Vando Emanuel Cardoso

Vando Cardoso is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney. There are only  250 attorneys out of 100,000 attorneys in New Jersey with this coveted distinction. He focuses his practice on criminal defense. As a former prosecutor, his knowledge, experience, and skill provide him with a unique insight into how the State of New Jersey prosecutes cases. Now as a criminal defense attorney, he uses his skill and experience to obtain the best possible outcome available. Exceptional service, professional representation, and a personal approach are the cornerstones of his practice.

Mr. Cardoso began his legal career in law school interning for the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, Michigan. While interning, he observed highly skilled and accomplished attorneys litigate all manner of cases. During his third year of law school, he interned for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and litigated municipal appeals for the State of New Jersey.

Mr. Cardoso graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in January 2010. He passed both the New Jersey and New York bar exams and is currently admitted to practice in both states.

After passing the bar, Mr. Cardoso received a highly sought and prestigious legal clerkship with the Honorable Mark J. Nelson, J.S.C. in Hudson County Superior Court - Family Division. Just for reference, there are only 480 clerkships available per year in New Jersey. While a law clerk, Mr. Cardoso assisted the Court with all matters involving Family Law including abuse and neglect litigation, termination of parental rights, child support, alimony, and adoption proceedings.

From 2011 to 2016, Vando Cardoso worked for the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office as a Special Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Prosecutor. From 2016 to 2021, he worked for the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office as an Assistant Prosecutor. During his time prosecuting cases, he successfully litigated and secured countless convictions for the State of New Jersey in a variety of criminal matters including homicides, assaults, white collar crimes, burglary, drug crimes, juvenile crimes, appeals, domestic violence, and more. He also successfully filed, litigated, and won countless firearm forfeiture (as well as other weapons) actions for the State of New Jersey.

In addition to being a trial attorney for multiple prosecutor's offices, Vando Cardoso also provided legal advise to multiple police agencies throughout the State, taught courses on cross examining police officers, spoke at high schools about domestic violence, and attended numerous State sponsored courses on trial advocacy.

Mr. Cardoso is active in several legal associations in New Jersey including the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Bergen County Bar Association.