Lisa McCauley Parles, of Counsel to the Firm, is responsible for the training and supervision of associates in the Special Education and Disabilities Law Group.  In addition to special education and disabilities law, she has practiced for many years in the areas of labor and employment law.  Ms. McCauley Parles started her career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Sex Crimes/Special Victims Bureau of the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

Ms. McCauley Parles has served as the Director of the Center for Leadership Studies and as the Director of the Junior MBA Program at the Stillman School of Business of Seton Hall University.  In addition, Ms. McCauley Parles is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Legal Studies.

Ms. McCauley Parles has represented numerous not for profit organizations in the disabilities community as well as families of children with disabilities in special education, guardianship and related matters.  She is a founder of the Quest Autism Foundation and the Special Quest Recreation Program.  She is the mother of a 20 year old with autism.  In addition, she is a frequent lecturer and has appeared in a number of broadcasts, including Nightline and World News Tonight.

Ms. McCauley Parles is admitted to the New Jersey Bar and New York State Bar as well as to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Ms. McCauley Parles has received numerous awards including, “Everyday Hero Award,” RNN, Cablevision of New Jersey (2006); “5 of 5” Teaching Evaluation, Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University (2005-2006); Research Excellence Award, Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University (2005); Nominee, The Russ Berrie Award for Making A Difference (2004) Recognition Award for Contributions in the Field of Law, La Tribuna Newspaper of Hudson County (1999); Program Enhancement Award, Bancroft Young Autism Program (1997); and Outstanding Woman in Law, Town of Brookhaven, New York, (1991).

Ms. McCauley Parles has been involved for many years in important community organizations.  She is a Member of the Professional Advisory Board of agingwithautism.org.  She has served as Member, Board of Directors, Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center, Warwick, New York; Member, Board of Directors, Quest Autism Programs, Inc,Wyckoff, New Jersey; Member, Autism Task Force, Catholic Charities of New Jersey, Inc., Newark, New Jersey; Member, Government Affairs Committee, COSAC, Ewing, New Jersey; Member, Professional Advisory Committee Family Support Council of New Jersey, Brick Township, New Jersey; Member, Human Rights Committee, Alpine Learning Group, Inc., Paramus, New Jersey; Member, Task Force on Autism, UMDNJ, Newark, New Jersey; Action Advocate, 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women; Chairperson, “Music From The Heart,” New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra Benefit Concert; Founder, “Celebrating Differences” presentation for typical peers on accepting individuals with disabilities, Allendale, New Jersey; and Trainer, Green Circle Program, Hillside School, Allendale, New Jersey.

Ms. McCauley Parles is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section and Elder and Disability Law Section and the New Jersey Special Education Practitioners Group.

She received her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law and her B.A. cum laude from Hamilton College.

The following are recent presentations featuring Ms. McCauley Parles:

• "The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Review of Workplace Protections for Persons with Disabilities," BCSS CAPE Resource Center, Ridgewood, New Jersey (October 2011).
• “One on One” with Steve Adubato WNET TV.  Featured on cable program to discuss the critical residential issues facing the disabled in the State of New Jersey and the need to close Developmental Centers in NJ in favor of community-based residential facilities (September 2011).

"Transition Law in Special Education," ICLE 2011 Administrative Law Forum (April 2011).
"Discipline, Bullying and Harassment," POAC Autism Conference, Lincroft, New Jersey (April 2011).
"Mediation and Due Process in Special Education Cases," Saddle Brook, New Jersey (March 2011).
"The IEP Process and Legal Rights of Students," Bergen Community College Saturday Series, Paramus, New Jersey (January 2011).
"Special Needs Estate Planning and Guardianship," Saddle Brook, New Jersey (November 2010).
"Dealing with Autism:  The Legal Issues You Need to Know," Bergen Bar Association, Hackensack, New Jersey (November 2010).
"Autism 101," SaddleBrook, New Jersey (November 2010).
"Discipline, Bullying and Harassment," Autism NJ Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey (October 2010).
"Guardianship and Adult Services," West Milford, New Jersey (September 2010)
"Tips for a Successful School Year for the Special Education Student," Saddle Brook, New Jersey (September 2010).
"Dealing with Autism: the Legal Issues You Need to Know," ICLE, moderator (June 2010).
"Key Aspects of the IEP Process," Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (April 2010).
"Transition Services and Securing Adult Services for the Special Education Student," West Orange, New Jersey (March 2010).
"Employment Law for Law Firms," ICLE, speaker (February 2010).
"Transition Services and Securing Adult Services for the Special Education Student," Saddle Brook, New Jersey (February 2010).
"Accessing Support Services for the Special Education Student," Saddle Brook, New Jersey (January 2010).
"How to find the perfect employee," Autism: Today's Workforce, Bergen Community College, Paramus, New Jersey (May 2009).
"Accessing Non-educational Services," Paramus, New Jersey (March 2009).
"The Do's and Don'ts of Interviewing," WSOU, South Orange, New Jersey (June 2008).
“Defining Hostile Work Environment and Workplace Discrimination,” Thank God It’s Monday, Pilot Program, WSOU, South Orange, New Jersey (May 2006).
“Sarbanes-Oxley: A Proposed Survey on Impact and Implementation.” North Atlantic Regional Business Law Association, Babson College, Babson Park, Massachusetts (April 2006).
“To Find the Words”, WABC’s Nightline. Featured on Nightline’s program addressing accessing autism services (March 2001 and February 2005).
“Title VII Liability After Ellerth and Farragher: An Employer’s Duty to Conduct Prompt, Thorough and Impartial Investigations of Sexual Harassment Complaints” presented at North Atlantic Regional Business Law Association, Boston, Massachusetts (April 2003).
“Accessing Family Support Services” presented at COSAC’s annual Autism Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey (May 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004).
“Basic Employment Rights” presented at 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women regional meeting, Bergen County Women’s Center, Englewood, New Jersey (December 2002).
“Advocating for Non-Educational Services for the Autism Community” presented at Educational Lecture Series, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (November 2002).
“The Biggest Company Secrets” New Directions for Women, Cablevision, Morristown, New Jersey. Appeared as guest on cable television program, May 2001.
“Dealing with Discrimination in the Workplace” presented at Women, Work and Careers Conference, Ramapo College, Mahwah New Jersey, March 2000.
“Families Taking Leadership Roles in the Disabilities Community” presented at annual conference of the Family Support Center of New Jersey, Edison, New Jersey, October 2000.