Isabel has been practicing Education Law for over 15 years and represents over 20 districts throughout the state of New Jersey. Isabel’s practice involves all aspects of education law, including litigation at all levels of state and federal courts and administrative agencies. She has an in-depth background in special education law, board policy, and administrative matters. Isabel focuses primarily on counseling and litigating on behalf of school districts with respect to employment and contract matters, labor negotiations, and special education.
Isabel is a dynamic and sought-after author and public speaker, who routinely conducts workshops and in-service programs for board of education members, school administrators and staff, and industry organizations, including the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), Seton Hall University’s Superintendent Study Council and LRP Publications, Inc. She is also a contributor and regular presenter for LEGAL ONE where she has written the special education training materials. LEGAL ONE is a program that meets the legal requirement for all NJ school leaders to complete 12 hours of training in school law, ethics, and governance. In addition, Isabel has published IDEA & Joint Custody, Your District’s Obligations to Each Parent.
In 2008, Isabel was recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal and NJBIZ as one of its “40 Under 40” and a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Isabel is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York. Isabel also holds a Certificate of Eligibility as a School Business Administrator.
Jessika routinely conducts seminars and in-service workshops to boards of education, school administration and staff, and at school law and bar association forums. Past presentations include the Legal One four-part Special Education Law Series, which she developed for the organization, Board Members’ Roles and Responsibilities, the Basics of Special Education for Board Members, Student Records and Confidentiality, Reducing the Costs of Special Education Litigation, Procedural Safeguards, Hot Topics in Special Education, Section 504: A Road Map to Compliance, I&RS: Effective Usage and Best Practices, Special Education for Administrators, Nursing Services In The School Setting, Legal and Effective IEPs, and HIB & Discipline Rights, Responsibilities & Best Practices. Jessika is also regularly authors feature articles for Special Education Connections. In June of 2018, Jessika is honored to be participating as a speaker on special education law at an international conference on education, in Athens, Greece.
Jessika served as counsel to low-income children in the Special Education Clinic while attending law school at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. She is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association, the American Bar Association and is admitted to practice in New Jersey and in the federal court, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.