Jessica Weinberg is an attorney and mediator with over 20 years of special education experience. Jessica’s passion for helping families advocate for their children began early in her career, after she helped a family member navigate the special education process.
As a result of that experience, she began volunteering at The Association for Children (now known as Advocates for Children of New Jersey) a non-profit organization where Jessica further fostered her interest in pursuing the rights of families and children in special education matters.
To enhance her understanding of special education law, Jessica spent the following 4 years working at the Law Offices of Fogarty and Hara, representing school districts. During that time, her focus on the child’s best interests played a key role in the successful resolution of the majority of her cases.
From 1998 through 2014, Jessica served as a special education mediator with the New Jersey Department of Education, focusing on special education disputes between parents and school districts. She successfully resolved over 1000 special education mediations during her 10 years as a mediator.
She is also certified as a mediator for special education disputes in the US District Court of New Jersey, and the Early Intervention system. Jessica also serves as an IEP Facilitator in New Jersey and New York, helping parents and school districts to communicate more effectively in order to develop a collaborative IEP. She has received extensive training regarding alternative dispute resolution techniques.
Jessica is also the Co-Founder of a company dedicated to improving student outcomes by providing legal training workshops to school districts throughout New Jersey.
With her unique background, Jessica has the ability to understand all positions involved in special education disputes, which better enables her to advocate and negotiate settlements for her clients. Jessica utilizes creativity, compassion, and an understanding of the special education laws in representing her clients.
Given the intimate and lengthy relationship that exists between parents and school districts, cost, and disruptive nature of a hearing to a family’s life, Jessica believes special education disputes should be resolved amicably whenever possible. Jessica also advocates for students who are victims of bullying or accused of committing an act of harassment, intimidation and bullying or a disciplinary infraction, and routinely presents enthuse topics.
Jessica obtained her B.A. in psychology from Hofstra University and J.D. from Widener University. She believes her psychology and law background has enabled her to better serve families.
Jessica resides in Union County, New Jersey with her husband, son and daughter. She and her family love to travel and be outdoors. They all love animals and foster rescue dogs and help facilitate adoption placements whenever possible.
Jessica also enjoys her annual dedication to helping parents finalize their long awaited adoption process on National Adoption Day and serving on the board to friends connect foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating social opportunities between special needs and neurotypical teens.
Voted: BEST LAWYERS FOR FAMILIES – 2017, 2018 & 2019 and Super Lawyers-2019