Beth C Manes

I started my career in corporate law but didn’t like the impersonal nature of the practice and decided to change direction.  After a few more changes in career path, I searched for the field of law where I could have the most impact and discovered a love for special needs advocacy and planning.

It is so satisfying to help parents get to the point where they know that they can provide for their child not only during his teen and adult years, but even later in life after they were gone.  I also work with my clients to establish guardianships to protect their children while giving them the amount of independence they can handle.  Helping these families is truly rewarding and it has become clear that this is the field for me.

There’s nothing I love more than helping a family go from feelings of despair and guilt to feelings of relief and optimism knowing that everything is in place and they can relax and enjoy time with their family.  Here are some examples of what I love most about my practice:

• When a child is helped early enough and can reach his full potential.
• When a kid goes from struggling in school to being put in a better educational setting where he can stop struggling and really succeeds.
• When a parent reports that it’s no longer a fight to get her child ready for school but that she actually looks forward to going.
• When I can help a teen get the skills and tools to she needs to live independently.
• When an entire family collaborates on the estate planning and the special needs child’s eligibility for public benefits is protected.
• When parents set up protection for their adult child and can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that everything is in place.

Other things to know about me:

Education:

University of Michigan Law School, J.D. December 1994.

Honors and Awards: 1993 Best Oralist; Environmental Moot Court Team; Coordinating Editor of Production of the Michigan Journal of Gender and Law.

Brandeis University, B.A. 1992, Major: Politics, Minor: Spanish.

Honors and Awards: David Alexander ‘79 Memorial Award for Social Consciousness and Activism; Richard Kaufman ’58 Memorial Prize for Leadership and Academic Excellence; Pi Sigma Alpha – Political Science National Honor Society.

Professional Associations:

New Jersey State Bar Association: Elder & Disability Law Section, Education Law Committee, Solo – Small Firm Section, Secretary (2016 – 2017)

Academy of Special Needs Planners

Community Involvement:

Columbia High School Fencing Parents Association Board, 2016 – Present

Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of New Jersey, Board of Directors, January 2008 – Present, President from 2012-2014

Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest New Jersey, Women’s Philanthropy Board, June 2014 – Present

Puppy-raiser for The Seeing Eye ®, 2012 – Present

Temple Sha’arey Shalom Board of Trustees, June 1999 – June 2006 and June 2012 – 2014

Springfield Public Library Board of Trustees, January 2010 – 2012

Springfield Township Committee, January 2007 – December 2009, Deputy Mayor

Springfield Recreation Cheerleading Coach, September 2007 – 2013

Women’s Political Caucus, 2006 – 2009

Women Advocating Good Government, 2005 – 2009