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The Special Education Clinic represents families in cases concerning the educational needs of children with disabilities who have been exposed to family violence. Particular attention is given to connecting trauma, resulting from family violence, with difficulties children may have learning and behaving in the classroom. The Clinic also undertakes policy activities that seek innovative remedies to improve the services and supports for high risk, vulnerable children.
Students working in the clinic represent children and their parents/guardians in special education and related matters. Students have the opportunity to interview and counsel clients, conduct factual investigation and legal research, develop case strategies, collect and analyze school records, draft pleadings, work with experts, and negotiate and advocate with school personnel at team meetings. In cases scheduled for full administrative hearings, students appear for pre-hearing motions and develop and conduct direct and cross-examinations of witnesses. Students participate in policy activities that seek innovative remedies to improve the services and supports for high risk, vulnerable children.
For academic year 2008-2009, students wishing to work in this clinic must enroll in the Education Advocacy and Systemic Change: Children at Risk Clinical Workshop A (fall) or B (spring). We also encourage interested students to concurrently enroll in any of the following courses: Education Law and Policy: Seminar (fall); Legal Profession: Delivery of Legal Services (A or B); Legal Profession: The Lawyering Process (A2 or B1); Legal Needs of Moderate Income Clients (fall).
The Special Education Clinic/Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative is part of the Center’s Family and Children’s Law Practice Group. For more information on the Clinic, contact Susan Cole, Clinical Instructor, at scole@law.harvard.edu, (617) 390-2737 or Michael Gregory, Senior Clinical Fellow, at mgregory@law.harvard.edu, (617) 390-2550.
Additional information on the project may be found on the Massachusetts Advocates for Children website. |
