Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch P.L.L.C

Practice focused on the representation of parents and their children in special educaton matters, student discipline and related education law matters.   

We Believe That Every Child Deserves a Better Future

As a parent, you do everything you can to advocate for your child to succeed in school. As education lawyers, we are here to help and support you.  Our attorneys include a former special education teacher and school administrator with both a Bachelor's degree (B.S.) and a Master's degree (M.A./M.Ed.) in Special Education and a parent of a special needs high school student who has walked in your shoes.  Our backgrounds in special education and school administration, and with our own special needs family member, means we know what goes on in classrooms and how to help you.  We provide legal special education advocacy and legal advice, strategies and representation to parents and their children, and to custodial grandparents and their grandchildren, and to legal guardians.

With an office in Scottsdale, Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch is in the heart of one of Arizona's largest school districts, but we serve students and their families throughout Arizona. We advise and represent clients in regular andspecial education, from preschool through college.  Schools have attorney advising them; so can you.

School districts have a legal responsibility to provide educational services to all students, regardless of a child's abilities or disabilities. As legal advocates, we help you understand your legal rights and the legal rights of your child.  We help you understand your procedural rights and your child's rights under federal and state laws.  Let us help get you and your child everything you need to which you are entitled by law. Contact our Arizona education law firm or call our office at 480-559-8329.

What Sets Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch Apart

We combine our personal experiences (as a parent of a child, now young adult, with special needs) and our legal background and experience to help students and their families throughout Arizona.  Who better to have in your corner than a parent who has walked in your shoes AND a former special ed teacher / school administrator, both of whom have sat at hundreds of IEP meetings.

• Lori Kirsch-Goodwin is a trial attorney who learned firsthand how to navigate the special education system as an advocate for her own son who is on the spectrum. A parent herself, Lori can help you advocate for your own child as she has advocated for her child since pre-school. Lori's legal expertise and advocacy can help your own parent advocacy for your child.
• Attorney Hope Kirsch obtained a Bachelor's degree in special education, a Master's degree in special education of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, and over 30 post-graduate credits in educational supervision and administration. She has nearly 20 years of experience as a special education teacher, Crisis Intervention Teacher and supervisor of special education programs in public schools, including special education day schools, hospital schools and residential treatment centers. She is a certified special education teacher. The licenses and certifications she obtained include teacher of neurologically impaired, learning disabled, supervisor of special education, Assistant Principal, and emotional disabilities. Hope has trained teachers to write IEPs, led IEP meetings and has attended hundreds of IEP meetings as a teacher and as the school representative. She trains mental health professionals, advocates, attorneys and parents in legal advocacy throughout Arizona and nationally.

Our firm is proud to advise and represent clients on all types of school and education law issues. We are legal advocates for all students (some people call us "parent advocates," but we think of ourselves as advocates for your child). Our clients include children with special needs, students facing disciplinary actions, victims of bullying, students subject to disciplinary action, and students who have been victims of restraint and seclusion.Hope Kirsch testified before the Arizona legislature (both the House of Representatives and the Senate) to help get Arizona House Bill HB 2476 passed, which is the first legislation in Arizona addressing seclusion of students.

As attorneys in Arizona, New York and New Jersey, we have the legal experience.  As special education attorneys for over 10 years, we have the advocacy experience.  As a former teacher, we ahve the teaching experience to know what teachers can and should do.  Aw a former school administrator, we have the knowledge and experience to know how the schools operate.  We provide parent support you need to protect your rights and your child's rights under the law.  We work with professionals in the fields of medicine, psychology and child development to gather information about your child so that you can make informed decisions about your child's needs, and where necessary provide evidence in contested cases.  From advocacy and IEP meetings through due process hearings, we are here to help.  We are more than special education advocates, more than parent advocates -- we are legal advocates.  Because you are visiting this website, you are already a parent advocate, you are your child's advocate; we can provide you the legal advice you need, and the legal representation if you need it.  Schools have attorneys advising them; you should have an attorney advising you.

If You and Your Child Need a Legal Special Education Advocate, Legal Advice or Legal Representation, Contact Us

We are passionate about the work we do with families. When your child's future is at stake, contact our Arizona education law firm or call our office at 480-559-8329 or toll free at 888-352-4916.

Information Taken From: Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch P.L.L.C