Norris McLaughlin, P.A.Attorney Receives Professional Service Award from Local Habitat for Humanity
Posted on February 3rd, 2009
February 3, 2009
Norris McLaughlin, P.A.
721 Route 202-206
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Contact: Edward C. Miller, Jr.
Chief Marketing Officer
(908) 722-0700, X-4224
ecmillerjr@nmmlaw.com
Norris McLaughlin, P.A.Attorney Receives
Professional Service Award from Local Habitat for Humanity
Bridgewater, NJ – The Bridgewater law firm of Norris McLaughlin, P.A. is pleased to announce that Christine D. Socha has been recognized by the Raritan Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity (RVHFH). Socha was acknowledged with a Professional Service Award for her significant service to the Habitat for Humanity program. The award was presented at RVHFH’s Annual Meeting on Monday, February 2, 2009, in the Fellowship Hall of the United Reform Church in Somerville, New Jersey.
Christine D. Socha and the Norris McLaughlin, P.A. Real Estate & Land Use Group supported the RVHFH with pro bono services. Socha worked diligently with officials in Franklin Township, Somerset County, to finalize variances and site plan approval for a series of projects, and secure the transfer of the properties to RVHFH. Other Norris McLaughlin, P.A. attorneys involved include Mike Ligorano, Chris Stevenson and Pat Mottola. RVHFH projects that the Real Estate & Land Use Group has supported with pro bono services include four completed homes in Bernardsville, and four completed homes and three in progress in Franklin Township, Somerset County. RVHFH has plans for projects in Bridgewater, Califon, Clinton Township, Hillsborough, and a possible project in Franklin, Hunterdon County.
Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity, serving Somerset and Hunterdon counties, builds permanent affordable housing for low-income families via a cooperative, volunteer effort. RVHFH volunteers find the site, raise the funds, and select a family for each new home. Then, the selected family works side-by-side with RVHFH and community volunteers on the construction of their new home. The family purchases the home upon completion with the help of a zero-interest mortgage provided by Habitat. Once they purchase the house, they are responsible for home maintenance and for monthly payments of principal, taxes, insurance and utilities. Mortgage payments are recycled to fund the construction of more houses. To insure the continued availability of affordable housing in the community, the deeds to the properties are restricted. RVHFH works exclusively with low–income families, those who earn 30-50% of median income and meet other additional guidelines.
Christine D. Socha, a resident of Bedminster, focuses her practice on litigation and land use. As a litigator, she is involved in a wide range of issues, from contract disputes to labor and employment, but primarily focuses on probate litigation. Socha supports attorneys in the firm’s Real Estate & Land Use Group with ongoing land use matters by conducting research, completing applications for relief, and preparing for various municipal hearings.
Outside of work, Socha serves as the Class Correspondent for the Lafayette College Class of 2002, and is an Adult Volunteer with the Youth Ministry Program of St. Helen’s Church in Westfield, New Jersey. She is a member of the NMM Women’s Forum Charitable Events Subcommittee, which plans one large charitable event per year. While studying at Seton Hall University School of Law, Socha was active in the Family Law Clinic, Family Law Society, Gressman Moot Court Competition and Phi Alpha Delta Law Society.
Socha previously served as judicial law clerk for The Honorable Peter E. Doyne, P.J.S.C., Bergen County, Chancery Division. As a law clerk, Socha primarily assisted in drafting court opinions. She also performed legal research on various issues, including orders to show cause, summary judgment motions, motions to enforce litigants’rights and motions to vacate default. As a court appointed mediator, she also mediated Special Civil Part and Small Claims suits.
Socha earned her J.D., cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2005 and her B.A. in Government and Law, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Lafayette College in 2002.
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