Michaela Petersen
Ms. Petersen focuses on third-party defense litigation, representing clients in matters involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and labor law.
Ms. Petersen began her legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Keith A. Bachmann, J.S.C., and the Honorable Marc D. Ramundo, J.S.C., in the Bergen County Criminal Division of the New Jersey Superior Court during the 2022–2023 court term. Prior to joining McCormick & Priore, P.C., Ms. Petersen practiced plaintiff’s personal injury law, before coming to McCormick & Priore, P.C.
Ms. Petersen earned her J.D. from Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law, where she distinguished herself as an advocate and leader. She served as Internal Competitions Director for the Pace Law Advocacy Program and was selected to captain her mock trial teams.
Ms. Petersen received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Radford University. As a member of the University’s Division I Women’s Lacrosse team during the inaugural season of the program, she made history by scoring the first goal in Radford Women’s Lacrosse history. In recognition of her leadership and contributions, she received both the Alpha Omega Award from the Radford University Women’s Lacrosse team and the Unsung Hero Award from Radford University Athletics in Spring 2019.
When she’s not in the courtroom or litigating cases, Ms. Petersen can usually be found with a needlepoint project in hand, logging miles on a run, taking a Pilates class, or getting lost in a great book.
- Supreme Court of New Jersey
- S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- New York State Bar
- Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (J.D.)
- Radford University (B.A.)
Justice Morris Pashman American Inns of Court in Bergen County
• Insurance Coverage
• Motor Vehicle Litigation
• Premises Liability
Ms. Petersen was a research student and editor on her trial professor’s published book titled, Trial Advocacy: The Art of Story Telling; Strategies for Winning a Trial in New York State Court, authored by Jared J. Hatcliffe and published in 2022. Additionally, while in law school, Ms. Petersen helped create The Advocate’s Advantage, which is a blog run by Pace Law Advocacy Program, and was the only student chosen to have her own recurring column, Booklore, where she reviewed a different book on Trial Advocacy each month.