Attorneys & Advocates
What to look for
- Attorney (for due process / litigation) vs. advocate (for IEP meetings) — you may want either or both
- Experience specifically in special-education / IDEA law
- Whether they offer a free initial consult
- Fee structure (hourly, flat, or sliding-scale)
For a free statewide option, Equip for Equality is Illinois's federally designated disability protection & advocacy organization.
Who this helps
Families facing an IEP/504 dispute, a denied evaluation or service, school-discipline issues, or who simply want experienced support at an IEP meeting.
A Palos Heights nonprofit offering sliding-scale special-education advocacy, parent training, and IEP document review for families in Illinois and Indiana.
Run by advocate Laurie McDevitt, this Chicagoland practice attends IEP meetings, reviews paperwork, and supports families through eligibility, reviews, and tran…
A Lisle special-needs firm led by Katie Clancy that guides Illinois families through IEP development, transition planning, and coordination of school-district s…
A Rockford firm offering families representation through evaluations, IEP/504 development, and due-process proceedings with the Illinois State Board of Educatio…
Illinois's federally mandated disability protection-and-advocacy organization, providing free special-education legal help, parent training, and representation …
A Northbrook boutique firm representing children and families in special-education, school-residency, and school-discipline matters throughout Illinois.
A Highland Park special-education firm whose attorneys (COPAA and SPEACC members) help parents secure educational services and IEP/504 plans for children with d…
A firm serving the Belleville/Edwardsville area of southern Illinois that handles IDEA evaluations, IEP enforcement, and due-process litigation for students wit…
A Chicago independent advocate and former special-education teacher who facilitates, collaborates, and mediates with schools on behalf of students under IDEA an…
A Buffalo Grove firm focused exclusively on special-education law and guardianship, representing families in due-process hearings and IEP disputes statewide.
A Chicago civil-rights firm led by Matt Cohen concentrating in special education, school discipline, and the rights of children and adults with disabilities.
A Wheaton firm representing students with disabilities in DuPage County in school-discipline, manifestation-determination, and special-education-related proceed…
A Chicago-based independent autism and special-education advocate, formerly a Chicago Public Schools autism program director, who attends IEP meetings and consu…
A Chicago practice providing IEP and 504 advocacy, evaluation requests, and meeting attendance alongside executive-function coaching for students.
Founded by attorney Micki Moran, this Northbrook firm represents children and families in special-education, disability, and related juvenile and mental-health …
A Northbrook firm representing parents and children across northern Illinois in IEP, Section 504, and special-education disputes.