Kaitlyn I. Millerick

Kaitlyn is an education lawyer with a solid understanding of special education law and an ability to explain legal concepts clearly to parents. Her explanations are generally thorough and easy to follow. However, regardless of the specific circumstances presented, her guidance often remained the same.... We frequently heard the phrase that a district must be given “multiple bites at the apple.” While this may be a valid legal principle, it became challenging in our case because our child’s needs were continuously evolving. At different times we needed support both in developing appropriate IEP services and in potentially preparing for an out-of-district placement. Where we struggled most was in feeling heard as parents and having our short- and long-term goals meaningfully incorporated into the legal strategy. When we sought guidance on specific decisions, our intentions were often overlooked, and the advice we received tended to focus on steps that appeared designed to strengthen a future litigation case rather than address our child’s immediate needs. Over time, it became clear that Kaitlyn’s approach prioritized building an extremely strong, nearly irrefutable case before taking any action against a district. This very rigid approach created discomfort for us, particularly because our situation required flexibility and responsiveness as circumstances changed. Ultimately, this led us to consult with other attorneys and eventually transition to a different firm. With the new firm, we were provided with clearer strategic direction and a range of possible paths forward. This included guidance on how to pursue out-of-district placement, if necessary, as well as concrete steps we could take to strengthen our position over time. In comparison, during the multiple years we worked with Kaitlyn, we rarely received that same level of actionable strategy or clarity regarding potential next steps. From a cost perspective, Kaitlyn’s hourly rate is lower than many other education law firms, which initially seemed appealing. However, we often found the billing practices difficult to reconcile with the work performed. Routine tasks such as brief emails or reviewing updated IEP documents sometimes appeared to take longer than expected, and there were instances of consultations with advocates that did not feel necessary. While our current attorney has a higher hourly rate, the time spent per task is more precise, and the overall cost per interaction has been lower. Overall, Kaitlyn may be a reasonable choice for parents seeking general education law guidance or straightforward legal advice. However, for families facing more complex or evolving situations that require a flexible strategy, proactive advocacy, and collaborative planning, we ultimately found greater value working with a different firm