Michelle J. Douglass, Esq. | Founder & Managing Member
Michelle J. Douglass, Esq. | Founder & Managing Member
Michelle J. Douglass is the founder of Douglass Law Group, LLC, practicing under the trade name My Rights Lawyers. With decades of high-stakes litigation experience, Ms. Douglass is a formidable advocate for employees facing complex statutory violations, workplace retaliation, and severe civil rights infringements.
A seasoned trial lawyer, Ms. Douglass has successfully tried over 125 jury and non-jury trials in both Federal and State courts. She holds the prestigious designation of Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court—an elite distinction achieved by less than 3% of active attorneys in the state. She has consistently been recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Super Lawyer (2006–2024), named to The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and selected to the Nation's Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
The Digital Edge in Modern Litigation
Beyond her exceptional courtroom acumen, Ms. Douglass possesses an analytical edge unique among trial attorneys, having pursued advanced graduate studies in Computer Science and Computational Data. Rather than relying on rigid, off-the-shelf software, Ms. Douglass personally develops proprietary applications and custom code designed explicitly to manage Electronically Stored Information (ESI), streamline time analytics, and parse massive volumes of complex discovery. This proprietary technical infrastructure allows her boutique practice to process data-heavy dockets with the speed, precision, and leverage of a massive corporate firm.
🖥️ Proprietary E-Discovery Infrastructure
🖥️ Proprietary E-Discovery Infrastructure
Unlike traditional firms that sub-contract data analysis or use generic platforms, My Rights Lawyers utilizes custom-coded data management tools developed in-house by Ms. Douglass. This allows our team to securely categorize, search, and weaponize massive volumes of digital evidence in real-time during high-stakes statutory litigation.
Bar Admissions:
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Education:
Juris Doctor, Widener University – Delaware Law School
Graduate Studies (Computer Science & Computational Data), Stockton University
Bachelor of Science, Kutztown University
Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Select Case Highlights & Major Verdicts
Select Case Highlights & Major Verdicts
$1.8 Million Jury Verdict & $850,000 Attorney’s Fee Award – Landmark whistleblower retaliation victory under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) on behalf of a wrongfully terminated public servant.
$1.5 Million Jury Verdict – Groundbreaking First Amendment retaliation and wrongful denial of promotion litigation in federal court.
$1,700,000 Jury Verdict – Police officer workplace retaliation and hostile work environment claim under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD).
$1,200,000 Jury Verdict – Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) whistleblower claim against a public entity.
$1.25 Million Settlement – Significant recovery for public sector employees facing pervasive gender discrimination within a New Jersey County Prosecutor's Office.
$1.00 Million Settlement – Successful resolution and landmark recovery for a wrongfully ousted corporate executive.
$10+ Million Career Milestone – Over ten million dollars collectively recovered in historic verdicts and settlements defending the civil rights of New Jersey workers.
Appellate Advocacy & Legal Precedent
Appellate Advocacy & Legal Precedent
Beyond the trial court, our firm features a robust appellate practice dedicated to defending hard-won jury verdicts and advancing civil rights protections before state and federal appellate tribunals.
Verdict Preservation: Successfully defended substantial civil rights and employment discrimination jury verdicts on appeal against aggressive municipal and corporate defense challenges.
Federal & State Capacity: Experienced in handling complex post-trial motions and appellate briefs before the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Administrative Appeals: Routinely representing public and private employees in complex appeals before the Civil Service Commission and the Office of Administrative Law (OAL).
Disclaimer: Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Page updated
Report abuse