I would go to the deciding office and ask if you still can appose this or vacate it. Or I would now motion the civil court to bring this “back down” to small claims on the bases that it meets at least one of these:
The small claims court in New Jersey may hear any of the following claims if the amount in controversy does not exceed $3,000.00:
https://smallclaims.uslegal.com/small-claims-laws-by-state/new-jersey-small-claims-law/
Also that this could create undue hardship financially to hire an attorney & that the asking amount is only $700.00. I cannot find any law stating you cannot have an attorney?
https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/forms/10151_sc_non_motorveh.pdf
There are people who represent themselves in civil. It is difficult & deadlines are extremely important.