Ava R. Giacobbo

Professional Experience

Ava is an associate at Reisman Gran Zuba LLP, where she focuses her practice on advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities, representing children and their parents in mediation, due process hearings, and original actions and appeals to state and federal court. Ava brings her knowledge of complex civil litigation, dispute resolution, and special education to her role as advocate for her clients.

Prior to joining RGZ, Ava worked at an international law firm litigating on behalf of clients in the financial services industry in state and federal courts across the country. Ava gained experience in all facets of litigation, including pre-litigation dispute resolution, discovery, dispositive motion practice, and trial. Ava also completed two clerkships in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with The Honorable Mark A. Kearney and The Honorable Berle M. Schiller, where she drafted opinions and orders and prepared for and attended trials from jury selection through verdict.

During law school, Ava worked as a certified legal intern in the Civil Justice Clinic, where she represented clients in a variety of civil matters, including custody disputes and Social Security benefit appeals, gaining invaluable in-court experience. Ava also worked with the Supervision to Aid Reentry (STAR) program in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she provided legal assistance to participants to aid their transition back into society.

During her time at The College of New Jersey, Ava taught students in a variety of general education and special education settings in public and private schools throughout New Jersey, and interned with the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Ava returned to TCNJ as an adjunct professor teaching Social and Legal Foundations of Special Education in fall 2022.

Admitted to Practice

Ava is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and before the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Eastern District of Michigan, and Central District of Illinois.

Education

Ava received her J.D., summa cum laude, in 2019 from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, where she served as staff writer and student works editor for the Villanova Law Review, President of the Education Law Society, Co-founder and Co-President of the Juvenile Law Society, and  teaching assistant to Professors Ravenell and Aagard. Ava also received her B.S., magna cum laude, in English and Special Education, and her Master of Arts in Teaching with dual certification, from The College of New Jersey. Ava was awarded the Special Education Award for Excellence in Leadership upon graduation.

Personal Interests

When not at work, Ava enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, children, Kenny and Ruby, and dog, Minnie. Ava also enjoys cooking, especially her grandmother’s meatballs and Sunday gravy, and baking all sorts of treats, mostly her banana chocolate chip muffins.