Reviews

We used Jill when we were dealing with an IEP eligibility issue. She was enormously helpful. She was compassionate, highly competent and amazingly efficient in how she handled our situation. I was impressed by her honesty and integrity. I was also impressed at how she was able to take a lot of complex intake and synthesize a coherent and well organized case. She was always highly responsive. I would use her again and have recommended her to others as she was so effective for us.

Jill was a tremendous help to our family as we struggled to understand our young son's learning disability and secure him the most appropriate placement. Jill worked tirelessly with us to understand test results, school placements, IEPS, etc. and was always available to talk through various scenarios that would be best for our son and family. She was very knowledgeable of resources available and connected us with high-quality local professionals. Jill understands not only the professional and legal in's and out's regarding learning disabilities, but is also very empathetic which is so important since emotions around rights and advocacy can run high for everyone. Ultimately, Jill was able to secure a very fair placement for our son for which we are forever grateful. In the five years we worked together, we were true partners. I trusted her legal advice and came to know her as friend.

Jill is an expert in her field. She helped me navigate a difficult legal situation. She also helped me become a more productive member of my children’s educational TEAM.

Jill has represented our daughter in a lengthy process with a town who had repeatedly denied her services. We are in a new place altogether where things have turned around. I highly recommend engaging her before you sign anything with the school system if you are seeking eligibility for an IEP. She knows what she is doing, and she can help you navigate the intricacies. Additionally, I really appreciated her ability to connect with my daughter and establish trust, which was very important.

Jill has represented me in connection with my autistic daughter's educational needs for over 10 years. Jill first represented me in connection with my unilateral private placement of my daughter at a private school and efforts to seek funding from the public school. Jill is an outstanding individual and an extremely intelligent lawyer. She has consistently delivered high quality work product and superior service to our family. She has strong problem solving skills and has consistently exhibited excellent judgment when counseling our family through very difficult issues. Jill is very organized and efficient in her work and always responsive to my daughters' needs. With Jill by my side, I always feel prepared for new educational challenges that my daughter's disability presents. My daughter has made great progress over the years and Jill's legal advice has played a key role in my daughter's ability to make progress.

Jill Aubin Updegraph strategically led our family through a long, and intricate legal process. I value her expertise, intelligence, honesty, and sense of humor. Jill was able to communicate complicated legal jargon in a way that we could understand. We couldn't have navigated our legal issues without her, and look forward to working with Jill again in the future.

Navigated us through a very tough situation. Very knowledgeable in education law. Knows the ins and outs

We hired Jill Updegraph as Special Education attorney for our daughter Rachel. We believe she was the absolute best attorney we could find!! Jill is very knowledgeable, supportive and was very dedicated to Rachel. She worked very hard on her behalf. She is a wonderful negotiator during team meetings and always has the student’s best interests at heart. Because of Jill we were able to find the appropriate placement for Rachel. In the years since she finished school she has developed good self esteem and attends college and works part-time. I highly recommend Jill Updegraph!!

I hired Jill to be our advocate several years ago when my son refused school in sixth grade. Without her expert guidance, persistence, dedication, and compassion, we would not be where we are today-- a stable and loving family, a young man with a life balance plan and coping skills, and a successful resolution to sharing the expense of special ed.

Ms Updegraph assisted us in the legal process for a special needs student who was not getting his needs met in the public school system.

Jill helped me and my son gain access to a residential treatment program. His needs far exceeded what was being provided. Jill was instrumental in getting the school system to listen to me. She really helped me to gather the data and speak with the correct people to get my son's needs met. She checked in often and was always available to answer questions. I have referred friends with similar issues to her since. My son is currently in a great residential program and making gains that I never thought he'd make. I would highly recommend Jill to help with special needs situations.

I found myself in a position where it was absolutely necessary to hire an attorney to negotiate special needs services for my children who were on the autism spectrum. Communication with the school department had deteriorated and distrust had set in. Jill was very well-known and highly respected in our school district. I was impressed during the TEAM meetings because she was insightful. She was firm, yet poised and personable. I was intimidated by the process, but with her sitting beside me, I felt confident that we were going to be OK. Despite the onslaught, she maintained her composure and demonstrated immaculate attention to detail. There were literally volumes of medical and legal documents, IEP language and piles of testing that I truly just had never heard of and did not understand. Using her vast knowledge, she was able to explain the information so that I could be involved in the decision making process. She kept me well-informed as to the services my children were entitled to by law, as well as the numerous resources available in our own community. Wholeheartedly recommend her highly.