Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC - Education Law
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Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC - Education Law
Hope N. Kirsch

Hope N. Kirsch

Managing Partner
Location:
Scottsdale, Arizona
Phone:
480-559-8329
888-352-4916 (Toll Free)
Fax:
480-585-0622
E-mail:

Hope was born in Queens, New York, on February 21, 1955. She obtained her undergraduate degree (B.S., cum laude in special education) from Boston University in 1975, and a Master's Degree (M.A. in special education) from New York University in 1977, and obtained thirty post-graduate credits in educational supervision and adminstration. Hope was a special education teacher and school administrator for 18 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 obtained her J.D. in 1991 and was admitted to the State Bar of New York and the State Bar of new Jersey. Hope began her legal career as judicial law clerk to Honorable Jack B. Kirsten of the Superior Court in Newark, New Jersey. She then joined an insurance defense firm where she handled complex litigation and toxic torts (lead paint, mold, IAQ, pesticides), 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. Hope is also admitted to the federal bars in New York, New Jersey and Arizona. Her practice areas include construction, insurance, commercial litigation and special education law. She lives in Scottsdale with her husband Barry Kluger, and is an avid runner and skier.

Special Education Licenses and Certifications

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

  • Construction Law
  • Insurance
  • Civil Litigation
  • Special Education Law

Litigation Percentage

  • 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona, 1998
  • New York, 1992
  • New Jersey, 1992
  • U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 2000
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1997
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1997
  • U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1992

Education

  • Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York
    • J.D. - 1991
    • Honors: Dean's Merit Scholar
  • New York University, New York, New York
    • M.A. - 1977
    • Major: Teacher of Emotionally Handicapped in Mainstream and Special Schools
  • Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
    • B.S. (Cum Laude) - 1975
    • Major: Special Education

Classes/Seminars

  • Overview of New York Law, Wausau Nationwide Insurance, 1977
  • Lead Paint: Liabilities for Realtors and Brokers, Essex County Board of Realtors, 1998
  • Risk Management for Painting Contractors, Dunn-Edward, 2007
  • Overview of Special Education Law,, Phoenix High Functioning Autism/Asperger's Family Network, September 30, 2010
  • Special Education and IDEIA, , National Business Institute (NBI), June 29, 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
  • Know Your Educational Rights Under the Law, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), January 24, 2010

Honors and Awards

  • Dean's Merit Scholar, 1987

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • State Bar of Arizona, Member, 1998 - Present
  • Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Board Member, 1996 - Present
  • AADC, Construction Defect Special Interest Group, Chair, 1996 - Present
  • Maricopa County Bar Association, Member, 1996 - Present
  • MCBA, Construction Law Section, Member, 1996 - Present
  • Arizona Consortium of Children with Chronic Illness (ACCCI), Board Member, 2009 - Present
  • 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

  • GMHC (Estate planning, wills, trusts, POAs), 2002 - 2004

Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, P.L.L.C.
8900 East Pinnacle Peak Rd., Suite 250
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Phone: 480-559-8329

Toll Free: 888-352-4916
Fax: 480-585-0622
Map and Directions




Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, P.L.L.C., serves students and their families in matters regarding education law / school law and special education law and advocacy in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the surrounding cities of Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler, Surprise, Carefree, Cave Creek, Anthem, Flagstaff, Tucson, Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Peoria, and throughout Arizona.

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