Why We're Free
You will never get a bill from us. Here is exactly how that works.
The Short Version
When we take your case, you pay nothing. Not for consultations. Not for IEP meetings. Not for hearings. Not ever. The school district pays our fees when we win — and we have been winning for 27 years.
How This Works
Congress Built Fee-Shifting Into IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act says it plainly: when parents win a due process case, the school district pays the parents' attorney fees. 20 U.S.C. Section 1415(i)(3)(B). Congress wrote this provision because they knew parents cannot enforce their children's rights without lawyers — and they knew most families cannot afford one. Fee-shifting fixes that.
We Take Cases on Contingency
We put in the work. We invest the time. We front the cost of litigation. When we get results — whether through settlement or hearing decision — the Hawaii DOE pays our fees. If for any reason a case does not produce a favorable outcome, you still owe us nothing. That is the deal, every time.
The DOE Pays, Not You
This is not charity and it is not a gimmick. This is how federal law was designed to work. We have run our entire firm on this model for 27 years, across 800+ cases. We take cases we know how to win, and our track record shows it works.
Why This Matters
The DOE Has Lawyers on Payroll
Without fee-shifting, only wealthy families could go toe-to-toe with the state. IDEA's fee provision means any family can fight back — regardless of income.
Zero Out-of-Pocket Risk
No retainer. No hourly rate. No invoice at the end. We take the financial risk so you can focus on your child.
It Punishes Bad Behavior
When the DOE knows they will pay attorney fees if they lose, it changes the calculation. Fee-shifting is what gives parents real leverage.
Questions Parents Ask
"How can you afford to do this?"
We built the entire firm around IDEA's fee-shifting provision. When we win — and after 800+ cases, we know how to pick the ones we can win — the DOE pays our fees. We have operated this way for 27 years. It works because we are selective, experienced, and effective.
"What if we don't win?"
You owe us nothing. That is what contingency means — we take the risk. But here is the reality: we do not take cases we think we will lose. After 27 years of IDEA litigation in Hawaii, we know which cases have strong legal grounds and which ones do not. We will be straight with you about that from the first conversation.
"Is there a catch?"
No catch. Congress put fee-shifting into IDEA because they knew parents need lawyers to fight school districts, and they knew most families cannot pay for one. We are using the law exactly the way it was written to be used. The only requirement is that your child has a legitimate special education dispute — the school is not doing what the law requires.
"Will I have to pay anything upfront?"
No. Zero. From the first phone call through the final resolution, you will not pay a cent. No retainers, no deposits, no hourly bills, no "administrative fees." Our fees come from the school district when the case resolves. That is the only way we get paid.
The DOE Pays. You Don't. It's That Simple.
If your child is not getting the services IDEA requires, call us. The consultation costs you nothing. If we take the case, it still costs you nothing.
