Licensing Board Defense

David and LauraAttorney David C. Barry’s practice involves advising, defending and consulting with mental health professionals concerning the often complex legal, regulatory, ethical and practice challenges they face.

Mr. Barry draws upon both his three decades of legal experience as well as his education and training as

  • A New Jersey licensed social worker, (Master’s in Social Work (with honors) from Rutgers University)
  • Service as President of NASW’s New Jersey Chapter
  • Service as Chair of NASW’s National Ethics Committee (“NEC”) in Washington, D.C. As NEC Chair, Mr. Barry played a significant role both in restructuring NASW’s Professional Review Process and in drafting the current version of NASW’s Code of Ethics.

Mr. Barry is an adjunct professor in the social work programs at both Rutgers University (MSW and DSW programs) and Seton Hall University (BSW program), teaching courses on the intersection of law, ethics and practice.

He frequently provides continuing education presentations to mental health professionals of various licensures throughout New Jersey. He has presented at both National, State and Local conferences.

Professional Ethics Matters

Mr. Barry has represented New Jersey mental health professionals before a variety of Committees and Boards, including:

  • State Board of Social Work Examiners (LSW, LCSW)
  • State Board of Marriage and Family Examiners (LMFT)
  • Professional Counselor Examiners Committee (LAC, LPC)
  • Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (LCADC)
  • State Board of Psychological Examiners (PhD., Psy.D.)
  • New Jersey Board of Nursing (RN)

In addition to licensing board investigations and defense, Mr. Barry offers a wide variety of services, including:

  • Response to “lawyer letters”, subpoenas, discovery demands, etc.
  • Confidential case review and consultation
  • Ethics and legal consultations
  • In-house ethics training and education
  • Conducting ethics audits, ethics reviews and ethics investigations

Types of Ethics CasesFaced by New Jersey Mental Health Professionals

This background, combined with decades as a civil and criminal litigation attorney, enable Mr. Barry to advise and represent mental health professionals in a wide variety of matters involving professional ethics, including:

  • Responses to ethics Charges/investigations brought by licensing boards
  • Confidential review of “problem” cases or “potentially problematic” cases
  • Ethics consultations
  • In-house ethics training and education
  • Conducting ethics audits, ethics reviews and ethics investigations

Initial consultations are without charge. Please call David Barry, Esq. at 732 238-8686 or email him at [email protected].