Karen Ford Edler

Karen 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

1981 - 1984

Honors: Graduated cum laude Managing Editor of New York Law School Journal of International and Comparative Law

Dickinson College

B.A. | Political Science, Latin

1977 - 1981

Honors: Graduated cum laude

School Law committee member

New Jersey State Bar

2013 - Current

Member NJ State Bar Association School Law Committee

Mentro

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

2005 - Current

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

February 12, 2020

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

2019

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

2017

Pro Bono Attorney of the Month - June 2009

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

2009

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

2014 - Current

New Jersey Special Education Practioners

Member

2007 - Current

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.

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

Pro Bono Attorney and Mentor

2003 - 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.

New Jersey State Bar  # 026451984

Member

1984 - Current

New Jersey

Since 1984

Southern District of New York

Since 2005

3rd Circuit

Since 2004

U.S. Supreme Court

Since 1985

United States Tax Court

Since 2006

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  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