ELC News - Education Law Center To Co-Sponsor Special Education Training For Pro Bono Attorneys

The Education Law Center is co-sponsoring a full-day "Children’s Special Education Advocacy Training" for pro bono attorneys on Monday, November 2, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick off Ryders Lane. Registration

for the session must be received by October 26.

The day is designed to provide lawyers with the skills they need to represent parents and caretakers who have children with special education needs. Among the topics to be discussed are "free and appropriate public education," the "least restrictive environment," evaluations, individualized education programs, due process rights, discipline, attorney’s fees and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The training is invaluable to attorneys at all levels. Newer attorneys have a wonderful opportunity not only to gain pro bono experience but to be paired with, and learn from, experienced mentors while providing urgently needed legal assistance to indigent children with disabilities. The training also serves as a refresher for those previously trained in this area to stay abreast of recent changes in the law.

The other co-sponsors are the Association for Children of New Jersey, Disability Rights New Jersey, the Essex County Bar Association Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Children’s Rights Committee, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice and the New Jersey State Bar Foundation. The training will be conducted by the leading special education practitioners in the State, including ELC board member, Rebecca Spar and ELC senior staff attorney, Ruth Lowenkron.

The training is free, but those who take the training are required to commit to taking at least one pro bono assignment within the year through the Children’s Special Education Project. Attorneys accepting such assignments through that program can claim an exemption from Madden v. Delran pro bono counsel assignments. Malpractice coverage, extensive mentoring, co-counseling, model forms and pleadings and other forms of support are also available free of charge.