Schedule a Consultation and Educational Records Review with Dave Sherman

Dave Sherman provides educational records reviews and consultations with parents of children with special needs either by telephone or in person. You can schedule a consultation by email - ASpecialEdLawyer@sbcglobal.net or call (415) 924-1300 or (707) 765-1667.
A telephonic consultation can be scheduled, or if you are in Northern California, you can meet with Mr. Sherman at the firm's offices at:
San Francisco Office: Washington Mutual Bank Building, Suite 300, 2740 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109
or
Sonoma County Office: 500 D Street, Petaluma, CA 94952

CLIENT CONSULTATION INSTRUCTIONS

The purpose of the consultation will be to assess the issues in your child's special education case, make recommendations as to how you can improve your child's program and services, provide you with information to allow you to advocate for your child's needs, and determine if I will represent you and in what capacity.

During the meeting, I will review the documents and provide advice on the primary issues. We will discuss your child's educational history and your concerns. I will explain to you how I represent families, provide you with information about the applicable law and make recommendations as to how you can improve your child's education program and services.
If I agree to represent you on your child's behalf, I will discuss the retainer necessary required to secure my services. I will also provide you with my fee agreement for you to review and sign. Finally, I will have you sign a release for me to give to the school and other professionals as needed.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DO NOT REPRESENT YOU UNTIL WE HAVE A SIGNED ATTORNEY-CLIENT AGREEMENT AND RETAINER.

To Prepare for the Consultation

In most cases, prior to the consultation, you should obtain your child's complete school file from the school district. Click the link below Request for Copy of School Records for a form letter requesting the school file: http://www.aboutautismlaw.com/letters/letter15.doc.

Some districts keep special education records in a separate location from the cumulative file. Contact your district to see what they do. If you are having problems obtaining the entire file send the letter in the following link: http://www.aboutautismlaw.com/letters/letter14.doc.

When you receive the packet, or packets, of school records from the school district, please take the following steps:

1. Make two copies of the school file so that you can keep one file in its original order. Put this copy aside.
2. Then, separate the school records in the remaining two files by putting like documents together (including duplicates) in chronological order with the most recent documents first. Divide the documents chronologically in the following groups:
   1. Private Assessments
   2. School Assessments
   3. IEPs
   4. Disciplinary records
   5. Letters
   6. Attendance records
   7. Other
3. Put the documents in 3 hole binders with tabs for each section so that you have one binder to send to me and one to keep. Put a tab on each section described above. If the file is large, it is also helpful if you number the pages. (The easiest way to do this is to number the pages before you copy them.)
4. If you are scheduling a telephone consultation, send my copy of the documents along with the check for the consultation and the completed Client Intake Form (see below after fees information) to Dave Sherman, 500 D Street, Petaluma, CA 94952 so that is will arrive prior to the consultation.

Consultation Fees

San Franciso Office: $395
Petaluma Office: $325 (a complimentary copy of Autism: Asserting Your Child's Rights to a Special Education is included.)
Telephone Consultation: $325

Cancellations

Once we have made an appointment to meet, I have reserved that time for you in my calendar. If you find that you must either cancel or reschedule the appointment, notify me at least 24 hours in advance of our scheduled appointment. Any short notice changes may result in a $75.00 fee. If you do not appear at a consultation at the San Francisco office, the missed consultation fee is $325.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to meeting with you and providing you with information about the law and strategies that can be implemented to improve your child's educational program and services.

For a telephone consultation, you can pay online via Paypal. Please click on the "Buy Now" button.

Click here to download the Client Intake Information form

Click here to download the Client Authorization form

Be sure to keep a copy of the file for yourself. Do not send any original documents.

Click here to view upcoming special education workshops and seminars