For 200 years, public schools were created solely at the discretion of local voters. This changed in 1826 when Massachusetts launched the concept of publicly-funded school districts and began requiring towns to select school committees.
If you have been harmed as a result of a criminal act, you may still be able to take civil action even though the defendant was not found guilty of a crime. A civil attorney will advise you in matters such as these and guide you as to what action you can take.
Based on documented safety and disruption concerns, a school could probably ban particular types of clothing that were directly associated with gang activity. However, you should know that any policies along those lines would have to be clearly and reasonably drafted, and specific as to what was not allowed.
A rare copy of the Magna Carta from 1297 resides in the National Archives in Washington, DC. First issued in 1215, the Magna Carta defined basic civil liberties and legal rights within the English common law system, upon which the American legal tradition is based.
There are actually many different areas addressed by current education law in the United States. This includes everything from special education and disabilities to student rights, school safety, student conduct and discipline, and discrimination at school.
If you believe you have been discriminated against but are not sure what to do or who to sue, we can help. Our team of legal professionals will review all your information, and make sure everything is in order before proceeding.
A common question about school dress codes is about how much a school may regulate what its students wear. Honestly, there is no simple answer. School districts are limited to regulating the dress of pupils to situation where “it presents a clear and present danger to the student’s health and safety, causes an interference with school work, or creates a classroom or school disorder.”
A civil case starts out by the plaintiff (person doing the suing) filing the details of his or her claim in a "complaint." The defendant (person being sued) responds by filing an "answer." These need to be carefully worded and exact, and a civil attorney can help word them correctly.
The Massachusetts School Attendance Act of 1852 launched the movement toward compulsory attendance in America. The law required all children between the ages of 8 and 14 to attend school for at least 12 weeks a year.
Family law is a special type of civil law. This type covers divorce, child support, child custody, or adoptions. These very important cases can be complicated and have a lot of factors, but a civil attorney can help you make sense of them all.
As officers of the court, attorneys are morally bound to be ethical at all times. Going beyond the bounds of ethics in pursuit of a victory endangers the profession as it erodes the trust of the public and casts lawyers in an unfavorable light.
If you have been injured due to the negligence of another, it is your responsibility to make sure you are fully compensated for your damages. That is why many people rely on attorneys, even if insurance companies are involved.
Have a child with special needs? You know how challenging it can be to get the services that they need. But you don’t have to face the fight alone- an attorney specializing in working with families struggling with these challenges can be a great ally.
Remember, our goal in taking on your case is to win, not to collect an endless stream of fees from you without outcome. If we believe your case is not winnable, we will advise you of this prior to beginning any work.
Ever wonder why client-lawyer privilege is important? This arrangement, which happens to be a pillar of the law profession, protects not just clients but the profession itself. By ensuring that concerns are kept confidential, clients are more likely seek out an attorney's help.
What types of cases do civil attorneys handle? The list is quite long, from divorces, bankruptcy proceedings and personal injuries to product liability and medical malpractice. The most common type of civil law claim is personal injury.
Many consumer litigation attorneys focus on the intricacies of fair debt collection laws, maintaining expertise regarding legal standards that have changed drastically in recent years. New federal and state legislation has placed more restrictions on credit collectors in an attempt to curb abusive conduct.
If you are seeking special services for your child at school, there are options if you are turned down. In addition to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a second federal law, known as Section 504, could also help your child. This is a civil rights law that stops schools from discriminating on the basis of a disability.
We understand that filing legal action against a police station isn’t about trying to get a payday, it’s about stopping the abuse of power by police officers. Let’s talk about the abuses you’ve suffered and whether we can help you build your case.
Zero tolerance discipline policies have serious, negative repercussions for students and careful scrutiny of district guidelines is needed to protect them. If your child is facing penalties under zero tolerance provisions, seek legal help.
If you have been arrested and feel that the incident was handled incorrectly, we can help. We can assist you in gathering and documenting evidence, as well as contacting witnesses and collecting statements from them.
Were you aware that if your child has ADD or ADHD, they have certain rights as a student? They may be eligible for special education under other health impairment, specific learning disability, and/or emotional disturbance categories if their condition adversely affects their educational performance.