The Humanitarian side of Karen DeSoto

When people give selflessly to their community they often do so without seeking acknowledgements for it. At the same time they are often singled out for their contributions, as Karen DeSoto has been over the years. I have interviewed her on several occasions about the Institute for Dispute Resolution (she is co-founder and co-director) and her passions were always obvious -- equal rights, fairness in the workplace, humanitarian support, and education.

As a lifelong resident of New Jersey it is not surprising that that is where her efforts were mostly targeted.

In her early career she focused on her legal career, having earned a Juris Doctorate and Masters in Law for Trial Advocacy. She served as a public defender as many law graduates do, early on. Then, she gained experience on the other side of the law -- as a prosecutor.

By 2001 she was the first women (also the first Hispanic, and the youngest person) to be appointed Chief Counsel for the city of Jersey City. 

Busy bees tend to stay busy. And she did. All the while that she was appearing on television as an on-air legal analyst for a variety of news and magazine channels [such as ABC News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC News) she was also buzzing about her neighborhood.

She was a guest speaker imparting knowledge to students at local colleges, and contributing time and energy at local organizations. The Bayonne Youth Community Center named her Humanitarian of the Year for her efforts on their behalf. She worked with the Ray of Hope Foundation, Head Start, and many others.

Despite her work with local community groups, she couldn’t ignore the law either, and she continued to be active in building coalitions in a push for equal rights, civil rights and workplace fairness. For those efforts The Hudson Reporter named Karen to their Top 50 Most Influential People list, calling her “a force to be reckoned with.”

Her work gained the attention of the NCAAP too, and they honored her alongside Senator Sandra Cunningham and four others.

At the 50^th Annual Puerto Rican Heritage Festival and Parade in 2010 she named Attorney of the Year. 

Currently Karen is immersed in her dedication to the Institute for Dispute Resolution, working with the applied research department to affect change in New Jersey policy, as well as giving her time to coach and mentor young students -- while also accompanying them on sponsored international competitions and events. 

How The Bill ‘S602’ Will Change The Face Of International Mediation In New Jersey?

There is some good news for all the international mediation enthusiasts out there! The Institute for Dispute Resolution (at New Jersey City University, school of Business) got its very first New Jersey policy success. The IDR applied research department work contributed to the passing of the Bill ‘S602’ which was signed into law by the Governor as the New Jersey International Arbitration, Mediation, and Conciliation Act, on February 7, 2017.

The co-founder and co-director of the institute, Karen DeSoto noted that this Bill had strong bipartisan support, from both Senators Sandra Cunningham and Tom Kean Jr. The Bill aims at positioning New Jersey as a hub for business meditations from all over the world. It is expected to give the much-needed boost to international trade in the state.

So far, there were no mechanisms for businesses to settle their disputes in New Jersey outside of full legal actions. With the passing of this Bill, mediation will become an important dispute resolution tool in NJ, making it one of only ten states that have passed such a legislation.

Now, with this law, designated nonprofit organizations in New Jersey will be able to better achieve international mediation, arbitration, and conciliation, and Karen DeSoto said “it feels great that the Institute for Dispute Resolution helped” in doing so.

The IDR, which is focused on negotiation and mediation, both domestically and internationally, has been encouraging the practice to businesses through collaborative actions and events, and educating students -- through study as well as practical experience by participating in international mediation competitions and events.

IDR has played a great role in this legislation, and expects to contribute to the shaping of education policy in the future. 

3 Ways That Karen Desoto Keeps Giving Back

 

Karen DeSoto is a career attorney who has also been an on-air legal analyst for 15 years, has been a guest speaker, and an equal right activist. The Hudson Reporter had previously named her one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in Hudson County because of her efforts and the coalitions she built. And now -- as she continues to appear on air as a legal analyst for NBC News, her attention has been focused on her role as co-director of the Institute for Dispute resolution at New Jersey City University.

1. She Is Making A Difference

Karen DeSoto along with David Weiss co founded the Institute for Dispute Resolution at the New Jersey City University school for business. And through the IDR applied research department they contributed to what became the New Jersey International Arbitration, Mediation, and Conciliation Act (legislation signed Feb 7, 2017). 

2. She Has Long Been A Mentor

Whether it was being the youngest attorney, first woman and first Hispanic to ever serve as Corporate Counsel for the city of Jersey City, serving as a Board Member of various organizations, being a guest speaker at local colleges, or coaching students for international competitions in mediation through IDR, she exudes confidence and a  strong work ethic for young women to admire.

3. She Is An Educator

For over a decade Karen DeSoto has appeared on air as a legal analyst to provide legal insights -- to television audiences regarding high profile cases in the news.

3 Tips For Choosing A Workplace Discrimination Attorney

Choosing a workplace discrimination lawyer who can help you solve that ugly work-related dispute can be a tough task. So, how do you do that? Here are a few tips to find the right person who can help you get through the turbulent phase without much difficulty.

Tip# 1: Do Your Research

Karen Desoto

To begin right, take a look at the credentials of your preferred attorney. Search the web and find information about their education, their activities and involvement in the legal industry – as well as their knowledge on the type of situation you are facing. You wouldn’t choose a lawyer whose career has been real estate contract litigation, regardless of how successful they may be in that industry. Look for those that have experience and credentials in workplace discrimination cases. 

For example, New jersey based Karen DeSoto reveals a lot about her background working in the practice areas of workplace discrimination, and she was listed as one of the top 50 most influential people in Hudson county. She has a Juris Doctorate and Master in Law and Trial Advocacy. These are the type of credentials you want to look for. Review them online, check their websites for news about their activities. This will not only help you get a sense of their work, but will also help you figure out if they can be the one to help your case.

Tip# 2: Check Their Experience

Once you have found a bit of information about them, the next step is to check their experience in the cases related to your scenario. How long have they been working in that area of practice, and what is their win rate in court? Find out if they have ever represented people who have been in circumstances that are similar to yours. Like any other service provider, you have to assess how good they are, whether they are a good fit for what you need, and then talk about service rates. Do they work on retainer, on contingency – meaning they only get paid if you win your case, as Bangel Cohen and Falconetti do -- , or, do they do pro bono work, meaning they represent you for free. If they don’t really have the experience and knowledge in workplace discrimination cases, then don’t settle, keep looking for the right attorney. 

Tip# 3: Have A Meeting

Once you find someone who meets your criteria schedule an appointment so you can meet them face to face. Personality compatibility matters. You need to feel comfortable enough to trust their advice and have confidence in their strategy. 

Karen Desoto – A Humanitarian, An Advocate Or Much More?

Karen DeSoto, the name that has left an impression on many minds, is definitely worth knowing and remembering. A woman with a heart of gold and who is a tower of strength, Karen Desoto started off her journey as a law enthusiast and has come a long way by touching millions of lives with her good work and appreciable efforts to bring a change to the society.

One Person – Many Sides

A brilliant child, thorough out her education, she knew that she wanted to make it big in the legal field, and so, Karen received a Juris Doctorate and then Masters of Law Degree in Trial Advocacy. Then began her career as a public defender. Later, she served as a prosecutor (Hunterdon County, NJ), and as a lawyer in private practice after which she founded the Center For Justice based in Jersey City, NJ.

Over the years, Karen Desoto proved her mettle in the legal world by voicing her opinions on civil rights, workplace discrimination rights, election and criminal law. Understanding the active role that she has been playing in serving the community as well as the legal field, she has been awarded a number of times by renowned authorities across the country.

She was selected as the Attorney of the Year at the 50th Annual Puerto Rican Heritage Festival and Parade in 2010, and Humanitarian of the year by the City of Bayonne Youth Center. She is also an on-air legal analyst for NBC News, and has made insightful appearances on Court TV, CNN Headline News, Fox News, ABC News, MSNBC, and the rest.

Why Grit And Gumption Best Define Karen Desoto

A lawyer turned university professor and prime time legal analyst; Karen Desoto is unlike any other woman. Nonetheless, she stands as the perfect example for scores of women nationwide. The true embodiment of grit and gumption, this woman has the best interests of the society at heart. This blog is a short saga of unwavering gumption.


1. Despite a fine education from Beasley School of Law and after securing her Juris Doctorate; the lady who is a Master of Law in Trial Advocacy chose not to take the highly profitable route. She began a job as a public defender years before venturing in to the private sector.

2. Rather than choosing to take on high profile cases, she ensured that her firm -The Center for Legal Justice concentrated on civil rights suits. She also fought against employment discrimination which shows great grit.

3.  During her tenure as Corporate Counsel for Jersey City, she ran a massive office and counseled 9 city departments. 

4.  A knowledgeable attorney, she always took time to work on Pro Bono cases wishing to give back to the community.

5.  Her work took her to eventual recognition and she has since been a board member for numerous non-profit groups. These include Head Start of Jersey City as well as the Ray of Hope Foundation among others.

Considering all these facts, it is difficult to imagine that someone could have achieved so much in the span of a few short decades. Indeed, women like Karen Desoto are the future of the country.

Karen Desoto – On Air Legal Analyst and Attorney

Analysing the legal world is not so easy. There are experts who have sharp insight and detailed knowledge about the law and order of the land, and then there are experts who have the best legal minds in the industry, but are unable to explain things to the layman in a simple and easy to understand language.

So, how to strike the right balance? How to speak well while providing the right insights to the audience? Well, this is something inborn and only a natural orator with legal skills can do this. One such attorney and on air legal analyst who is known for handling high-profile cases and providing sharp insights about the legal world is Karen DeSoto.

Popular Appearances

Karen has made several popular appearances as an on-air legal analyst and commentator for NBC News, The Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN and many others.

Over the years, she has analyzed trials and legal proceedings involving many renowned names of the country. Some of these include:

• the Oscar Pistorius trial,
• the Rachel Canning case,
• the American hikers being held on espionage charges in Iran,
• the Rutgers University spy case,
• the Robert Durst trial,
• the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the rest

One of the significant appearances that Karen made on MSNBC was when she featured along with Craig Melvin and attorney Seema Iyer to discuss the Jodi Arias trial and the Michael Jackson death case. Armed with significant investigative experience, Karen made some great points in the discussion, making it easier for the audience to grasp the nitty-gritties involved in these cases.

Needless to mention, analyzing legal cases needs experience and knowledge, and those who have it, can certainly make the right use of their skills on air.