JAMES JUDE PLAIA, ESQ James Jude (“JJ”) Plaia is a solo practitioner in Verona, New Jersey, and has been practicing law for 34 years. Formerly Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Criminal Trial Attorney, he has devoted the last twenty years of his practice to defending counties, municipalities and self-insureds in Workers’ Compensation matters. A frequent lecturer on Workers’ Compensation law, Mr. Plaia received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers College, Rutgers University, and his law degree from John Marshall Law School.