FAQs

Most special education attorneys focus on due process and litigation. A non-attorney advocate can help you prepare and attend meetings but can’t give legal advice. An attorney advocate does IEP and 504 advocacy with a law license behind it: I can explain your rights, give legal advice, and advocate directly with the school. I don’t do litigation, and when a matter needs it, I refer it out.

It shouldn’t, and I work to keep it from happening. I come to the table as one more informed adult focused on your child’s program. I don’t make threats or treat an IEP meeting as the first step toward a lawsuit. When the data supports pushing back, I say so plainly.

The district may bring its own attorney once it knows I’m attending. In my experience, it usually helps. District attorneys advise their clients to follow the law, and with an attorney on each side of the table, the conversation stays focused on what the law and the data require. That’s often where we start to gain traction.

No. My practice is fully virtual and paperless, and I attend school meetings virtually as well. We meet by video, you upload documents to a secure client portal, and you sign electronically. description

Yes to both. I communicate directly with teachers, service providers, administrators, and district staff, and I draft and send letters and requests. I attend IEP, 504, eligibility, and other school meetings that are part of our agreed scope. I prepare with you before every meeting, so I need advance notice and don’t take last-minute requests. You stay the decision-maker throughout.

No. My practice covers IEP and Section 504 advocacy only. I work with students who have IEPs or 504 plans families who think their child needs an IEP or 504 plan. I don’t handle general education matters such as grade disputes, enrollment, or transfer requests.

No. Advocacy fees are generally not recoverable, and attorney fees are typically only recoverable if you prevail in a lawsuit.

No. I bill hourly. Contingency fees come out of money recovered through litigation, and my practice doesn’t include litigation.

No. You pay my fees directly.

I bill hourly for all work, including meetings, letters, and messages, so what you pay depends on your child’s situation. No two cases are the same. With hourly billing, you pay for the work your child’s case calls for.

Every engagement starts with a record review, and its cost depends on how many records there are and how complex they are. After that, the cost depends on the advocacy work we agree on. We’ll go over the rate and the likely scope before you commit to anything.