Meet Carl

CARL FORBES JR., ESQ.

Carl Forbes Jr. is a husband, father, brother, son, Jamaican citizen by heritage, and a first-generation American. Although he was not born in Jamaica, Carl experienced the next best thing—being born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. The People’s Republic of Brooklyn—as it is affectionately called—is home to Black families from across the diaspora that includes a strong and impactful Caribbean community. This is the home base where Carl’s firm, CFJ Law PLLC, provides legal services focused on Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration, and Estate Litigation throughout New York.

Carl’s goal since childhood has been to help others, socially and culturally, in ways that he understands by virtue of his experiences. His path to doing so is through compassionate legal representation and resource sharing. Vocal, steadfast, knowledgeable, and present, Carl is interested in working on the most valuable elements in your life—your family and business. Equipped with the tools and expertise he has gained in 15+ years of law, Carl plugs you into the most viable information, resources, insights, and people. His development and achievements are for the betterment of the communities he is a part of and the families in them, including his own.

Carl is the President of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, New York State’s largest predominantly Black bar association whose purpose, among other things, is to advance equality and excellence in the pursuit of justice. He is a former Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Bronx Alumni Chapter). He has received several accolades—to name a few: New York Metro Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2019-2023), National Black Lawyers Top 100 list (2021-2023), Caribbean Life’s 2023 Caribbean Impact Award, City & State's 2023 Law Power 100, and the National Bar Association’s 2023 40 Under 40 Nation's Best Advocates.

Carl received his B.A., cum laude, in Philosophy, Politics & Law from Binghamton University, and his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.


BAR ADMISSIONS
New York
U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District
U.S. District Court, New York, Eastern District

EDUCATION
Columbia University School of Law, Juris Doctor, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Binghamton University, State University of New York, Bachelor of Arts, cum laude

ACADEMIA
Adjunct Professor of Law — New York Law School (2018-2022)

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
Real Estate Broker – New York State
Notary Public – New York State

CERTIFICATES
Certificate, Training Pursuant to Part 36 of the Rules of the Chief Judge and Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law – June 2018, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College, City University of New York

Certificate, Mental Health First Aid – April 2018, Mental Health First Aid USA (National Council for Behavioral Health, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Missouri Department of Mental Health)

AWARDS & RECOGNITION   
Empire State Counsel – New York State Bar Association, 2016 and 2017
New York Metro Rising Star – Super Lawyers, 2019-2023
National Black Lawyers Top 100, 2021-2023
Schneps Media’s A List, 2021
Caribbean Life’s 2023 Caribbean Impact Award
City & State's 2023 Law Power 100
National Bar Association’s 2023 40 Under 40 Nation's Best Advocates
The New York Carib News’ 2023 Caribbean-American Power 100
Lawyers of Color’s Hot List 2023

LEADERSHIP & MEMBERSHIP   
Metropolitan Black Bar Association – President
New York State Bar Association – Trusts & Estates Section Diversity Committee
Brooklyn Bar Association
New York City Bar Association - Trusts, Estates & Surrogate’s Court Practice Committee
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Bronx Alumni Chapter