The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (PILCOP) is currently in need of licensed attorneys to assist with several cases the firm is handling. One of the major pieces of litigation, Blunt v. Lower Merion School District, has generated a number of administrative hearings.

The suit alleges that the LMSD engaged in race discrimination and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Plaintiffs allege that LMSD routinely misuses so-called below grade level programs and modified classes to remove African American students from the general education curriculum, in some instances to avoid evaluating a student's eligibility for services under the IDEA. Plaintiffs further allege that LMSD intentionally segregates these African American students in classes that are taught below grade level while depriving them of grade-level subject matter and materials that are provided to their Caucasian peers at all educational levels.

The administrative hearings are a great opportunity for attorneys to handle a case from start to finish. They take anywhere from three to eight months from the initial hearing request to the actual hearing. The rules of evidence apply to administrative hearings, but they are relaxed.

PILCOP is also interested in finding a law firm that would be willing to do attorneys fee petitions and handle fee-petition hearings on behalf of PILCOP. Attorneys handling fee petitions will not need detailed knowledge on the substantive issues in the case, as they will have already been resolved.

If you are interested in assisting in these matters, please contact Liz Brown at PILCOP by email at ebrown@pilcop.org, with a copy to narb6@comcast.net.