Tamra Katcher obtained her undergraduate degree in Marketing from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, Class of 1992. In 1999, she received her J.D. from New York Law School, graduating Cum Laude. Ms. Katcher is a member of the New Jersey and New York Bar (inactive in New York), and is admitted to the United States Supreme Court.
From early on in her law school career, Tamra had an interest in and began working in the field of Criminal Law. She interned with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Newark, New Jersey, during her second and third year in law school. Also during that time, Tamra interned for the Honorable Paul J. Vichness, Judge of the Superior Court, Essex County, New Jersey. After graduating from law school, Tamra was the law clerk for Judge Vichness and worked closely with the judge on a variety of criminal cases, ranging from homicide and drug cases to attempted murder cases. Among her duties was assisting the Judge with legal research and drafting legal memorandum and opinions.
Following her clerkship, Tamra worked at the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office as a law clerk, focusing primarily on municipal appeal matters where she was solely responsible for drafting legal briefs and arguing the State's case in Superior Court. During that time, Tamra worked on a highly publicized DWI matter as well as on several other trials doing legal research and writing for the various attorneys in the office. After one year at the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Tamra returned to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office as an Assistant Prosecutor and gained valuable trial experience both as a trial attorney as well as an attorney assigned to the Grand Jury unit. During her time as an Assistant Prosecutor, Tamra was the lead attorney for several jury and bench trials. Her experience as a trial prosecutor ranged from child abuse cases to drug cases to attempted murder and assault cases. Tamra also conducted a training seminar at the Essex County Police Academy relating to a computer generated photo lineup database being used by the police to investigate crimes and identify potential suspects.
Following her experience at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Tamra worked for the City of Newark as an Assistant Municipal Prosecutor. Tamra assisted in organizing and supporting the Quality of Life program started by the Booker Administration. She also worked closely with the Port Authority Police to prosecute illegal limousine activity at the Newark Airport. For both these programs, Tamra set up procedures and processes that remain in force to date. Tamra also played a key role in establishing the procedure for evidence retention at the Newark Prosecutor's Office, as well as the installation of an NCIC computer so that the office could obtain criminal histories when necessary. During her time with the City of Newark, Tamra was asked to teach new police officers at the Newark Police Academy, as well as training newly promoted Sergeants and Lieutenants about the municipal ordinances for the City. Tamra also worked in conjunction with the Recording Industry of America to train Newark Police Officers about illegal DVDs and CDs that were being sold in the City and the search and seizure issues related to the investigation and prosecution of those cases.
After two and a half years with the City of Newark, Tamra began her own practice, Tamra Katcher, Esq. The focus of her practice is criminal defense work, which has been primarily municipal court work, including DWI, and also Superior Court matters. Tamra has also represented clients in family court (juvenile and matrimonial matters) and landlord tenant court.
As a practicing attorney, Tamra has participated as a judge in various moot court competitions both at Seton Hall Law School and at New York Law School.
Presently, aside from her legal practice, Tamra is an adjunct professor at Kean University for the Criminal Justice Department, is an online instructor for the University of Phoenix, and is attending graduate school to attain her Masters in Criminal Justice.
