Hope N. Kirsch, Esq.
Hope was born in Queens, New York. She has a B.S. cum laude in Special Education from Boston University (1975), M.A. (Ed.) in Special Education from New York University (1977) and earned over thirty post-graduate credits in educational supervision and administration before entering law school.
Hope was a special education teacher and school administrator for nearly 20 years in New York City. She was awarded a Dean's Merit Scholarship to attend Brooklyn Law School's evening division while continuing her work in special education. She earned her Juris Doctorate (1991) and was admitted to the State Bar of New York, the State Bar of New Jersey, the Federal District Court of New York for the Southern District and the Federal District Court in New York for the Eastern District, and the Federal District Court of New Jersey.
Hope began her legal career as a judicial law clerk in the Superior Court of New Jersey (Newark, Essex County). She then joined an insurance defense firm where she handled environmental claims, attorney malpractice and general liability in both New York and New Jersey. Hope was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 1998 and moved to Arizona in 1999 where she joined an insurance defense firm. She is also admitted to the Federal District Court of Arizona and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Her practice focuses on education/special education law. She lives in Scottsdale with her husband Barry Kluger, and is an avid runner and skier.
Special Education Licenses and Certifications
- Certified Special Education Teacher, Emotional Disturbance, grades K-12, Arizona
- Licensed Teacher of Health Conservation (Neurologically Impaired, Emotionally Handicapped), New York City 1975
- Certified Special Education Teacher, New York State 1977
- Licensed Teacher of Emotionally Handicapped, New York City 1981
- Certified School Administrator/Supervisor, New York State 1986
- Licensed Assistant Principal of Special Education Schools, New York City 1987
- Licensed Supervisor of Special Education, New York City 1988
Areas of Practice
- Special Education Law
- Education Law
- Higher Education Law
- Student Discipline
Bar Admissions
- Arizona, 1998
- New York, 1992
- New Jersey, 1992
- U.S. District Court District of Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
Education
-
Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York
J.D. - 1991
Honors: Dean's Merit Scholar
- New York University, New York, New York
M.A. / M.Ed. - 1977
Major: Special Education
- Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
B.S. cum laude - 1975
Major: Special Education
Representative Cases
- Calderone v. Levites Realty, 644 NYS 2d 262, 228 AD 2d 375 (NYAD 1st Dept. 1996)
- Puglisi v. Total Community Management, 678 NYS 2d 770, 254 AD 2d 401 (NYAD 2nd Dept. 1998)
Classes/Seminars/Workshops Taught
- Special Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, National Business Institute (NBI), June 29, 2010
- Special Education Law 101, Phoenix High Functioning Autism / Asperger Family Network , September 30, 2010
- How to Depose Experts in Construction Defect Cases, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, December 8, 2010
- Due Process in Special Education, National Business Institute (NBI), December 9, 2010
- How to Access School Services: Know Your Educational Rights Under the Law, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), January 24, 2010
- Overview of Special Education Law in Arizona, North Phoenix Bar Association, June 8, 2011
- Arizona Special Education Law, National Business Institute (NBI), June 28, 2011
- What Every Grandparent Needs to Know to Help Their Grandchild Succeed in School, Southwest Autism Resource & Research Center (SARRC), November 11, 2011
- When Do You Need An Educational Advocate, and When Should You Hire A Lawyer, Council for Jews with Special Needs, February 13, 2012
- Rights, Advocacy and Law: Empowering Families to Make Child Related Decisions, Children's Services Network of Arizona, May 24, 2012
- Special Education Law , Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), May 17, 2012
- Know Your Educational Rights Under the Law, SARRC, July 23, 2012
- Overview of Special Ed Law, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, August 15, 2012
- Asperger's and School: Information to Help Your Child Succeed , Phoenix High Functioning Autism, August 25, 2012
- ABC's of Special Education, The Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, September 8, 2012
- The Intersection of Autism and Family Law: What the Bench and Bar Should Know , Maricopa County Bar Association: Family Law Section, November 1, 2012
- Know Your Educational Rights Under the Law, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), December 10, 2012
- Know Your Client's Educational Rights Under the Law, West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, December 13, 2012
- Nuts and Bolts of Special Education Law, Arizona Autism United (AZA United), February 9, 2013
- Special Education Law: Resolving Disputes in IEP's, National Business Institute (NBI), February 27, 2013
- BULLYING: Legal Issues & Current Policies in Arizona, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), April 26, 2013
- Arizona Special Education Law, National Business Institute (NBI), June 25, 2013
- Know Your Educational Rights Under the Law, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), July 30, 2013
- Autism Spectrum Disorder & School Law, National Business Institute (NBI), August 6, 2013
- From the Trenches: Stories and Practice Tips From the Bullying Front Lines, American Bar Association, October 11, 2013
- Special Education Services and Supports, Phoenix Children's Hospital (PCH), 2012-2015
- 10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know, East Valley Autism Network (EVAN), January 28, 2014
- Top 10 IEP Tips for Parents and Practitioners , Arizona Autism United (AZA United), March 8, 2014
- Resolving Special Eduation Disputes: Negotiate, Mediate or Litigate, AudioSolutionz, June 3, 2014
- What Every Attorney Needs to Know About Special Education Law, North Phoenix Bar Association (NPBA), June 11, 2014
- Special Education Laws Made Simple, National Business Institute (NBI), June 17, 2014
- Placement Decisions and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), AudioSolutionz, August 20, 2014
- Special Education Law for Related Services Providers (Therapy Time), September 18, 2014
- Educators Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder and DSM-V (AudioSolutionz), September 25, 2014
- Understanding the Evaluation Process: Your Legal Rights (Parent Education Network), January 15, 2015
- Bullying: Legal Issues & Current Policies in Arizona (Children’s Services Network), February 12, 2015
- Transitions, Bullying and Discipline (AZ Assist), February 16, 2015
- Disciplinary Procedures for Special Education Students (AudioSolutionz), February 24, 2015
- Education Rights of Special Needs Students and their Parents (Mass Mutual), March 18, 2015
- Practical and Ethical Issues in Representing Students with Disabilities (State Bar of Arizona), March 20, 2015
- Arizona Special Education Law (NBI), February 12-13, 2015
- Personal Injury and Special Education (Maricopa County Bar Association), June 10, 2015
- Discipline Rights of General Education and Special Education Students (State Bar of Arizona), July 10, 2015
- Top 10 IEP Tips (AZA United Autism), August 15, 2015
- Post-Secondary Transition for Special Education Students (AudioSolutionz), August 19, 2015
- Bullying, Discipline & Post-Secondary Transitions (Autism Society), September 19, 2015
Honors and Awards
- AV Preeminent Rated Attorney (5.0 out of 5.0)
- Dean's Merit Scholar, 1987
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Arizona, Member, 1998 - Present
- Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Board Member, 2006 - 2012
- Maricopa County Bar Association, Member
- Children's Services Network of Arizona, Member
- Arizona Consortium of Children with Chronic Illness (ACCCI), Board Member
- Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), Member
- Arthur T. Vanderbilt American Inn of Court, Member, 1994 - 1996
- New York State Bar Association, Member, 1992 - 1999
- New Jersey State Bar Association, Member, 1992 - 1999
Past Employment Positions
- New York City Board of Education, Special Education Teacher/Administrator, 1975 - 1993
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County, Judicial Law Clerk, 1993 - 1994
- Garrity, Graham, Favetta & Flinn, Associate, 1994 - 1999
- Broening, Oberg, Woods & Wilson, Partner, 2000 - 2006
Pro Bono Activities
- Gay Men's Health Crisis (Estate planning, wills, trusts, POAs), 2002 - 2004
- MISS Foundation