New Jersey criminal defense lawyer
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Next Step Lawyer is an NJ attorney and New York attorney standing beside you through real estate closings, fighting for your rights at work, and guiding your family through life’s biggest transitions, bringing direct, personal representation throughout Somerset, Middlesex & Mercer counties in New Jersey (Woodbridge, Piscataway, North Brunswick, Bridgewater, Franklin Township, Branchburg, Raritan, Trenton, Edison, East Brunswick, South Brunswick, Somerville, Montgomery, Manville & Bound Brook) and all five NYC boroughs plus Westchester & Rockland in New York. Call now, book online, or reach out today, take the next step toward resolving your case.

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How We Help

Three practice areas. Two States, One direct line to the attorney handling your case.

Employment Law

Employment Lawyer NJ: Reclaiming Your Worth.

Your workplace should be a place of respect. When discrimination, retaliation, or unpaid wages put that at risk, Pascelle stands beside you, listening first, then building the case that gives your voice its full weight under New Jersey and New York law.

Explore Employment Law →
Real Estate Law

Real Estate Attorney NJ: Securing Your Sanctuary.

Buying or selling the place you’ll call home should feel steady, not stressful. Pascelle reviews every contract with a careful eye and a clear voice, working to guard your interests from the first review period through closing day.

Explore Real Estate Law →
Family Law

Family Law Attorney NJ: Healing Your Family.

Divorce and custody changes touch every part of family life. Pascelle brings a steady, empathetic approach to these transitions, helping you understand your options and find a clear path forward for the people who matter most.

Explore Family Law →

Pascelle Saint-Laurent, Esq. | Real Estate, Employment & Family Law in NJ and NY

NJ attorney Pascelle Saint-Laurent of Next Step Lawyer, admitted in New Jersey and New York

I’m a New York and New Jersey attorney representing clients across three areas: residential real estate, employment, and family law, throughout Somerset, Middlesex, and Mercer counties. In real estate matters, my practice covers contract review during the three-business-day attorney review period under N.J. Admin. Code § 11:5-6.2(g), title and closing coordination under N.J.S.A. 17:46B-1 et seq., landlord-tenant proceedings under the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1), and foreclosure defense under the Fair Foreclosure Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:50-53 et seq.).

In employment matters, I represent employees facing discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), and whistleblower retaliation under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq.). In family law matters, I guide clients through divorce, custody, and parenting-time questions under New Jersey’s no-fault divorce statute (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2) and the state’s child custody framework (N.J.S.A. 9:2-4), areas where knowing which deadline applies, and when, often matters as much as the underlying facts of the case.

I earned my J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and my LL.M. from the University of Miami School of Law, and I’m licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey. Across every matter I take on, my approach stays the same: understand what a client is going through, identify the deadlines and statutory requirements that govern the case early, and act within them before options narrow.

I serve clients throughout Somerset County, Middlesex County, and Mercer County in New Jersey, including Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, East Brunswick, Edison, Franklin Township, Manville, Montgomery, North Brunswick, Piscataway, Raritan, Somerville, South Brunswick, Trenton, and Woodbridge, as well as all five New York City boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

5.0  ·  Google ReviewsSee reviewsPage reviewed: August 2026
Why Clients Choose Next Step Lawyer

Your NJ Attorney: the same attorney from your first call to resolution.

Direct Attorney Contact

You work directly with Attorney Saint-Laurent on your case, never a paralegal or call center.

When your future is on the line, you shouldn’t have to re-explain your story to someone new every time you call. Pascelle picks up, remembers where things stand, and stays with you.

Licensed in NJ & NY

Full representation on both sides of the Hudson, in state courts that don’t always follow the same rules.

Life doesn’t stop at a state line, and neither should your peace of mind. Whichever side of the Hudson your case falls on, you’re working with someone who already knows the terrain.

Current on the Law

Statutes change often; representation is built on what’s in effect now, not last year’s rules.

You’re not expected to track every change in the law while you’re living through the hardest part of it. That’s Pascelle’s job, so you can stay focused on what’s in front of you.

Payment Plans Available

Free initial consultation, honest assessment, and flexible arrangements when a case moves forward.

Worrying about a bill shouldn’t be the reason you put off calling. The first conversation costs you nothing, and options exist so cost never has to be the deciding factor.

Real Answers From an Employment Lawyer NJ Clients Reach Directly

Calls and emails get a real response, not an automated queue or a week of silence.

Not knowing is often the hardest part. You deserve to hear where things stand in plain language, as soon as there’s something to tell you.

A Plan Built Around You by a Real Estate Attorney NJ Families Trust

Every case gets its own strategy, shaped by your goals and circumstances, not a one-size-fits-all script.

You’re not a file number. Whatever brought you here, real estate, work, or family, Pascelle takes the time to understand what matters most to you before deciding what comes next.

How It Works

Four steps, start to resolution.

1

Call or Submit

Reach out by phone or the contact form; no intake team screening the call first.

2

Free 15-Minute Consultation

The attorney reviews your facts and explains what the law actually requires.

3

Direct Representation

One attorney, start to finish, with no hand-offs between staff.

4

Resolution

Settlement, closing, or judgment: you know the plan at every stage.

Google Reviews

Real feedback, straight from Google.

The reviews below reflect clients’ experiences working with Pascelle Saint-Laurent, including feedback on responsiveness, communication, professionalism, and client service. Every legal matter is unique, and past client experiences do not guarantee a similar result. Outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case, the applicable law, the available evidence, and the court handling the matter.

Posted on Google Google
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danny laurenti
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a great experience with Next Step Lawyer. Pascelle helped me with a traffic ticket and made the whole process much easier than I expected. She was kind, professional, easy to talk to, and kept me informed throughout everything. I really appreciated how helpful and straightforward she was from start to finish. I’d recommend their services to anyone who needs help.
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Magic373 73
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Next Step Lawyer and Pascelle have been an incredible resource for both business and insurance advice. Their guidance is practical, knowledgeable, and easy to understand. I highly recommend them to any business owner looking for trusted legal and insurance support for Octans Insurance LLC. Thank you!!!
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Elizabeth Chirveno
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Highly recommend Pascelle! She’s tough and can hold her own yet very easy to talk to. She listened carefully to my case and was very knowledgeable. She helped me achieve my ideal outcome and I’m very grateful
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Toni Marissa
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Pascelle has the capability of leading with compassion for you as her client while also fighting passionately and aggressively for the results you deserve. Her knowledge and talents are a refreshing grounding element during what are difficult times. She has the ability to explain complex legal challenges in transparent and accessible language, and outlines clear strategies to set you up for the most ideal outcomes. Can’t thank her enough.
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Lena Watkins
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Extremely professional (responds quickly, attention to detail, supportive)! Most importantly, Pascelle is incredibly thorough and informative so that every possibility is on the table for a grounded strategy in considering best possible outcomes. I can't thank her enough for what she's done for my family. Highly recommend!
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Danielle Rivers
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Beyond helpful! Beyond knowledgeable! She answered all my questions with compassion and empathy but also answers that never pushed more than the outcome I wanted.
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Jason Jeanneret
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I had a great experience working with Pascelle after my accident. She was professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate throughout the entire process. From our first conversation, she took the time to explain everything clearly, answered all of my questions, and made me feel confident that my case was in good hands. She kept me updated every step of the way and worked hard to achieve the best possible outcome. Her dedication, attention to detail, and genuine concern for her clients made a stressful situation much easier to navigate. I highly recommend Pascelle to anyone looking for an attorney who is experienced, responsive, and truly cares about her clients. Thank you for all of your hard work and support!
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Our Office

Centrally Located in NJ.

Our Branchburg office sits at the crossroads of Somerset, Middlesex, and Mercer counties, putting Pascelle within a short drive of the courthouses, clerks’ offices, and closing tables across the New Jersey communities we serve. That same central position keeps commute times low into New York City and Westchester & Rockland counties, so clients on either side of the Hudson get the same direct, in-person attention. Years spent appearing before these specific courts means familiarity with local procedures, filing requirements, and the people who run them, groundwork that keeps a case moving instead of stalling on avoidable missteps.

Main Office | Next Step Lawyer: 971 US-202, Ste 6717, Branchburg, NJ 08876
Get Directions

Free Initial Consultation: Next Step Lawyer

Attorney Pascelle Saint-Laurent represents clients throughout New Jersey and New York. Payment plans are available, and some legal rights and deadlines are time-sensitive, so it’s worth calling before your window closes.

Prefer to write it out? Submit your case details →

Common Questions

Before you call.

Yes. There’s no cost and no obligation to sit down, walk through what’s happened, and hear your options explained in plain language, not legal jargon. You’ll leave knowing where you stand, even if you decide not to move forward.
Nothing is required, but if you have them, bring anything relevant: a lease, a purchase contract, an employment letter, texts or emails with the other side, or paperwork you’ve already received from a court. Photos, dates, and a rough timeline of what happened help too. If you don’t have any of that yet, that’s fine, the first call is about understanding your situation, not testing your paperwork.
Yes. Many clients start with a phone or video call, especially when travel to Branchburg isn’t practical. In-person meetings are always available too, and once a case moves forward, Pascelle handles court appearances and closings in person as needed.
Yes. Every case is handled personally by Attorney Saint-Laurent, from the first call through resolution; there’s no call center and no rotating cast of case managers. Read more about Pascelle’s background.
Yes. Attorney Saint-Laurent is admitted in both states and represents clients on both sides of the Hudson, in New Jersey courts throughout Somerset, Middlesex, and Mercer counties, and in New York courts throughout the five boroughs, Westchester, and Rockland. See the full breakdown by state, practice area, and town.
Next Step Lawyer represents clients throughout Somerset, Middlesex & Mercer counties in New Jersey, including Woodbridge, Piscataway, North Brunswick, Bridgewater, Franklin Township, Branchburg, Raritan, Trenton, Edison, East Brunswick, South Brunswick, Somerville, Montgomery & Bound Brook, as well as all five New York City boroughs and Westchester & Rockland counties. Jump to the areas served list to find your town.
Yes, payment plans are available for most matters and discussed openly during your free 15-minute consultation, before any decision to move forward.
It depends on the matter, fee structures vary by practice area and by case, and you’ll see the exact arrangement in writing before any work begins. Nothing is billed during the free 15-minute consultation itself, and payment plans are available for most matters (see above).
Pascelle represents employees facing discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and unpaid wages or overtime violations. That includes claims under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), which covers every NJ employer regardless of size, and whistleblower retaliation under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq.), which carries a one-year statute of limitations, the shortest in NJ employment law. Concerns about protected time off fall under the FMLA and NJ Family Leave Act; see our guide to protected leave. In New York, employment claims run through the NYCHRL rather than the NJLAD. Because deadlines vary by claim type and by state, the first step in a free 15-minute consultation is identifying which law actually governs your situation, and how much time you realistically have left to act.
Pascelle handles residential closings, attorney review of purchase contracts, title defect resolution, landlord-tenant disputes, and foreclosure defense. In New Jersey, that starts with the three-business-day attorney review period under N.J. Admin. Code § 11:5-6.2(g), during which an attorney can cancel the contract or negotiate changes before it becomes binding; closing coordination then follows under N.J.S.A. 17:46B-1 et seq. Landlord-tenant matters proceed under the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1), and foreclosure defense follows the Fair Foreclosure Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:50-53 et seq.). Because the attorney review window is only three business days, it’s worth calling before a contract is signed, not after, once that window closes, options narrow fast.
Pascelle guides clients through divorce, child custody and parenting time, child support, alimony, and restraining orders. New Jersey custody decisions follow the best-interest standard under N.J.S.A. 9:2-4, weighing factors like each parent’s relationship with the child, any history of domestic violence, and the child’s own preference where they’re old enough to express one; divorce itself proceeds under New Jersey’s no-fault statute (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2). In New York, divorce and custody matters instead fall under DRL § 170 and DRL § 240. Family law rarely feels routine from the inside, the same statute can lead to very different outcomes depending on the facts, which is why the first conversation focuses on your specific situation, not a generic script.
Some matters can’t wait, a restraining order, a foreclosure notice, a contract about to become binding, or a custody situation that’s escalating. Say so when you call; Next Step Lawyer is available evenings and weekends, and urgent matters are prioritized accordingly. Domestic violence and restraining order matters often move on a compressed court timeline, and the three-business-day attorney review period on a real estate contract closes fast, in both situations, calling sooner keeps more options open.
There’s no single answer, a contract review might resolve in three business days, while a contested custody matter or a litigated foreclosure defense can take months. What drives the timeline is the complexity of the facts, how the other side responds, and each court’s own calendar. During your consultation, Pascelle will walk through what a realistic timeline looks like for your specific situation, not a generic estimate.
Yes, and this comes up often. Many situations touch more than one area of law, a divorce that also involves a jointly-owned home, or a workplace issue that leads to a restraining order. You don’t need to diagnose your own case before calling; describe what’s happening in your own words, and the first step of your free 15-minute consultation is sorting out which law actually applies and what your options are.
Litigation isn’t always necessary. In family law matters, many divorce and custody disputes can be resolved through mediation or a negotiated settlement agreement rather than a contested trial, often faster and at lower cost. In real estate, most contract disputes are resolved during the attorney review period itself, before litigation is ever on the table. Pascelle will tell you honestly, during your free 15-minute consultation, whether your situation is a good candidate for a negotiated resolution or whether it needs to go before a judge.
Call (908) 588-7217 or send a message through the contact form. The first conversation is free, confidential, and goes directly to the attorney, not an intake screener, you won’t have to re-explain your situation to three different people before someone can actually help.

Or call now: (908) 588-7217  ·  Available evenings & weekends

Not ready to call? Submit your case details →

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