Special Ed Advocate Newsletter, January 15, 2003 (Issue 193)

Attorney Skills Training, March 13-16, 2003

What? Attorney skills training, an intensive training program for attorneys who represent / are interested in representing children with disabilities sponsored by the Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Legal assistants who prepare cases for trial and write legal pleadings may also attend this program.

When? Thursday, March 13 - Sunday, March 16, 2003.

Where: Hyatt Orlando, Kissimmee, Florida.

Who? All attorney trainers have extensive experience in special education litigation. Trainers include COPAA Board member Franklin Hickman (lead trainer), Alice Nelson, Beth Jones, and Stewart Hakola.

How? For three-and-one-half days, participants will work on a case from initial papers through the due process hearing. The program will include demonstrations by experienced attorneys, small group sessions, and critiques at each stage of training. Participants will be grouped by experience. Materials will be presented to participants in advance so they will be prepared by the first session.

Summary of Program

Day 1: Overview of special ed litigation process; how to analyze issues and draft “due process hearing” request letters; document requests and organization.

Also, pre-hearing and post-hearing procedures: motion practice, briefing before and after, discovery, opening and closing statements. Participants will practice opening statements and see a demonstration of an effective opening statement.

Day 2: Direct examination of the parent; cross-examination of school personnel; includes demonstrations and work in small groups.

Day 3: Educational testing; cross-examination of school psychologists; demonstrations and small group practice sessions.

Day 4: Practice Demons; General Issues in Conducting a Practice.

Cost
Fees vary, depending on the date your registration form is received and your COPAA membership status. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to participants; the Friday evening reception is also included.

For hotel reservations, please call the Hyatt at (407) 396-1234. Explain that you are attending the COPAA conference to receive the conference discount rate for a double room.

More Info
For more information about the Attorney Skills Training program, please download the COPAA Conference Brochure. The brochure includes a complete schedule of events, fees, and registration information:

http://www.copaa.net/docs/conference.brochure.writerxxx.pdf

Help Spread the Word
Please distribute this Alert to individuals who may be interested in the Attorney Skills Training and to any appropriate mailing lists of which you are a member. Please feel free to post this information on your websites along with a link to www.copaa.net.

Join COPAA

To learn more about the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, please follow this link:

http://www.copaa.net/who_index.html

For membership information, please go to:

http://www.copaa.net/national/mem_ship.html

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Pete and Pam Wright
Wrightslaw & The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043
Website: https://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: newsletters@wrightslaw.com