Thakkar Family Law is proud to announce that Founding Partner Megha R. Thakkar has been selected to receive the Edward Schoifet Award, the highest honor presented by the Family Law Section of the Middlesex County Bar Association.
About the Schoifet Award
The Schoifet Award commemorates the legacy of Edward Schoifet, who passed away in 2006 and was recognized as the dean of the Middlesex County Family Bar. The Family Law Section presents this award annually to a family law practitioner who has been engaged in the practice for 15 years or more.
Recipients consistently demonstrate the core principles by which Ed practiced law:
- Maintaining thorough knowledge of past and present case law to advise clients fully.
- Analyzing case facts with detail and diligence, applying the law carefully to each situation.
- Presenting issues and applicable law in ways clients can understand.
- Making purposeful efforts to settle matters fairly before pursuing litigation.
- Fostering respect and courtesy for the bench and fellow lawyers.
- Maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
- Exhibiting leadership within the Bar Association.
Megha’s Commitment to These Ideals
Megha’s career reflects each of these values. As a family law lawyer with nearly two decades of experience, she has worked tirelessly to help clients navigate divorce, custody matters, property distribution, and other challenging family law issues. In each interaction, she prioritizes clear communication, thorough legal analysis, and a genuine commitment to finding fair resolutions that serve her clients’ best interests.
Throughout her career, Megha has:
- Successfully negotiated settlements through mediation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution.
- Litigated contested matters from inception through trial, and handled appeals in the Appellate Division.
- Handled complex equitable distribution issues, including business valuations, stock options, and pension allocations.
- Served as a qualified mediator and Early Settlement Panelist for Middlesex County and Somerset County Family Courts.
- Worked as a Parenting Coordinator to assist families with ongoing parenting concerns.
A Career of Service
Early in her career, Megha served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Andrea G. Carter, J.S.C. in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Part, Middlesex County. She also served as an Investigator for the Supreme Court of New Jersey Ethics Committees, as a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Membership Committee, and as a Past President of the Middlesex County Bar Association.
Now, Megha serves on the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee, where she chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. She also chairs the Middlesex County Bar Association’s Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee and holds the position of Master for the Aldona E. Appleton Family Law Inn of Court.
Megha is also an active member of the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey and the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey.
A Decorated Advocate
Megha has also been recognized with multiple honors, including the Middlesex County Bar Association Martin S. Goldin Family Law Award, the New Leader of the Bar Award from New Jersey Law Journal, the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey Rising Star Award, and the New Jersey Super Lawyers list for 2025. From 2014 to 2024, she appeared on the New Jersey Super Lawyer Rising Stars roster before her elevation to the main Super Lawyers list.
Beyond the courtroom, Megha regularly speaks on topics including cultural competency in family law, immigration issues, cryptocurrency and asset division, domestic violence, and trial skills.
A Practitioner Defined by Compassion
What truly distinguishes Megha is her client-centered approach and her belief that families deserve more than just legal representation—they deserve counsel who understands the human impact of their situation.
The Schoifet Award reflects not only Megha’s legal knowledge and trial skills, but also her character, her commitment to fairness, and her leadership in the legal community. This recognition speaks to the kind of family law practitioner she has become and the impact she continues to have on her clients and her profession.
Thakkar Family Law congratulates Megha on this well-deserved recognition. The award will be presented on January 14, 2026.
Need Compassionate Family Law Guidance?
If you are facing a divorce, custody matter, or other family law issue, Megha R. Thakkar at Thakkar Family Law is here to help. Contact our Piscataway, New Jersey, office today for a free consultation. Call 732-456-7456 or contact us online.