Attorney and Firm Founder of the Law Offices of Thomas Carroll Blauvelt, LLC
I have spent more than three decades defending people across New Jersey against traffic charges, DWI allegations, CDL violations, NJMVC license suspension matters, and criminal accusations. I founded this firm because I believe clients deserve to work directly with their attorney, not be handed off to a junior associate or lost in a large office. When you hire me, you get me.
My Background
I began practicing law in New York in 1993 and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1994. Before entering private practice, I gained experience on both sides of the courtroom as a municipal public defender and as a municipal prosecutor in more than 15 New Jersey municipalities. That dual background gives me an unusually complete perspective on how cases are built and how they can be challenged.
I earned my Juris Doctor from Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1992, where I served on the Cardozo Moot Court Board from 1990 to 1992 and worked as an editor for the Products Liability Litigation Teams Competition. Prior to law school, I graduated from Fairfield University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in English.
Over the course of my career, I have personally represented clients in more than 22,000 cases. That volume of experience combined with my background as both a prosecutor and a defender shapes how I approach every matter that comes through my door.
Recognition and Peer Ratings
Super Lawyers — Selected Every Year, 2015 Through 2026
I have been selected to the Super Lawyers list every year since 2015, a streak of 12 consecutive years. Super Lawyers recognizes only the top 5% of attorneys through a rigorous, research-driven, peer-influenced selection process. Being listed once is meaningful. Being selected 12 consecutive times reflects a sustained level of practice that I take genuine pride in.
Avvo — 10.0 "Superb" Rating · 385+ Client Reviews · 5-Star Average
Avvo has awarded me a 10.0 "Superb" rating, its highest designation, based on peer evaluation and professional credentials. I have accumulated more than 385 client reviews on Avvo with a 5-star average, placing me among the most-reviewed traffic ticket attorneys in New Jersey statewide. I am also a recipient of the Avvo Client's Choice Award for 2026, which is granted to attorneys who receive a significant number of 4-star or higher client reviews in a given year.
National Trial Lawyers — Top 100
I have been named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, which recognizes attorneys who demonstrate superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership in their practice areas.
Lead Counsel Certified — 2021
I was certified by Lead Counsel in 2021, an independent credentialing organization that evaluates attorneys based on professional conduct, years of experience, peer endorsements, and representative client evaluations.
Martindale-Hubbell — 5.0 Client Review Rating
Martindale-Hubbell, one of the legal profession's oldest and most established peer-review organizations, has recognized me with a 5.0 Client Review Rating.
A Note on What Those Numbers Mean
Those review counts are not from a firm full of attorneys. Every review on my profiles reflects a client who worked with me personally. I handle my own cases. I make my own court appearances. When clients call, they often reach me directly, even on weekends. That is not standard for a law practice, but it is the standard I hold myself to.
What I Have Personally Litigated
My courtroom experience spans thousands of contested matters, including:
- DWI trials and appellate proceedings, including cases involving breath test challenges and field sobriety test disputes
- CDL and commercial driver suspension hearings before the NJMVC
- Traffic and moving violation defense across dozens of New Jersey municipal courts
- Criminal defense matters at both the municipal and Superior Court level
- Domestic violence restraining order proceedings
In 2008, a DWI case I successfully defended in Edison Municipal Court was featured in MTV's True Life: "This PTSD Thing." It is one of the more memorable and personal recognitions of a courtroom outcome I have encountered in my career, touching upon the real-life issues for the people involved.
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
I have remained active in the legal community throughout my career, including through membership in:
- New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors Association
- Hudson County Bar Association
- Middlesex County Bar Association (Trustee, 2014)
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1993
- New Jersey, 1994
I am also admitted to practice before:
- United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law · New York, NY J.D., 1992 Cardozo Moot Court Board, 1990–1992 Editor, Products Liability Litigation Teams Competition, Cincinnati, 1992
Fairfield University · Fairfield, CT B.S., Finance, 1987 Minor: English
Areas of Practice
Languages
Contact Me 7 Days a Week
If you are facing a traffic ticket, DWI charge, CDL issue, NJMVC hearing, or criminal matter anywhere in New Jersey, contact me directly. I am available seven days a week.