• Blog
  • Wong & Boscarine LLC
  The Law Office of Lillian E. Wong

Special education Law Blog

How To Choose a Special Education Lawyer - Part 3

8/17/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
By the time you decide to hire a special education attorney, the stakes are high.  You are frustrated with the school and worried about your child.  Not only can retaining the wrong lawyer waste your time and  money, it can permanently damage your child's education.  So how do you choose the right law firm?  Start by assessing these nine requirements.   If you haven't already, read Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series first.

7. Prioritize Professionalism.  Make sure the lawyer establishes professional boundaries.  Without boundaries, the attorney-client relationship can erode, leading to poor communication, billing-controversies, and mutual-frustration.   So how can you assess professionalism in your initial interactions with the lawyer?  Read over the agreement of representation.   Does it clearly define the responsibilities and rights of both the attorney and the parent?  Are you informed of the payment structure and frequency of billing?  Think about your initial conversations with the lawyer.  Did the attorney inquire about the best way to communicate with you?  Did the attorney inform you about the best way to communicate with him?  Did the attorney set expectations about the frequency of your communication?   Without communication and expectation setting, the attorney-client relationship will fail.

8. Discuss the Forest and the Trees.  The special education journey is a long one.  You need to find a lawyer that will address your immediate concerns (the "trees") while simultaneously helping you achieve your long-term goals for your child (the "forest").  A good special education lawyer will  inquire about your short-term and long-term concerns help you formulate a step-by-step plan that addresses both.

9. Contract with a Child-Centric Firm.  The best special education lawyers became education attorneys, not for the money or the prestige, but to help children.  Look for an attorney who redirects conversations to your child's needs and shows sensitivity to your parental concerns.  Special education law shouldn't be about money, revenge, and "winning;" it's about helping your child get the education he or she needs and deserves.

If you are looking for a special education advocate in Massachusetts, contact Boston area attorney Lillian E. Wong today.


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

      Receive Blog Updates

    Subscribe
    Disclaimer
    Tweets by @lillianwongesq

    Categories

    All
    504
    Attorney
    Autism
    Behavior
    Bsea
    Child Find
    Compensatory Education
    Complaint
    Confidentiality
    Disability
    Discipline
    Discrimination
    Due Process
    Early Intervention
    Eligibility
    Evaluation
    Fape
    Ferpa
    Funding
    Goals
    Idea
    Iep
    Legislation
    Media
    Mediation
    Observation
    Parent Resources
    Parent Rights
    Placement
    Q&A
    Related Service
    School Choice
    Stay Put
    Teacher
    Transfer
    Transition
    Transportation


It is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education.
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)

)
The Law Office of Lillian E. Wong, LLC
15 Morningside Drive
Topsfield, MA 01983
978-561-9001 (P)
978-561-1591 (F)
lwong@lillianwongesq.com

  © 2018  by The Law Office of Lillian E. Wong LLC, all rights reserved.
Disclaimer
Photos used under Creative Commons from BLW Photography, Nomadic Lass, Andy M Taylor, christiaan_008, woodleywonderworks
  • Blog
  • Wong & Boscarine LLC