Regardless of the area of law, all attorneys must meet with a prospective client in what is commonly referred to as “the initial legal consultation.” This critical meeting is the first meeting that is held between you, the potential new client, and the potential attorney. In this episode, we dive into what how best to fully prepare for your first meeting with a special education attorney, what to look and listen for, and how to properly and ethically establish the formal attorney-client relationship for the betterment of advancing your child's right an appropriate education. 

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Let's Talk Sped Law is now in its second season and spreading across the nation! In this episode top special education lawyer Jill Hornig talks about her journey into special education law - both as a parent of two children on the autism spectrum as well as from the perspective as a special education attorney. From binders to electronic filing, learn how to effectively organize your child's IEPS, evaluations, progress reports, and data during good and challenging times throughout your child's education. 

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Pat began her advocacy career as a volunteer for the Task Force on Education for the Handicapped (now InSource), Indiana’s Parent Training and Information Center. In 1990, she opened her advocacy practice and served families throughout Indiana by representing them at IEP meetings, mediation, and due process hearings.

In 2017, Pat closed her advocacy practice and began working on a contract basis as a special education paralegal. Attorneys in Indiana, Texas, and California contracted with her to review documents, spot issues, draft due process complaints, prepare for hearings, and assist at hearings. In January 2019, she became an employee of the Connell Michael Kerr law firm, owned by Erin Connell, Catherine Michael, and Sonja Kerr. Her duties have now expanded to assisting with federal court cases.

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COPAA works to:

• Enable parents to work more effectively with school personnel to plan and obtain effective educational programs for their children with disabilities;
  
  
• Encourage more attorneys and advocates to undertake representation of parents of children with disabilities in their efforts to plan and obtain effective educational programs;
  
  
• Provide advocate, attorney, parent and other professional COPAA members with the practical resources and information they need to obtain effective educational programs for students with disabilities;
  
  
• Enable members to network and share information and legal resources;
  
  
• Provide training for special education advocates on all aspects of special education advocacy and informal conflict resolution;
  
  
• Provide training for attorneys on legal practice: including due process, litigation, and informal conflict resolution;
  
  
• Enable parents to locate advocates, attorneys, and related professionals through COPAA's website directory;
  
  
• File amicus curiae briefs in cases of national significance.

We sat down with COPAA's Legal Director, Attorney Selene Almazan to discuss the scope COPAA's national footprint in advocating for the rights of children with disabilities.

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As we all come to grips with the new temporary norms across our country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we understand and fully appreciate the impact this outbreak is having on special education and related services to our students with disabilities and their families. It is absolutely essential that families make informed decisions about the educational wellbeing of their children with disabilities by consulting with their local education agency. It is also equally important that families know their child’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) during this crisis situation, including their potential rights to compensatory education (“comp ed”).

What is Compensatory Education?
Is Your School District Closed, Open or Available for E-Learning?
How is Compensatory Education Calculated?https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-covid-19-03-12-2020.pdf 

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Our first podcast post!

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