2009-2010 Special Education Law Update

Description:

As special education law rapidly evolves, practicing attorneys must give particular consideration to legislative and regulatory developments in order to remain current in the field. Special education expert H. Jeffrey Marcus discusses the most significant decisions in the special education arena, highlighting the recent ones by the United States Supreme Court, 2nd Circuit, and New York District Court.  With keen attention to detail, Mr. Marcus  examines the practical aspects of being a parents' attorney in the area of special education law, with particular focus on the significance of court ordered attorneys' fees. Essential cases unpacked by Mr. Marcus include Forest Grove School District v. T.A. and T.C. v. NYC. This illuminating program concludes with a discussion of the procedure for bringing suit against a school district.  All parent advocates and attorneys representing school districts must watch this course.

Agenda:
I.   Supreme Court Decisions
II.  2nd Circuit Decisions
III. Other Circuit Decisions
IV. New York District Court Decisions
V.  Other District Court Decisions
VI. Miscellaneous Federal Decisions

 

Lecturers:

• Jeffrey Marcus

Jeffrey Marcus

Jeff Marcus is a lifelong resident of the Western New York area. Jeff graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1977 with a B.A. in psychology, a degree he acquired contemporaneously with his pursuit of a career in music. In the early 1980s, Jeff worked with developmentally disabled adults in a variety of settings and completed a masters degree in the Administration of Programs for the Developmentally Disabled. In 1984, while working at the Association for the Learning Disabled, Jeff started doing lay advocacy on behalf of parents of children with disabilities. Jeff attended Law School at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he graduated magna cum laude. After working for two years as a law clerk for the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, 4th Department, Jeff entered the world of private practice. For 3 years, Jeff represented victims of negligence in personal injury cases. During that time, he started representing parents of children with disabilities who were being denied their rights under the special education laws. In 1995, Jeff left the personal injury firm, started his own firm and within weeks had a full time practice devoted almost entirely to parent representation in special education matters. In 1996, Jeff joined the faculty of his alma mater, the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. For the next decade, he taught Special Education Law and directed the Special Education Law Clinic.

In his position as the Director of the Special Education Law Clinic, Jeff oversaw the education and training of many law students in the theoretical and practical aspects of legal advocacy in the area of special education law. Jeff and the Law Clinic provided legal representation for many hundreds of parents of children with disabilities who were involved in disputes with their school districts. Jeff provided of counsel services to private practice attorneys and community agencies in the area of special education law and information, referral, and informal assistance for parents, teachers, clinicians, community agency personnel, school district administrators, teachers and other school support personnel. The Law Clinic was the centerpoint of a network of lay special education advocates for the Western New York area. Jeff and the Clinic collaborated with the Department of Probation in an interdisciplinary and interagency effort to address the complex problems of children who were involved in PINS diversion, Juvenile Justice and/or the mental health system.

In 2005, the Special Education Law Clinic was eliminated. Jeff once again has a full time practice devoted to the representation of parents in special education matters. Jeff's firm services parents of kids with disabilities in the Western New York area and across the entire New York State.

Jeff is admitted to practice law in New York State, the United States District Court in the Eastern, Western and Northern Districts, and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

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2009-2010 Special Education Law Update