Special Education Legal Fund Inc is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to level the playing field for families in need with children in the special education system by providing resources, knowledge, and support during the advocacy process.

Special Education Legal Fund provides two types of grants to families. The Attorney Grant Program enables a qualifying family to retain a special education attorney through a one-time grant of $6000. The Advocate Grant Program enables a qualifying family to obtain special education advocacy support through a one-time grant of $1000.

Please visit HOW TO APPLY for more information about eligibility.

An Attorney Grant covers up to $6000 of a family’s special education legal expenses provided through a qualified special education attorney that meets S.E.L.F.’s professional guidelines. An Advocate Grant covers up to $1000 of special education advocacy expenses provided through a qualified special education advocate on S.E.L.F.’s list.

Grants are reviewed monthly by S.E.L.F. during the school year and applicants are notified of S.E.L.F.’s decision by the end of the month in which they apply.

No, Special Education Legal Fund does not make recommendations about attorneys to applicant families or families who have been approved for a grant. Families are responsible for securing their own legal representation, subject to S.E.L.F.’s professional guidelines

This list represents attorneys in New York and Connecticut who have previously accepted grants from S.E.L.F. on behalf of clients and should not be construed as an endorsement by Special Education Legal Fund or any of its representatives of any of the attorneys whose names are included on this list.

Barger & Gaines (Paul Barger)

The Law Offices of Terry Bedard

The Law Offices of Lawrence Berliner

The Law Offices of Meredith Braxton

Feinstein Education Law Group (Andrew Feinstein, Jillian Griswold)

The Law Offices of John Flanders

Forte Law Group

Michael Gilberg, Esq

The Law Offices of Dana Jonson

The Law Offices of Jennifer Laviano and Melissa Gagne

The Law Offices of Robin Keller

Piper Paul Law

The Law Offices of Penelope Petzold

Special Education MAP (Melanie Dunn)

Lloyd Donders

Stacy Sadove 

The Law Offices of Laura Heneghan

Attorneys that receive grants from S.E.L.F. must: 

1. Have practiced law with an emphasis on special education or disability rights for seven years or more 
2.  Have special education or disability rights law represent a majority of their legal practice 
   
3. Be affiliated with the American Bar Association (ABA), the Connecticut Bar Association, or the New York Bar Association 
4. Be licensed to practice law in the state of Connecticut or New York.

After approval, S.E.L.F. and the applicant may schedule an introductory call to discuss any concerns or questions. The applicant has 30 days from the date of approval to secure the services of an appropriate special education attorney. If recipient fails to retain an appropriate attorney during the designated time frame, grant approval for the S.E.L.F. client will be withdrawn. 

Each month Special Education Legal Fund receives many more applications than grants that we can support. If your initial application is not approved, you may be eligible, upon invitation, to reapply in the following month’s grant cycle.

Both the Attorney Grant Program Grant and the Advocate Grant Program are available on a one-time basis per child per family. If you have received an Advocate Grant for your child, you may apply for an Attorney Grant for that child after a 3 month waiting period.