FAQ

The vast majority of our families reside in NYC, and occasionally we represent clients in Westchester, Long Island, and New Jersey. We also represent families who are moving to, or back to, the NYC area from other states or countries. 

We represent students and their families in special education matters. We have experience working with the families of children with the following diagnoses and conditions:

2E (Twice Exceptional);
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD);
Apraxia;
Auditory Processing Disorders;
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),
Angelman Syndrome;
Bipolar disorder;
Cerebral Palsy;

Chromosomal mutations;

Deafness and Hearing Impairments;

Epilepsy;
Executive Functioning Disabilities;
Fragile X syndrome;
Intellectual Disabilities;
Learning Disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia,);
Mood Disorders (including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression);
Non-verbal Learning Disabilities;
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD);
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD);
Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD);
Rare genetic disorders;
RETT Syndrome;
Schizophrenia;
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD);
Speech and Language Delays and Disabilities;
Suicidality;
Tourette Syndrome,
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI);
and more.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult for families to navigate this process on their own.  We work with you and your child’s providers to help assess your child’s needs, provide feedback on program/placement/services options, prepare you for the IEP process, help your family avoid potential pitfalls, provide you with guidance at every turn and ultimately prepare your matter for settlement or litigation, if needed. 

We are a boutique firm providing each client family with support through each step of the process.   In matters that require filing for due process, we “front load” much of our work to ensure that we have developed a strong meritorious case the time we need to file for your family. 

We offer a consultation model to families who need support in identifying their child’s needs and their family’s objectives.  Some families want to remain in a public school program, but they need additional supports/services for their child.  We work with those families to try to help them achieve their goals without the need to engage in litigation.  In many other instances, a child may need a more complex or intensive program than what the school district is offering in public school. Where litigation may be necessary, we lay the groundwork to file strong, meritorious claims.

Absolutely.  We work with a full range of clients, including many clients who present with very significant needs that require complex programming.  We pride ourselves on developing highly individualized  and creative legal strategies for each of our clients.

The earlier you engage our firm, the sooner we can begin guiding your next steps and developing our legal strategy.  Due to the flat fee nature of our litigation engagements, your legal fees do not increase simply because you have engaged our firm earlier for a particular school year and we may complete more work on your matter given this early engagement than a family who comes to us later in the process.  It is important to our firm that we be able to help families avoid what can be costly or time-consuming mistakes.

Families who are able to successfully settle or win their cases are often able to recover all or most of the funding for their child’s program.  Whether that is reimbursement or direct funding to the school or service providers depends on your family’s financial circumstances and we will discuss this with you at the outset.  Our firm will work directly with your family and the school district to recover payments.

Yes, your first 30-minute phone consultation is free. After that initial discussion to assess your child, their needs and your objectives, we can offer your family a variety of engagement options.

Our fee structure will be discussed with you during your first phone consultation.  A family’s engagement fee takes into consideration a number of factors including: where you reside, how far along you are in the process, what kind of guidance you require, the complexity of your child’s needs and current educational program, your family’s financial resources and other factors. 

If you proceed to a due process hearing and you emerge as the “prevailing party” (i.e., you win some or all of your claims), you have the right to seek reasonable attorneys’ fees from your school district.  This usually means that we are able to recover a large portion of the fees that have been recorded throughout the proceeding.  If you settle with your school district, there is no entitlement to attorneys’ fees, but we are often able to secure a smaller percentage of these fees. 

We believe that it is every law firm’s responsibility to accept their fair share of pro-bono and low-bono matters.  We understand that not every family can afford to engage counsel and bring a reimbursement case.  A percentage of our practice is dedicated to the representation of these families and we assess such situations on a case by case basis.