California Special Education Law
Your child's school must follow the law.
When a California school district denies your child's IEP, refuses an evaluation,
or ignores what's written in their plan — you have legal rights. We help families
fight back, and in most cases, the school district pays our fees.
What brought you here today?
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IEP Not Followed
The school is ignoring what's in the plan
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Services Removed
They cut therapy, aides, or support hours
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Evaluation Denied
They won't assess my child for special ed
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Suspension / Discipline
My child is being pushed out of school
Why IEPTeam
You deserve an attorney on your side of the table.
School districts have attorneys at every IEP meeting. Most parents show up alone.
IEPTeam — through the Law Offices of Pu Huang — levels that playing field across
California. We handle special education law, IEP disputes, 504 plans, due process
hearings, and OAH proceedings. We are fluent in English and Mandarin.
No Upfront Fees in Most Cases
Federal law requires the school district to pay your attorneys' fees when you prevail. We'll tell you at the outset if your case may qualify.
Bilingual — English & Mandarin
Attorney Pu Huang serves clients in both English and Mandarin. Many Chinese-speaking families in California are unaware of their children's rights. We close that gap. 我们提供普通话服务。
California Statewide
We represent families across California in IEP disputes, due process hearings before OAH, and federal court proceedings.
27 Years of Special Education Law Experience
Our team brings deep IDEA expertise including landmark precedent cases and hundreds of due process hearings across multiple states.
我们用普通话为您服务 · Bilingual Legal Services
Attorney Pu Huang speaks fluent Mandarin. Many Chinese families don't know their child's rights. We're here to help. · 黄璞律师精通普通话，帮助华人家庭了解并维护孩子的教育权利。
Ready to start?
Find out where you stand — free.
Your first consultation is always free. Tell us what's happening with your child's school and we'll give you an honest assessment of your options.
Request Free Consultation
How It Works
From first call to resolution
We guide you through every step. Here's exactly what to expect when you work with IEPTeam.
1
Free Initial Consultation
Tell us what's happening. We listen to your situation, review any documents you have, and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a viable legal claim — at no cost to you.
No cost · No obligation
2
Records Review & Case Assessment
We request your child's complete educational records, IEPs, evaluations, and correspondence with the district. We analyze them for procedural violations, substantive failures, and fee-shifting potential.
Typically 1–2 weeks
3
Strategy Conference
We meet with you to explain exactly what we found, what your options are, and what outcomes are realistic. We recommend a strategy and explain how fees work in your specific case.
Clear, honest, no surprises
4
Pre-Litigation Advocacy
We begin with letters, IEP meeting attendance, and direct negotiation. Many cases resolve here, faster and less stressfully than a hearing. We document everything to build your record if escalation is needed.
Often resolves here
5
Due Process / OAH Hearing
If the district refuses to comply, we file a due process complaint with the California Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). We represent you through the full hearing with witnesses, evidence, and legal argument.
Full representation
6
Resolution & Fee Recovery
When we prevail, we pursue attorneys' fees from the school district under IDEA's fee-shifting provision. In many cases, you pay nothing. We explain exactly what to expect before we start.
District pays in prevailing cases
Transparent Pricing
Understanding your costs
Special education law is one of the few areas where the law itself may require the other side to pay your attorney. We explain every scenario honestly before you commit to anything.
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Fee-Shifting Cases
$0 to you if you prevail
Under IDEA, parents who prevail in due process are entitled to have the school district pay reasonable attorneys' fees. If your case qualifies, you pay nothing out of pocket. We tell you upfront whether your case likely meets this threshold.
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Negotiated Resolution
Often included in settlement
Many cases settle before a hearing. Settlement agreements frequently include attorneys' fees as a term. We negotiate for this as part of any resolution.
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Consultation & Advisory
Free initial consultation
Your first consultation is always free. For ongoing advisory work — IEP meeting attendance, records review, letter writing — we offer flat-fee and hourly arrangements depending on your situation.
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Not Sure What Applies to You?
Ask us directly
Every family's situation is different. The best way to understand your costs is to talk with us. We'll give you a straight answer — no pressure, no sales pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about fees
What does "fee-shifting" mean?
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents who prevail in due process hearings are entitled to have the school district pay their reasonable attorneys' fees. This is called fee-shifting, and it's one of the most important protections in special education law.
Does my case qualify for fee-shifting?
Not every case qualifies. Cases involving substantive violations of IDEA — failure to provide FAPE, improper placements, denied evaluations — are most likely to qualify. Purely procedural issues may qualify if they caused educational harm. We assess this during our free consultation.
What if I don't prevail?
If you don't prevail, you are not entitled to fee-shifting. We discuss this risk honestly before you decide to move forward, and we work to give you a realistic picture of your chances based on the facts of your case.
Are there cases where I would pay fees upfront?
Yes. For advisory and consultation work — attending IEP meetings, reviewing records, writing letters — fees are typically due at the time of service. We offer transparent flat-fee and hourly options for this work. We always explain costs before any engagement.
My family speaks Mandarin. Can we still work with you?
Yes — Attorney Pu Huang is fluent in Mandarin and provides full legal services in both English and Mandarin. You will never need a translator. 黄璞律师精通普通话，可以完全以中文为您提供法律服务。