A Beginner’s Guide to the Special Education Legal Process

This blog is based on the first of a series of podcasts called Special Education Matters, featuring Michael and our lead attorney Richard Isaacs. Michael and Richard discuss the process that begins when a family decides to work with us. Some of this process is specific to CSNLG, but much of the information we share can be taken and applied to your own situation. We begin with the very first stage in the process, deciding to work together.

Stage 1: Deciding to Work Together

You must decide if you even want to work with and involve a law firm

• The best way to do this is hold a conversation between us and your family to ensure everyone’s needs are met

How we enact this process at CSNLG

1. We ask you to fill out an intake form for your information that’s on our website at CSNLG.com/intake
   1. We ask you a pretty detailed list of questions about your situation and about the situation for your son or daughter or guardian.
2. That information is transferred to us and we work to set up a free consultation.
   1. This consultation does take a little bit of time
   2. During this time we learn whether we can help you, or if we should direct you to someone else
   3. It helps us gain an understanding of the case and helps us share with you the next steps for a typical family
   4. We try to get real information that you can use even if you don’t decide to work with us.
      1. For example, what the next steps might be and what the law says regarding your situation.
3. We then, if you agree, send an agreement to you
   1. This agreement is called a Retention Agreement and it explains the nature of the relationship between you and CSNLG (us).out the
4. Two additional forms are sent to you
   1. Authorization for representation
      1. Later sent to districts to inform them that you are being represented by a law firm
   2. Authorization to request records
      1. Allows us to request records from districts

This summary is part of our complete Beginner’s Guide to the Special Education Legal Process.