Hope Kirsch

Hope Kirsch

Courtroom and classroom experience.
  • Education Law
  • Arizona, New Jersey, New York
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Biography

Education attorney Hope Kirsch has both courtroom and classroom experience. She has been a litigation attorney for over 20 years in NY, NJ and Arizona. Prior to her law career, Hope was a a special education teacher and school administrator for nearly 20 years in New York City, working with children with autism and children with severe emotional disabilities and behaviors in a variety of settings, from self-contained classes to hospital schools. Her practice for the past 12 years has been devoted to special education law representing students and their families throughout Arizona in matters ranging from IEPs through due process hearings and appeals, discipline (suspensions and expulsions), bullying, restraint and seclusion, and serious personal injury claims from school related accidents and incidents.

Education
Brooklyn Law School
J.D. (1991)
Honors: Dean's Merit Scholar
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New York University
M.A. (1977) | Special Education
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Boston University
B.S. (1975) | Special Education
Honors: cum laude
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Professional Experience
Managing Attorney / Founding Member
Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC
- Current
Education firm, special education, higher education.
Partner
Broening, Oberg, Woods & Wilson, PLC
-
Litigation / trial attorney and appeals.
Attorney
Garrity, Graham, Favetta & Flinn, PLC
-
Litigation and appeals.
Judical Law Clerk
Superior Court of New Jersey
-
Judical Law Clerk, legal research, prepared memoranda of law, assisted judge with jury instructions.
Speaking Engagements
Special Education Due Process Hearings: A Strategic Guide, National broadcast
National Business Institute
Training for special education attorneys across the country.
Special Education Law: The Ultimate Guide, Phoenix, AZ
National Business Institute
Training for Arizona educators - teachers and school administrators. Addressed bullying & harassment; developing legally compliant IEPs; discipline; discrimination; etc.
Legal Issues in Special Education Disputes, Scottsdale, AZ
MyLawCLE
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). To help implement these federal laws, the IDEA also guarantees parents of students with disabilities procedural safeguards to ensure their child’s rights are fully realized under the law. Among those safeguards are provisions designed to resolve disagreements between parents and schools. A panel of special education parent and school attorneys, a state investigator, an administrative law judge and federal district court judge will present a lively discussion of the IDEA, Section 504, jurisdiction of hearing officers, jurisdiction of OCR, substantive rights and procedural safeguards, how to avoid disputes, common themes and issues in disputes, dispute resolution alternatives, due process litigation, OCR complaints, appeals, types of relief, and concepts including stay-put. Gain insight into the behind the scenes handling of special education disputes by each of these key participants to better prepare you to handle special education disputes with confidence. Key topics to be discussed: Background of Special Education and the IDEA, including discussion of FAPE, LRE and Rowley Background of Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Differences between the IDEA and 504, including jurisdiction of hearing officers versus OCR and remedies available Dispute Resolution options under the IDEA Dispute Resolution options under Section 504 Risks and rewards of Due Process Complaints How parent attorneys evaluate potential cases, factors in determining whether to accept a case, and factors in deciding resolution strategies How school attorneys evaluate and resolve State Complaints, Due Process Complaints and OCR Complaints Factors in deciding whether to appeal How the judges see it
Certifications
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, 5.0 out of 5.0
Martindale Hubbell
Special Education Teacher
New York City Board of Education
Professional Associations
AZA (Arizona Autism) United
Governing Board
Current
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State Bar of Arizona
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Arizona
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New Jersey
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New York
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9th Circuit
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
Practice Area
Education Law
Additional Practice Areas
  • Special Education Law
  • Higher Education Law
  • Litigation and Appeals
Websites & Blogs
Website
Arizona Special Education Lawyers
Blog
KGK Special Ed Law Blog
Contact & Map
Hope Kirsch, Esq.
8900 East Pinnacle Peak Rd.
Ste. 250
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Telephone: (480) 585-0600
Phoenix