Brothers Arthur Lynch ’88 and James Lynch ’91 Give Back to Honor St. John’s Law Family Ties

Arthur and Jim Lynch are proud of their St. John’s Law family tree, which spans five generations, starting with their grandfather, Arthur V. Lynch ’32, and grandmother, Elizabeth T. Lynch ’55; continuing to their uncle, Harry V. Lynch ’68, and then to Arthur and Jim; and now including their nephew, Daniel Lynch ’20, Arthur’s daughter, Molly Lynch ’27, and Jim’s daughter, Abigail Lynch ’28. To honor those family ties, the brothers recently established a scholarship for students at the Law School.

Reflecting on his family’s deep roots at St. John’s Law, Jim explains: “When our grandfather was a young man about to begin law school, his father died suddenly. The administration was compassionate and generous in helping him navigate that difficult time. Forever grateful, he later returned to St. John’s Law as an adjunct professor and went on to spend nearly 20 years on the full-time faculty before retiring. So, from the outset, St. John’s has afforded our family the opportunity to build fulfilling and successful careers.”

Jim and Arthur have built on that legacy through their 32-year partnership at Lynch Law Firm, P.C. The family business dates to 1942, when their grandfather started his law practice. Their uncle Harry later took over and ran the firm in Greenwood Lake, NY. About 50 years later, Arthur and Jim joined forces and set up shop just down the block from their uncle’s office. After Harry retired, they took over the firm, grew the business to more than 50 employees, and moved it to New Jersey, earning recognition along the way as premier trial lawyers who represent plaintiffs in personal injury cases.

“Every day, we have the opportunity to help people who are often at a low point in their lives and give them a chance to turn things around,” says Arthur. “A few years after my brother and I took over the firm, a client came to us with a life-altering injury he believed resulted from medical malpractice. Several larger firms had declined his case, and he was devastated. We agreed to take it on. Jim tried the case to verdict and secured a substantial recovery. The client was so moved by the process and our work ethic that he went to law school and eventually joined our firm as an associate. Serving clients in this transformative way is immensely rewarding.”

Outside the courtroom, Arthur and Jim serve the legal community as sought-after speakers on trial practice issues. They are also active in the New Jersey Association for Justice, reflecting their ongoing commitment to advocating for the rights of the injured. “‘Can I help you?’ was a phrase our father ingrained in us from an early age as we worked in his health and beauty aid store on the weekends,” Jim shares. “Ever since, helping others has been central to what Arthur and I do as lawyers and members of our community.”

With that same altruistic drive, the brothers are now giving back through their Law School scholarship. “We know there are deserving students who on their own can’t access the incredible education and sense of community that St. John’s offers,” says Arthur. “We hope to provide them with that opportunity, so they can thrive—just as our own St. John’s Law family has for generations.”

Editor's Note: The original version of this story appeared in St. John's Law magazine.