What We Fight For

The IEP Lawyers is an Alabama civil rights and special education law firm that exclusively represents students and families. We never represent school districts, administrators, or teachers. Every case we take is a case where a child's educational rights, civil rights, or physical and emotional safety are on the line , and the school has failed to protect them.

Browse our practice areas below. Each link takes you to a dedicated page with detailed information about that area of law, your rights as an Alabama parent, and how we can help.


IEP Disputes & Advocacy

Your child has a legally protected right to an Individualized Education Program that is specifically designed to meet their unique needs , not the needs of a budget, a staffing shortage, or an adminis... (More)

Common Challenges We Solve

We represent families facing a wide range of disputes with their school districts. Our deep experience in special education law allows us to effectively address the most common and complex challenges, including:

  • Securing Initial Eligibility and Proper Evaluations: If the school has denied that your child is eligible for services or has conducted an inadequate evaluation, we can intervene to challenge their findings and demand a comprehensive assessment of your child's needs.

  • Fighting for a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE): The core principle of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the right to FAPE. If your child's IEP is not reasonably calculated to enable them to make appropriate progress, we will fight to ensure it includes the right goals, services, and supports.

  • Demanding Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs): If you disagree with the school's evaluation, you have the right to request an IEE at public expense. We help families exercise this critical right to get an unbiased, expert opinion on their child's needs.

  • Challenging Inappropriate Placements or Changes in Services: We fight to ensure your child is educated in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and challenge any attempt by the district to move your child to a more restrictive setting or reduce essential services without proper justification.

  • Enforcing "Stay-Put" Rights During Disputes: During a dispute, the "stay-put" provision prevents the school from changing your child's placement or services without your consent. We act swiftly to enforce these rights and maintain stability for your child.

  • Representing You in IEP Meetings, Disciplinary Meetings, Mediation, and Due Process Hearings: We can attend IEP meetings to ensure your voice is heard, represent you in mediation to negotiate a settlement, and advocate for you in a formal due process hearing if the district refuses to do what is right.

When Advocacy Isn't Enough: Due Process and Beyond

We believe in the power of collaboration and always attempt to resolve disputes through negotiation and mediation. However, when a school district is intransigent, you need an attorney who is ready and willing to fight. If the administrative process fails to yield a just result, we are fully prepared to file for a due process hearing to have an impartial officer compel the district to comply with the law. Our readiness for litigation is your greatest leverage in any negotiation.

  • Has your child been suspended or threatened with expulsion? We protect students' rights in disciplinary hearings, especially when a disability is involved. A suspension or expulsion is not just a punishment; it is a disruption to your child's education, a mark on their record, and, in many cases, a violation of federal law. Alabama school districts have Click here

  • We sue schools for violating students' civil rights. Our attorneys handle ADA and Section 504 claims for discrimination, illegal segregation, and failure to accommodate. Federal civil rights law is not aspirational , it is binding. Every Alabama school receiving federal funding is legally prohibited from discriminating against students based on disability, sex, race, Click here

  • Has your child been the victim of bullying or harassment and the school has failed to address it? By the time most Alabama parents call us about bullying, they have already reported the incidents to a teacher, a counselor, and a principal. They have been told the school is "looking into it" or tha... Click here

  • A due process hearing is not something most Alabama families enter into lightly , and it should not be. It is a formal legal proceeding with strict procedural rules, evidentiary requirements, and high... Click here

  • A 504 Plan is your child's legal guarantee of equal access to education. When an Alabama school refuses to create one, waters it down to meaninglessness, or simply fails to implement what is on the plan. Click here for more

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