Meet Alexis Casillas, Education Rights Attorney

Alexis Casillas is a California-based education rights attorney who protects the rights of students with disabilities through nationwide representation of individual, state, and federal matters. When school districts and other government-funded educational programs and services fail to meet a student's required needs, Alexis helps clients take legal action to hold those organizations accountable, enable students to fully access their education, and preserve the law for others in similar circumstances.

The majority of Alexis’ practice involves providing direct representation to students and their families under state and federal special education law. She protects her students’ rights throughout IEP planning, alternative dispute resolution processes (formal and informal, and administrative hearings. She helps students and families navigate IDEA Eligibility, Section 504 Eligibility, ADA Discrimination, Bullying, Failure to Provide Free and Appropriate Public Education, Discipline Proceedings, and more. Through a proven track record of success when handling complex cases, Alexis’ work has also extended to providing co-counseling support to law firms on matters requiring state and federal court expertise.

When the civil liberties of a student with disabilities are ignored or threatened, it is important to have representation clients can trust. Alexis’ passion for special education law stems from seeing firsthand the painstaking efforts her family took to ensure meaningful educational experiences for her brother following his autism diagnosis. Her work in special education law is fueled by personal values that serve to alleviate the stress experienced by families in the education system, matched with over a decade of experience.

Beyond her scope of direct representation, Alexis aims to impact public policy and the intricate set of laws that guide education at the state and federal levels. She has expanded her practice to participate in a series of investigations on behalf of state and federal government entities and has provided input on several Government Accountability Office (GAO) studies. She frequently works with parties to move education policy through the California legislature and has worked with the Office of Special Education Programs and other governmental bodies at the federal level. Additionally, Alexis has collaborated on numerous co-counseling matters surrounding dependency and custody matters, issues with the criminal and juvenile justice systems, access to medical and mental health services, and conservatorship.

““I have seen firsthand the transformative power of the law in protecting the rights of students with disabilities. I understand the importance of taking bold legal action to ensure that schools and institutions provide the services, accommodations, and respect that every student deserves.””
— Alexis Casillas, Education Rights Attorney

Alexis’ track record of success, hard work, and determination has garnered her numerous achievements. As a solo practitioner, she obtained one of the largest compensatory education awards ever issued by California's Office of Administrative Hearings. She has set significant federal precedents regarding the type of relief students can obtain, as well as exceptions to the statute of limitations governing IDEA cases. She also serves as a co-chair of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) amicus committee and as the West Coast representative to the Litigation Work Group where she is at the forefront of special education litigation and policy development at a national level.

As a voice for many, Alexis finds great importance in leading change for students with disabilities and providing parents, educators, fellow attorneys, and advocates with resources and knowledge that will enact this change for current and future generations. Her leadership in education law and student advocacy has led her to positions with expansive and impactful organizations, including COPAA, The Autism Legislation Project, Stanford's Youth and Education Law Project, and the Child and Family Guidance Center, among many others.

Admissions

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

United States Supreme Court

California Supreme Court

Central District of California

Northern District of California

Eastern District of California

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Education

J.D. Columbia Law School

3L Stanford Law School

B.A. University of Chicago

  • LAW FIRM OF ALEXIS CASILLAS:
    As a solo practitioner, Ms. Casillas has obtained one of the largest compensatory education awards ever issued by the Office of Administrative Hearings in California. She has set significant federal precedents regarding exceptions to the statute of limitations governing IDEA cases.

    LEARNING RIGHTS LAW CENTER:
    Ms. Casillas served as the organization’s Legal Director from February 2021-July 2022

    NEWMAN AARONSON VANAMAN:
    Until 2017, Ms. Casillas worked on hundreds of IDEA, Section 504, and ADA cases before the Office of Administrative Hearings, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

    Ms. Casillas has also worked at the following governmental agencies on disability-related cases:

    • New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (participated in forums on disability access for public transit)

    • Department of Health and Human Services (worked on Medicare and Medicaid access issues)

    • Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office (worked on issues regarding testimony by individuals with language disorders or intellectual delays)

  • Founded Student Rights Initiative with COPAA

    Ms. Casillas has a long history of volunteer work with nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups. Below is a list of some of the groups Ms. Casillas has worked with as a volunteer:

    Civitas Member

    Southern California Leadership Network Fellow

    White House Fellow Regional Finalist

    Stanford's Youth and Education Law Project

    Villa Esperanza School and Services

    Best Buddies

    Autism Speaks

    Advocates for Children of New York

    The Autism Legislation Project.

    ACLU of Southern California

    Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

    Child and Family Guidance Center

    For over a decade, Alexis Casillas has represented students with disabilities and their families in educational-rights litigation at all levels, from administrative hearings to proceedings in federal trial and appellate courts. She has deep experience with every aspect of special-education practice, from helping parents navigate the IEP process, representing clients in mediation and settlement, trying cases in administrative hearings, and challenging (or defending) administrative decisions in federal court.

    Although she primarily represents clients in special education proceedings, Ms. Casillas understands that a student's issues in the classroom may be compounded by other aspects of his or her life, and she has cultivated the legal expertise necessary to help her clients face a full spectrum of issues. She represents her clients using a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses all of the legal issues that may impact her clients' lives: special education, dependency and custody, criminal and juvenile justice, access to medical and mental health services, conservatorship, and more. Ms. Casillas also has an extensive network of attorneys, experts, advocates, and service providers to whom she can refer clients with specialized legal or educational needs.