
Karen Ford Edler
New Jersey State BarKaren Edler is the founder of the PMSD Education Law Group. She advocates for parents and students to obtain a free, appropriate public education for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), Section 504 & related laws. Ms. Edler's services include reviewing Individual Education Plans (“IEP”) & Section 504 Plans, attending meetings and filing due process petitions when necessary. Ms. Edler represents students with any educational issues including academic issues, school disciplinary cases, bullying cases and collegiate academic and disciplinary matters. Ms. Edler handles special needs planning, Special Needs Trusts, guardianship applications & social security appeals. Ms. Edler is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s School Law Committe & the New Jersey Special Education Practitioners group. Ms. Edler works as a pro bono attorney and mentor for Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. Karen Edler is peer rated AV® Preeminent™ & she was named Top Lawyer 2017 in Education Law by Bergen Magazine. In 2019, Ms. Edler was named as a woman of influence honoree at the by YWCA Northern New Jersey's 44th Tribute to Women of INfluence (TWIN) . Ms. Edler served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert E. Hamer, J.S.C. Ms. Edler earned her law degree, cum laude, from New York Law School & was Managing Editor of the NYLS Journal of International and Comparative Law. Ms. Edler is a cum laude graduate of Dickinson College. Ms. Edler also practices commercial real estate, corporate transactions & commercial leasing. Ms. Edler served as the Public Defender in a local municipality. Ms. Edler is admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey, the United States District Court of New Jersey, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court.
- New York Law School
- J.D. | Labor Law
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- Honors: Graduated cum laude Managing Editor of New York Law School Journal of International and Comparative Law
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- Dickinson College
- B.A. | Political Science, Latin
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- Honors: Graduated cum laude
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- School Law committee member
- New Jersey State Bar
- - Current
- Member NJ State Bar Association School Law Committee
- Mentro
- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
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- Mentor new lawyers taking pro bono special education cases and handle some cases
- The Essentials of Representing Children in Special Education Matters, Rutger's School of Law - Newark
- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice and the Education Law Center
- This training is designed to serve as a primer for attorneys interested in representing students in pro bono special education matters in New Jersey. It is geared towards attorneys who have little to no experience in this area of law.
- 44th Tribute to Women of INfluence (TWIN) Honoree
- YWCA Northern New Jersey
- Established by YWCA Northern New Jersey in 1975, TWIN gives businesses and organizations an opportunity to honor their highest achieving women and gather together to network and celebrate success. TWIN honorees have excelled in their fields and made significant contributions to their organizations and communities. “When TWIN was established in 1975, our purpose was to help our corporate partners recognize women on their staff whose achievements might otherwise be overlooked or taken for granted compared to their male counterparts,” says YWCA Northern NJ CEO Helen Archontou. “Much about our world and women’s place in it has changed, but women still grapple with issues of equal pay, equal opportunities, and work?life balance. The heart of TWIN remains to honor women of achievement and celebrate organizations that create cultures in which women can thrive.”
- Top Lawyer in Education Law
- Bergen Magazine
- Pro Bono Attorney of the Month - June 2009
- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
- VLJ is proud to recognize Karen Edler, Esq., of the law firm Price Meese Shulman & D’Arminio, P.C. in Woodcliff Lake as VLJ's June 2009 pro bono attorney of the month. Ms. Edler has been an active member of VLJ since 2003. Specifically, she has provided assistance to VLJ’s special education clients and their guardians with their education-based legal matters. Likewise, Ms. Edler graciously serves as a mentoring attorney – offering invaluable guidance and support to volunteer attorneys who handle special education cases on behalf of our youngest and most vulnerable clients. VLJ wishes to thank Karen Edler for the contribution of her valuable time, expertise, and compassion and Price Meese Shulman & D’Arminio, P.C. for its support of VLJ.
- New Jersey State Bar Association School Law Committee
- Member
- - Current
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- New Jersey Special Education Practioners
- Member
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- Activities: The New Jersey Special Education Practitioners are an association of attorneys and advocates who practice in the area of special education in New Jersey. The NJSEP is primarily focused on matters related to the representation of parents and children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Membership in the NJSEP is limited to attorneys and advocates who only represent parents and students in matters related to special education and the rights of individuals with disabilities.
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- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
- Pro Bono Attorney and Mentor
- - Current
- Activities: From Volunteer Lawyers for Justice ("VLJ") website (http://www.volunteerlawyersnj.org). VLJ recruits and trains volunteers to provide free civil legal assistance to low income clients throughout New Jersey. Volunteers include: solo practitioners; administrative staff, associates and partners from small, mid-sized and large law firms in New Jersey and New York City; corporate in-house legal departments; and students from a number of area law schools. VLJ operates seven distinct projects, all providing free services to financially eligible clients referred from community organizations. VLJ is supported entirely by gifts and grants.
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- New Jersey State Bar  # 026451984
- Member
- - Current
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- New Jersey
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- Southern District of New York
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- 3rd Circuit
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- United States Tax Court
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Credit Cards Accepted
Mastercard, Visa, and Discover -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Please call us to learn about our Education law consultations and services.
- Education Law
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Social Security Disability
- Employment Law
- Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
- Landlord Tenant
- Evictions, Housing Discrimination, Landlord Rights, Rent Control, Tenants' Rights
- Civil Rights
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Discrimination, Employment, Fair Housing, Police Misconduct, Privacy Law
- English
- Website
- Biography