About
About
Ariel S. Zitrin, Esq.
Founding Member
Ariel Zitrin is the former First Deputy Director for the New York City Department of Education’s Special Education Legal Unit (SEU). As First Deputy Director, Ms. Zitrin oversaw the day-to-day operation of the unit and supervised a staff of over 200 attorneys and paralegals in their investigation, settlement and/or litigation of all special education complaints brought against the DOE by parents seeking funding for private school tuition and special services.
In addition to the complex legal work performed by Ms. Zitrin during her tenure with the SEU, managing a unit as large as the SEU afforded her the opportunity to gain experience in the areas of public policy, operations, human resources, labor relations and organizational development.
In January, 2023, after twelve years with the SEU, Ms. Zitrin made the difficult decision to leave the DOE for a new opportunity that would bring her closer to home and allow her to live and work in the same community. As Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New Rochelle, Ms. Zitrin was responsible for, or played a role in, all of the City’s legal matters including, but not limited to, legislation, zoning and planning, policy guidance, contract drafting and review, torts and general litigation, and prosecution of city code violations. Though Ms. Zitrin enjoyed working for the citizens of New Rochelle, she soon realized that her professional passion remains in the areas of education law and organizational development. It was this realization that gave rise to AZ Law & Consulting, PLLC (AZL&C) in January, 2024.
Background
Areas of Expertise:
Special Education Law
General Education Law
School Discipline
School Law
Municipal Law
Torts Law
General Litigation
Organizational Development
Admissions & Certifications:
New York
Second Department 2005
U.S. District Court
Southern District of NY 2007
Organization Development Certified Professional
Education:
Institute of Organization Development
ODCP, 2024
Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York
Juris Doctor, 2004
University of Delaware - Honors Program, Newark, Delaware
Bachelor of Arts with Distinction, cum laude, 2001
Bronx High School of Science Bronx, NY
Regents Diploma, 1997
Affiliations & Memberships:
Westchester County Bar Association
Ethics and Professionalism Committee Co-Chair
Education Law Committee Co-Chair
Weekday Nursery School, Board of Directors
Pace/Haub Law Women in the Law Society
The Ursuline School, mock trial team attorney advisor
Speaking Engagements:
CLE Instructor
Special Education & The School District’s Legal Obligations to Students with Disabilities
Westchester County Bar Association, 2024
Special Education School Law Ethics Considerations: Who is your client?
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, 2024
Practicing Law Institute, 2023
Special Education & The DOE’s Legal Obligations to Students with Disabilities
NYC Department of Education, 2017 & 2018
Publications:
The “No Contact” Rule & Its Exceptions
Digital Westchester Lawyer Magazine, February 2025
Succession Planning: Practical and Ethical Benefits for Solo Practitioners and Small Firms
Digital Westchester Lawyer Magazine, September 2024
Ethical Considerations When Representing Clients in The School Law Context
Practicing Law Institute, 2023
Goodbye Beauty Queen Detective: The New Age of Female Law Enforcers, Attorneys and Judges on TV
University of Delaware, Sociology Dept., 2001
Employment History:
City of New Rochelle, per diem City Prosecutor, 2024 - present
City of New Rochelle, Assistant Corporation Counsel, 2023
NYC Department of Education, Office of the General Counsel, Special Education Unit, First Deputy Director (et. al.)
2010 – 2023
Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry, LLP, Associate Attorney, 2009 – 2010
Miranda Sambursky Sloane Sklarin & Verveniotis, Associate Attorney, LLP
2007 – 2009
Queens County District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, 2004 – 2007
