Educational Consulting & Advocacy

Key Benefits: 

Our firm provides educational consulting and school law services in Massachusetts, helping families, students, educators, and administrators with IEP advocacy, student records compliance under FERPA and 603 CMR 23.00, and legal representation in school-related disputes. We are also licensed and experienced with a number of school law issues in Connecticut and Washington State.

Cathleen Cullinan O'Neill, M.A. is a distinguished and highly regarded educator and experienced advocate. She maintains her professional licensure status as "highly qualified" with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). In addition to teaching in a public high school for 18 years, she has been a powerful advocate for children and their rights as a paralegal since 1991. Learn more about Cathleen Cullinan O'Neill's experience and qualifications here.

Services include:

Educational Consulting

• Compassionate, informed, and real-world grounded advice from a professional educator's perspective
• Practical advice based on daily experience with the diverse needs of approximately 2,000 students over 18 years
• Experience mainstreaming hundreds of students with IEPs/504s both in standard and honors courses at a top Massachusetts public high school
• Practical advice and help preparing for and enforcing IEPs and related accommodations
• Extensive knowledge of Massachusetts educational frameworks
• Former MCAS test proctor; practical help with test anxiety
• Sensitive to and experienced with intersectional diversity advocacy for students
• Assist families in navigating the college admissions process. Cathleen has extensive experience advising students regarding the opportunities that a college education can unlock

Advocacy

• Strategic and planning advice to navigate conflict before it blows up
• Available as an advocate / agent to speak for you and write on your behalf
• Preliminary dispute evaluation: Do you have a case worth pursuing or defending?
• Available to evaluate disputes that might lead to arbitration or litigation
• Available to deal with bullying problems
• Seasoned, aggressive, efficient, results-oriented dispute resolution
• Firm attorneys are licensed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington State and Federal Courts
• Ability to identify and coordinate educational & medical experts as well as legal specialists as necessary to protect your interests

For Educators and School Staff

• We will work with your union representatives and grievance coordinator to provide necessary research to clarify your rights and provide legal opinions in support of your position. Let us help you organize and bolster your case.
• Familiar with the grievance arbitration process
• Available as an advocate / agent to speak for you and write on your behalf

For Students

• Reach High! Cathleen Cullinan O'Neill has coached and inspired dozens of capable students to successfully attend their "reach" colleges.
• From time to time, we offer free "career day" online seminars where we talk to students about careers in education and the law.
• Students and their parents/guardians may not always see eye to eye. In cases of abuse, neglect, emancipation, and other situations requiring confidential advice, students under the age of 18 should consider seeking independent legal consultation with an attorney. For example, we have assisted students with emancipation in the Pioneer Valley.
• Available as an advocate / agent to speak for you and write on your behalf
• Bullys come in all sizes and shapes; we can help you stand up against bullying

For Administrators and Boards

• Fully confidential consultation with our attorneys regarding sensitive issues
• Training and advice to School Boards and Committees
• Update / develop records retention policies, FERPA, and state regulation compliance
• Update / develop privacy and data protection policies in conjunction with your IT professionals
• Full service offering for any building or construction related issues for public and private schools in MA, CT, and WA
• Vendor contract review; bidding; disputes;