​

• My sole area of practice is Education Law and Special Education Law in New Jersey.  Education law is a highly specialized area of practice, and requires in-depth knowledge of federal and state regulations, statutes, and case law.  100% of my time and energy is focused on keeping abreast of developments in education law, and in helping to educate and empower families so that they can effectively advocate for themselves.

• As the mother of a child with disabilities, I am very familiar with the special education process, both personally and professionally.  I know firsthand the heartache of seeing your child struggle, and the frustration families face when school officials fail to give your child the help that he/she needs.

• I recognize that the relationship between families and school officials will likely  last long after my representation ends, and needs to be as cooperative and collaborative as possible. My foremost priority is to assertively advocate for your child's educational needs, while simultaneously striving to maintain a positive relationship with your child's school district and educational placement whenever feasible.  While it is sometimes necessary to resort to Due Process and/or litigation to ensure your child's educational needs are met, these are options that can frequently be avoided as long as families and school officials are mutually willing to listen to each other and work together to develop an appropriate educational program for your child.

• I have extensive professional experience working with families and children from diverse backgrounds, and understand that when it comes to children with special needs, there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" solution.  I partner with families to identify and advocate for creative, comprehensive and  individualized educational services and programming that will effectively address your child's unique individual strengths and needs.

• I feel strongly that legal costs should not be a barrier to a child receiving an appropriate education. For this reason, I strive to provide cost-effective representation. Depending on a family's needs, I am able to offer either full representation or consultation-only services. With consultation-only services, a family can elect to continue advocating for their child on their own and retain my firm only for the specific legal services the family requires, such as legal advice, review of educational records, legal research and analysis, assistance with drafting documents/correspondence, and preparation for meetings, mediation and/or due process hearings.  For many families facing educational issues, the option of consultation-only services is preferable to fu​ll representation, as it enables them to remain in the "Driver's Seat" while receiving "behind the scenes" legal assistance at an affordable cost.

• I understand that although hiring an education lawyer may be necessary to preserve and protect your child's rights, parents are the best and most important advocates for their children.  I respect the critical role that parents play in the advocacy process, and am committed to not only providing zealous representation to families, but also empowering and educating them so that they can effectively advocate for themselves.​

​

Kyra Nicole Smith, Esquire

Attorney at Law

 New Jersey Education Attorney

 (856) 630-9899       KyraSmithLaw@gmail.com

Practicing Education Law in Southern NJ on behalf of Students with Special Educational Needs

​

Copyyright © Kyra Nicole Smith, Esq., Attorney at Law. All Rights Reserved.  Disclaimer: The information contained within this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or as establishing an attorney-client relationship.

My office has had the opportunity to represent New Jersey students with a broad range of disabilities and special needs, including the following:

• Alcohol and drug use                  
• Allergies
• Anxiety Disorder
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Apraxia
• Ataxia
• ADD/ADHD
• Behavioral disabilities
• Auditory Processing Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy                                     
• Developmental Delays
• Diabetes
  
• Discipline Issues
• Down Syndrome
• Depression
• Dyscalculia
• Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia
• Emotional Disturbance
• Executive Functioning Disorder
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Fine motor challenges
• Gifted and talented
• Gross motor challenges
• Hearing Impairments
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Medically Fragile
• Math Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Orthopedic Impairments
• Psychosis
• Reading Disorders 
• Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy)
• Sensory Processing Disorders
• Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder
• Speech and Language Impairments
• Twice-exceptional
• Visual Impairments
• Writing Disorders ​​