health.” The Law Office of Lynda Hinkle, Marlton, NJ, February 2010.

“Family First: The Policy Considerations of Privileging Adoption over Kinship Care in the United States and the United Kingdom.” Securing Economic and Social Human Rights Conference at Rutgers School of Law, Camden, April 17, 2009.

“Bashing Baby Be Bop:  Gay Teens in Young Adult Literature.”  Mid-Atlantic Popular

Culture Association, Philadelphia, October 2007.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Fostering of Slaves.”  Mid-Atlantic Popular Culture

Association, Baltimore, October 2006.

“Erotic Nightmares Beyond Any Measure:  The Performance of Gender and Violence in ‘The Rocky

Horror  Picture Show’ and ‘The Bacchae’ by  Euripides.” Mid-Atlantic Popular Culture Association, New Brunswick, NJ, November 2005.

“Bloodsucking Structures: American Female Vampires as Class Critique.” International

Gothic Association Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, August 2005.

“The Machinist Rolls Up His Sleeves:  Walt Whitman and the Working Class.” Walt

Whitman  and Place Conference, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, April 2005.

“Between the Idea and the Reality Falls the Shadow:  White Teachers, Minority Students.” Stony Brook University English Department Graduate Conference, New York City, February 2005.

“Bloodsucking Structures: American Female Vampires as Class Critique.” PCA/ACA

Conference, San Diego CA, March 2005.  Schoeneke Travel Grant Award Winner.

“Bloodsucking Structures: American Female Vampires as Class Critique.” English

Graduates for Academic Development (EGAD) Texas A&M-Commerce, Commerce, TX, September 2004. Outstanding Paper Award.  Rutgers Travel Grant Award.

Invited Talks

“Start Your Own Firm.” Rutgers School of Business, Camden, NJ, February 2012.

“Small Business Legal Issues.” Empowerment Hour Radio Show, WiFi 1460AM, January 2012.

 “Starting a Solo or Small Firm Practice: Advice from Alums”. CLE presenter at Rutgers School of Law, Camden, NJ, December 2011.

“Starting a Solo or Small Practice: Advice for Alums.” Featured Speaker for CLE, Rutgers School of Law, November 2011.

“Being the Rock: Business Health for Small Business Owners.”  Ewomen Network of South Jersey, Fall 2011.

“Legal Health for Her.” Women’s Opportunity Center of Burlington County, March 2010 and March 2011.

“Being the ROCK: Business Health for Small Business Owners.”  Ewomen Network of South Jersey, Fall 2011.

“Legal Health for Her.” Women’s Opportunity Center of Burlington County, December 2009, March 2010 and March 2011.

“Careers in Small Law Firms.” Women’s Law Caucus of Rutgers Law Camden, March 2011.

“Careers in Small Law Firms.” Rutgers University School of Law, Career Services, 2011.

“Living Wills and Estate Planning.” Vitas Hospice Care, Marlton, August 2010.

“Domestic Violence Basics.”  Providence House of Burlington County, June 2010.

“Domestic Violence Basics.” Providence House of Burlington County, June 2009 and June 2010.

“Between the Myth and the Reality Falls the Shadow:  White Teachers, Minority Students.” Breakout session for New Jersey Council of Teachers of English STARS 8 Annual Conference. Lakewood, NJ, February 2005.

Reviews 

“Errors and Expectations:  A Guide for the Teacher of Basic Writing by Mina Shaughnessey.”  Focus:  NJCTE Newsletter. Winter 2004-2005.

“Teaching to Transgress by Bell Hooks.”  Focus:  NJCTE Newsletter.  Fall 2004.

Memberships

• New Jersey State Bar Association 2006- Present
• Gloucester County Bar Association, 2011-Present
• Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce, 2011-Present
• Camden County Bar Association 2009-Present
• Camden County Chamber of Commerce, 2009-Present
• Burlington County Bar Association 2009-Present
• Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, 2009-Present
• Bellmawr Democrat Club, 2010-Present

Below are forms you need for your initial consultation. Please download and print, fill them out and bring them with you or email them to our office in advance.

CLIENT INTAKE
General Client Intake Form (All Matters)

Estate Planning Consultation
Living Will Worksheet
Estate Planning Worksheet

EXISTING CLIENTS
Payment Form – fax or mail

Client Bill of Rights

Read below or download above a copy of our client bill of rights, because we believe you deserve excellence!

OUR CLIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

1. You will be treated with courtesy and consideration at all times by your lawyer and the other lawyers and personnel in your lawyer’s office.

2. You will be assigned to an attorney capable of handling your legal matter competently and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards of the profession. If you are not satisfied with how your matter is being handled, you may contact Lynda L. Hinkle to discuss your concerns and, if desired and if approved by the court when in the midst of litigation, you may substitute out your attorney for another in this or another law firm.

3. You will receive your lawyer’s independent professional judgment and undivided loyalty uncompromised by conflicts of interest. You will not be told that you should pursue a course of action just so that our office can charge more. If we think you are better served by another attorney or by no attorney at all, we will tell you so.

4. You will be assessed a reasonable fee as explained in your retainer agreement. You will receive an itemized bill at regular intervals, and if you have any questions about it we will listen and, if appropriate, make adjustments.

5. You are entitled to have your questions and concerns addressed in a prompt manner and to have your telephone calls returned promptly. We endeavor to return calls within one business day in almost every case.

6. You will be kept informed as to the status of your matter and to request and receive copies of papers. You are entitled to sufficient information to allow you to participate meaningfully in the development of your matter.

7. You will have your legitimate objectives respected by your attorney, including whether or not to settle your matter (court approval of a settlement is required in some matters).

8. You have the right to privacy in your dealings with your lawyer and to have your secrets and confidences preserved to the extent permitted by law.

9. We strive to abide not by just the highest professional standards required by law, but by a higher moral code as well. We do not take advantage of people. We do not exploit our clients. We will not lie to you – or the other side, or the courts – and we will not cheat you or help you cheat someone else. What we will do is fight for you, for your rights, and for your goals, to the fullest capacity under the law. You deserve a lawyer with integrity.

10. You will not be refused representation or otherwise discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability.