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Melissa J Amster
also known as Meira Amster
About Melissa
Biography
Melissa (Meira) Amster has dedicated her law career to special education and disability law. She seeks to help parents attain maximum potential through advocacy.
Her passion in this area of law comes from personal experience. In October 2011, her daughter was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect which required open heart surgery. At first she found the process of attending to her daughter’s medical and physical needs overwhelming, but soon found online support groups. These support gave her valuable information and encouragement to advocate for her daughter.
Over the years her advocacy skills increased, as well as her passion for helping others. Ms. Amster found a wide discrepancy in services that children might receive correlated to how good of an advocate or how knowledgeable about services their parent was. The better the advocate, more services the child might receive. Ms. Amster strongly believes that all people with disabilities, not just ones that have better advocates, should receive all needed available services.
With this passion in-hand, she began volunteering with the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy, Disability Rights California. She was later a temporary Clients’ Right Advocate. There she focused on evaluating regional center eligibility, securing appropriate placements, and analyzing and giving legal advice regarding notices of action from the regional center.
Ms. Amster is very thankful for her advocacy skills and all she has accomplished on behalf of her daughter. Realizing her own daughter is not the only person with a disability who is in need of advocacy, the Amster Law Firm was formed to advocate on the behalf others with disabilities.
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Fees and Rates
Cost
Pro bono
50 %
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 24 years
State: California
Acquired: 2001
No misconduct found
Location
Melissa Amster
1976 S. La Cienega Blvd. #C-353, Los Angeles, CA, 90034
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Melissa J Amster's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 13 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | July 28, 2018 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Helpful Advice
Melissa helped guide me through an appeal with the regional center to make sure my child was getting the services he needed. Though she did not formally represent us, she gave me the advice I needed and pointed me toward useful resources that helped us win our appeal.
Posted by Michelle | May 3, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Thank You.
My child was not getting the help or accommodations he needed. I tried tirelessly to get him the help but nothing seemed to be working and I felt defeated and at a dead end. Mrs. Amster was so kind and provided advice and was so helpful. Feeling alone trying to advocate for my child was very difficu...
Posted by Tracy | December 19, 2017 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Extremely helpful advice
We've had a couple of issues stemming with services for our disabled son, and Melissa's advice not only put us at ease, but helped us to gain the upper hand in a hearing, in which we prevailed in all aspects. We are thankful for her help and admire her comprehensive understanding of government servi...
Posted by anonymous | October 17, 2017 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
A true lifesaver
Mrs. Amster was very knowledgeable how to get our son the help he needed in school. She was a pleasure to work with. He is now doing great in school and without her, I do not know where we would be. We are so thankful for her help to our family I would highly recommend her!
Posted by Jacquelyn | June 7, 2017 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Ms. Amster is fantastic!
Ms. Amster gave me wonderful advice as to how best to proceed with my local Regional Center when my daughter was granted speech therapy services. She is attentive, patient, extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. I will continue to consult Ms. Amster and highly recommend working with her...
Melissa J Amster's Lawyer Endorsements
"An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services."
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"I have seen Melissa in action and she is extremely educated in the filed of special education and disability rights. I have seen her advocate for her clients and obtain favorable judgments so her clients get the services they need. She is a compassionate person, understanding all angles from a lawyer's and parent's point of view. I have personally referred her to others and highly recommend her. She is a fabulous attorney!!!"
"Melisaa is the best at what she does. She is a passionate education attorney and will fight for your child's rights! I wholeheartedly endorse her!"
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Experience
Honors
1999
Public Interest Grant, Southwestern Law School
1997
Political Science Student of the Year, UC Riverside Political Science Department
Work Experience
2014 - 2017
(Temp.) Clients' Rights Advocate, Office of Clients Rights Advocacy
2009 - 2016
Attorney, Law Offices of Michael Abramson
Associations
2017 - Present
CAPCA-California Association for Parent-Child AdvocacyMember
2017 - Present
Women Lawyers Association of Los AngelesMember
2016 - Present
Los Angeles Jewish Bar AssociationSecretary
2015 - Present
Counsel of Parents Attorneys and AdvocatesMember
2015 - Present
Club 21 South Bay CommunityMember
2011 - Present
Friendship Circle of Los AngelesMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Smith IEP
IEP Team agreed to parents requests
Preschooler v. LAUSD
Resolved at mediation
M.A. v. LAUSD
Settlement Agreement
MJ v. LAUSD
Settled in Mediation
Education
N/A
Southwestern University School of Law
N/A
University of California - Riverside
Speaking Engagements
2019
Special Education Law From A to Z
Developing and Implementing Defensible IEPs, Fulfilling Critical Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and Placement Decision Obligations
2018
Special Education Law: The Ultimate Guide
Essential Special Education Legal Updates You Need to Know
2018
IEPs and 504 Plans: A Legal Compliance Guide
IEP Evaluations and Eligibility and The IEP Meeting Process: Legal Pitfalls to Avoid
2018
IEP and 504 Plan Legal Workshop
The IEP Development Process: Handling Difficult Issues
2017
UCLA Early Intervention Parents
Turning 3? Getting the Services and Supports your Child Needs
2016
UCLA Early Intervention Parents
Turning 3? Getting the Services and Supports your Child Needs
2016
Tu B'Shvat Festival
ABCs of IEPs
2016
Special Education Law
UNRAVELING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)
Publications
2017
2016
Mishpacha Magazine
Heartbreaking Sight
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
What can be done when I feel my son IEP was not properly implemented ?And has been intimidated by staff.
03 Nov 2017
Q&A
What type of Lawyer would handle lawsuit against a school district?
16 Oct 2017
Q&A
Can I, as a student, record lectures in class, in California for the sole purpose of referring back to it as a form of notes?
08 Jul 2016