40 Years of Showing Up for Injured People in Essex County
When you call my office, you reach me. When your case goes to court, I'm the one standing next to you. That's not a marketing line — it's how I've practiced personal injury law in West Orange and across Essex County since 1986.
A Career Built on One Commitment: Direct, Personal Representation
I started my own firm in 2003 after nearly two decades in personal injury law, and the reason was straightforward. I wanted to do the work myself — not delegate it to a case manager, not hand clients off after the intake call. Every person who walks through my door deserves to know the attorney handling their case.
Over 40 years, I've represented people injured in car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall incidents, dog attacks, and workplace accidents across West Orange, Newark, East Orange, South Orange, and the surrounding communities. I know the local courts. I know the insurance adjusters. I know what it takes to recover full value for an injury claim in New Jersey — and I know when to take a case to trial to get it.
Mitchell R. Friedman, Esq.
Attorney At Law
Attorney Mitchell Friedman was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with High Honors in 1981, attorney Friedman set off to pursue his legal education. He received his Juris Doctor from the New York Law School in 1986, where he graduated cum laude. With decades of experience across a wide variety of legal fields, attorney Mitchell Friedman and his experienced team are an excellent choice for any clients who need representation in a personal injury claims.
After graduating from law school, attorney Friedman worked at insurance law firm White, Fleischner & Fino from 1987 to 1997. During his time at the firm, he practiced subrogation, plaintiff personal injury, and insurance defense and maintained a significant caseload. The firm’s clients recovered millions of dollars thanks to attorney Friedman’s tireless and competent legal work focusing on subrogation and personal injury.
Between 1997 and 2003, attorney Friedman worked at Essex County, New Jersey-based personal injury firm Roche & Carter. He ran the firm’s plaintiff personal injury pre-litigation department, which was the office’s most profitable area of legal practice. He used his prior experience at White, Fleischner & Fino to found Roche & Carter’s own subrogation department. Like his previous work, this department generated millions of dollars for Roche & Carter’s clients.
In 2003, attorney Friedman decided to set out on his own. He founded the Law Offices of Mitchell R. Friedman, PC in New Jersey to help his clients get the personal attention their cases required. Additionally, he expanded his areas of legal practice to include insurance claims, criminal defense, education law, and special education representation. The firm expanded to include a second office in New York City. His firm includes himself and two other experienced attorneys that help manage his caseload.
Today, attorney Friedman lives in Millburn, New Jersey with his wife Tanya, who he met while attending law school in New York. He and Tanya have two children together.
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New Jersey
- Supreme Court of New Jersey
Professional Associations
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Autism Speaks
- Friendship Circle - New Jersey
Interested in politics and history from a young age, Mitchell earned his J.D. from New York Law School in 1986. Since then, he has focused his career on serving those who have been seriously injured and those accused of crimes. During his more than three decades of experience, he learned that exceptional attorneys take on many different roles depending on what their clients truly need. Mitchell has always been able to adapt to his clients and their cases—as a counselor, teacher, advocate, and ally during tough times. Attorney Friedman’s desire to help the underdog and do the right thing for his community has earned him the admiration of his peers in Essex County, Hudson County, and all over New Jersey.
Education
- J.D. - New York Law School, 1986, cum laude
- B.A. - State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook University), 1981
What It Actually Means to Work With a Solo Practitioner
Large personal injury firms run on volume. Cases move through intake teams, paralegals, and associates before a named partner ever sees the file. That model works for the firm. It rarely works for the client.
My practice is built differently. When you hire me, you get me — for every call, every negotiation, every court appearance. I've had clients tell me that working through an injury claim felt like having a trusted advisor in their corner rather than a transaction in a queue. That matters to me. People dealing with serious injuries are also dealing with fear, financial pressure, and uncertainty. The legal process shouldn't make that harder.
The Cases I Handle — and the Ones I Don't
I focus exclusively on personal injury claims where someone else's negligence caused your harm. That means car and truck accidents, premises liability cases including slip and fall and dog bites, and workplace accidents involving third-party liability.
I do not handle workers' compensation, medical malpractice, or products liability. I also don't take cases where the injured person bears primary fault. That focus is intentional — it means every case in my office is one I'm built to handle well, and I'm not spreading my attention across practice areas I don't specialize in.
If your situation falls outside what I handle, I'll tell you honestly and point you toward someone who can help
Results That Reflect 40 Years of Experience
My clients have recovered multiple six-figure settlements across a range of injury cases. Those outcomes don't come from settling early to close files — they come from knowing how to build a case, understanding what full compensation actually looks like, and being willing to litigate when the insurance company won't negotiate in good faith.
You can review a selection of notable settlements on my results page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working With Mitchell
Who is Mitchell R. Friedman as a personal injury attorney?
Mitchell R. Friedman is a solo personal injury attorney based in West Orange, NJ, who has practiced in Essex County since 1986. He handles car accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, and workplace injury cases, and works directly with every client from first call through resolution.
What makes a solo practitioner different from a large injury firm?
At a large firm, your case is typically managed by staff — not the attorney whose name is on the door. As a solo practitioner, I handle every aspect of your case personally. You reach me directly, and I'm the one negotiating with insurers and appearing in court on your behalf.
How long has Mitchell Friedman been practicing personal injury law in New Jersey?
I've been practicing personal injury law since 1986 — 40 years of experience, the last two decades of which have been through my own firm in West Orange.
Does Mitchell Friedman take cases to trial?
Yes. I'm willing to litigate cases that insurance companies undervalue. Many large firms settle quickly to move volume — I evaluate each case on its merits and take it to trial when that's what's needed to recover fair compensation.
What areas of New Jersey does Mitchell Friedman serve?
My office is in West Orange, and I serve clients throughout Essex County — including Newark, East Orange, South Orange, and Orange — as well as Elizabeth and Hillside.
Ready to Talk Through What Happened?
A free consultation costs you nothing and takes less than an hour. You'll speak with me directly — not a screener, not a paralegal. Call, email, or use the contact form and we'll find a time that works.