Mandy Leigh, a partner of the Leigh Law Group, focuses her practice on civil litigation,
education law, special education law, employment law and disability law. Prior to
forming Leigh Law Group she was a solo practitioner and founder of
EDULEGAL. Prior to earning her law degree, Mandy worked as an educator for
almost eight years in one of the nation’s largest school districts. After earning her
law degree, Mandy completed the Masters in Education Law program at
Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire.

As an attorney advocate on behalf of public school teachers and non-certificated staff, Mandy represents educators in all areas as it pertains to their employment.
During several of the reduction in force hearings, Mandy’s skills have been
instrumental in the rescission of several teacher layoff notices. She also has experience
in representing teachers who have received nonreelection notices. Mandy has worked
with educators in and outside of the union context including representing clients in
cases involving retaliation claims, collective bargaining issues, retirement issues,
wrongful termination claims and disability discrimination claims.

Mandy continues to represent teachers, paraprofessionals and other regularly assigned special education staff who attempt to bring special education claims against school districts or non-public agencies on behalf of their students.In the area of special education representation on behalf of children, Mandy worked as an investigator for the New Hampshire State Department of Education Special Education Bureau investigating violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. As an investigator, Mandy produced written detailed findings of fact and law to the New Hampshire State Department of Education used to determine what remedy, if any, would be available to the parent whose child was the subject of a school district’s failure to follow state or federal special education laws. Though her clients appreciate that she uses her strong negotiating skills to facilitate informal resolution, Mandy’s experience is equally effective during the resolution process, mediation process, filing complaints with the State Department of Education and litigation before the Office of Administrative Hearings and federal court.

• B.S., Telecommunication, April, 1993
  University of Florida
• J.D., May, 2002, Nova Southeastern
  University’s Shepard Broad Law Center
• Masters of Education Law, December 2003
  Franklin Pierce Law School

Public Employees:
As an attorney advocate on behalf of public school teachers and non-certificated
staff, Mandy represents educators in all areas as it pertains to their employment.
During several of the reduction in force hearings, Mandy’s skills have been
instrumental in the rescission of several teacher layoff notices. She also has experience in representing teachers who have received nonreelection notices. Mandy has worked with educators in and outside of the union context including representing clients in cases involving retaliation claims, collective bargaining issues, retirement issues, wrongful termination claims and disability discrimination claims. Mandy continues to represent teachers, paraprofessionals and other regularly assigned special education staff who attempt to bring special education claims against school districts or non-public agencies on behalf of their students.

Private Employees:
As an advisor and counselor, Mandy assists individuals navigate through the maze of laws that impact them in the workplace. Mandy’s skills are most notable in assisting clients determine whether their rights have been violated due to discrimination, at-will and contractual employment issue and wrongful termination. She has assisted clients in negotiating settlements due to unlawful conduct in the private workplace and has provided guidance to clients on the best solutions for negotiating severance packages.

Special Education and Education Law:
In the area of special education representation on behalf of children, Mandy worked as an investigator for the New Hampshire State Department of Education SpecialEducation Bureau investigating violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. As an investigator, Mandy produced written detailed findings of fact and law to the New Hampshire State Department of Education used to determine what remedy, if any, would be available to the parent whose child was the subject of a school district’s failure to follow state or federal special education laws. Though her clients appreciate that she uses her strong negotiating skills to facilitate informal resolution, Mandy’s experience is equally effective during the resolution process, mediation process, filing complaints with the State Department of Education and litigation before the Office of Administrative Hearings and federal court.Mandy also works on behalf of individuals impacted in institutions of higher education and with general education k-12 issues such as expulsion, CIF sports appeals and discrimination

• Barriers to Advanced Technology Courses for Student with Disabilities,
  Education Law Institute, Virginia Conference 2003.
  Published in the Education Law Institute Journal.
  
  
• The Teacher-Student Interpersonal Relationship.
  Drawing the Line, Portland, Maine Conference 2003.
  Published in the Education Law Institute Journal.

• Former solo practitioner of EDULEGAL
• United Educators of San Francisco
• Massachusetts Teacher’s Association
• Florida Education Association
• Former Group Legal Services Attorney for the California Teacher’s Association
• Special Education Compliance Investigator for the State of New Hampshire
• Educator

• Supreme Court of California (2003);
• United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (2003);
• United States District Court – Northern California (2003);
• United States District Court– Eastern California (2003).
• California State Bar (2003).

• Employment Law Book Award (highest grade), 2002

• Teacher Reduction In Force Hearings Before
  the Office of Administrative Hearings:
  • Hayward Unified School District – 2004
  • Martinez Unified School District – 2004
  • San Francisco Unified School District  - 2005
  • Livermore Unified School District – 2004
    
    
• Non-exhaustive list of Special Education Experience Representing Parents
  With Respect to the Following: IEP meetings, Mediation, Due Process Hearings
  and Litigation:
  • Clovis Unified School District
  • San Lorenzo Unified School District
  • Regional Center of The East Bay
  • Oakland Unified School District
  • Saratoga Unified School District
  • Santa Clara County Office of Education
  • Fresno Unified School District
  • San Francisco Unified School District
  • West Contra Costa Unified School District
  • Fremont Unified School District
  • Mount Diablo Unified School District
  • Contra Costa County Office of Education
    and SELPA.
  • Pacifica Unified School District
  • San Jose Unified School District
  • San Ramon Valley Unified School District
  • Contra Costa County of Education
  • Contra Costa Special Education Local Plan Area
  • Fremont Unified School District
  • Pajaro Valley Unified School District
  • Hayward Unified School District
    
    
• Examples of Important Civil Litigation Decisions:
  
  
  • Federal Court Judge Rules against School District on Seminal
    and First Impression Special Education Case Read More By Clicking on Link:
    
    
  • Federal Court Judge Rules against School District Stating That School Cannot
    Unlawfully Graduate A Student and Issues Injunctive Relief:
    
    
  • Amicus Briefs  - DREDF, PAI and Disability Law Rights Center file Briefs
    in Support of Leigh Law Group in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

• J.M. v. Solano County Office of Education, (Cal. Sup. Ct. (2005).)
  Wrongful termination, sexual harassment, family medical leave.
  
  
• R.R. v. Oakland Unified School District (Cal. Sup. Ct. (2005).)
  Wrongful termination, retaliation, race discrimination.
  
  
• D.M. v. State Teacher Retirement System,
  (Office of Admin. Hearings (2005) Agency No. KF094-9303.)
  Claim for benefit compensation of deceased spouse.
  
  
• California Commission on Teaching Credentialing v. M.B.,
  (Cal. Comm. On Teacher Cred. (2005)).
  Revocation of Teacher Credentia