Special Education
As a cornerstone of our practice, HLG represents and consults with local educational agencies to ensure integrity and legal compliance in educational programming for students with disabilities. We are well-versed on rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the California Education Code, and implementing regulations. Our attorneys, many of whom had previous careers and background experience in children’s issues prior to practicing law, are uniquely well-positioned to guide clients through the legal complexities and practical challenges of meeting the needs of students with disabilities.
When legal disputes arise, we seek resolution outside the adversarial litigation context, including through supporting clients during IEP and 504 meetings and negotiating settlement agreements through Alternative Dispute Resolution or Mediation, when such resolution is in the district’s best interest. We are also skilled at analyzing the unique facts of each case and applicable laws to determine strengths and areas of potential exposure. When litigation is unavoidable, we are highly successful before the California Office of Administrative Hearings, and have argued precedent-setting cases that established key legal principles benefitting all California schools.
