Special education law and advocacy as a career?

Question

I have been a special education teacher in an inner city environment for several years now. I feel I have developed a respect and understanding for people with disabilities because of the nature of my work. I would like to take this interest one level further to still work with special education issues- maybe as a lawyer if I were to go to law school?

I already have a background in special education through my work and a graduate program I completed last year. Special education is replete with many legal issues (especially the IEP). Are careers in special education legal advocacy in high demand and do you think this would be an interesting area to pursue a career?

Thanks for the advice.

Answer 1

not in high demand.  a few jobs out there but not in high demand or high salary.  stay where you are you are doing more help there.

Answer 2

Why don't you do a little market research you will find most issues are covered by local authority's legal department i would go into management and work from there if you go into the legal side of things you will lose the benefits of working with the people you enjoy working with and it is a different ball game you could train to be a advisor? Dave

Answer 3

I am an attorney, former special education teacher, Ph.D. candidate in special education. So, I am a special education attorney.  

Law school is expensive and time consuming. More expensive and more time consuming than you can imagine.  Yet, I think it was totally worth it.  

There are very few special education attorneys, so there is a demand for special education attorneys.  It is such a complex area of law that few people can do it well.  Attorneys who take on special education cases without prior expertise usually bring in outside expertise.  I try not to practice while I finish my dissertation, but I am regularly contacted by people for assistance.  I refer my cases to another attorney, and then consult on them.  That said, I live in a city with major law firms.  Most or all of them take special education cases, they simply don't list this as a practice area.

Another route to go is special education lay advocates. I don't suggest this because it is a highly unregulated field.  Some advice they give on special education matters is as frightening as some of the advice I see here.

If you did go the attorney route, you would have several options.  If you decided on private practice, you would likely mix your practice with special education, guardian ad litem and court appointed juvenile defense.  

If you have more questions, post them in an update.  If we were speaking in person I would have hours of information for you.

Answer 4

There is great $ in both.  I spent well over 4000 dollars for sp. ed advocates last school year.  It was worth it.