Albert M. Afonso
Of Counsel
Overview
Kerlin Hyppolite is an experienced trial attorney with a focus on criminal defense, including white-collar cases, as well as immigration law at both the state and federal levels. He also serves as the Public Defender for the town of Merchantville, New Jersey, where he is committed to providing quality legal representation to low-income and underserved people.
In addition to his legal career, Kerlin has extensive experience as a Legal Language Specialist for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), providing interpretation and translation services in Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. His background includes providing legal interpretation services for state and federal courts nationwide, interpreting for various court events, and transcribing undercover audio for both defense and prosecution in state proceedings.
Kerlin earned a B.A. in Spanish from Rutgers University and his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law. During his time at Rutgers School of Law, Kerlin was actively involved in the Black Law Students Association as a Chapter Regional Representative and participated in the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition as a team member. He also served as a Student Recruiter, showcasing his dedication to the legal community.
Kerlin is admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Outside of his work, Kerlin enjoys traveling, karaoke, and learning about different cultures.
