The fundamental emphasis in filing civil suits against the public schools has switched from seeking relief or redress of an alleged wrong to establishing and creating new law. A significant number of lawsuits now filed are designed to put the judiciary in the position of creating new legal rights affecting public education. (Author)

This guide for the law teacher novitiate specifies the responsibilities of a law teacher and gives detailed information on the procedures involved in searching for a law teaching position. (MD)

Summarizes findings of a survey questionnaire mailed to all Arizona school districts to determine the circumstances, conditions, and costs of using attorneys. Legal advice is obtained from various sources. However, a few firms are most often used, few procedures exist for hiring or evaluating school attorneys, and access is typically through the…

The Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986 authorizes courts to award attorneys' fees to handicapped children. Examines Supreme Court's decisions and the history of the act, then analyzes the innovative features of its attorneys' fees provisions. (MLF)

Responds to Jonathan Beyer's proposal in the January 1999 issue of this Journal (EJ583600) that traditional mediation would be useful for resolving special education disputes by formalizing the way that mediators are trained. Relying on empirical research, warns that Beyer's proposals for further quality controls and consequent formalization may…

Parents have used their empowerment under the 1997 Amendments to become the advocate for the child not only in the classroom, but also in the courtroom. Generally, the courts have been quick to reject nonattorney parents' request to represent their child. Those parents who are licensed members of the bar may be allowed to represent their child,…