Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
5.0 /5.0
21 Client Reviews
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Mandy Gina Leigh
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About Mandy
Biography
Mandy Leigh is a partner at the Leigh Law Group. She handles cases in special education, expulsions, suspensions, employment law, both public and private sector, and in education law. Mandy also represents consumers in In Home Support Services (“IHSS”) and Regional Center ISP’s, IPP’s and fair hearings.
Mandy represents hundreds of parents of children with disabilities, handles a range of complex special education matters and litigates matters in state and federal court. She has published decisions which have made significant and positive changes in special education law which includes but are not limited to C.T. v. Vacaville USD (retaliation for advocacy in the Eastern District of California), E.M. v. Pajaro Valley U.S.D. (eligibility for students with CAPD and why the snapshot rule is not applicable in eligibility cases in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals), Z.F. v. St. Helena USD (Northern District of California regarding settlement agreements and offers to settle) and S.D. v. Moreland U.S.D. (Section 504/ADA claims for failure to address intensive needs of a child with self injurious behaviors).
Mandy’s experience in education law makes her unique in the field. She has successfully represented families in inter and intra district transfer issues, school attendance review board meetings (SARB) and expulsion hearings. She understands the suspension process and is often retained to challenge suspensions that are not based on fact or evidence.
Families and consumers often rely on Mandy for representation at Fair Hearings, IPP’s, IFSP’s and consumer-based services for IHSS. When families hire Mandy to work on their behalf, they feel confident that they have Mandy as an advocate on their side. Mandy is an attorney advocate who understands the importance of these services which foster the most independence in our communities for individuals who require them.
Mandy is also an experienced labor law and employment attorney. Her passion is representing public employees in disputes involving wrongful termination, collective bargaining issues, disciplinary matters, credentialing and retaliation. She also has experience representing employees who have been denied workplace accommodations but who may be entitled to them under state and federal law. She represents employees in administrative hearings, at mediation and in litigation both in state and federal court.
Mandy is a strong attorney advocate at IEP meetings and Section 504 plan meetings. She has a long history of representing hundreds of Parents and children. She is known for having a straightforward approach that focuses on the child’s needs. She is a force when it comes to strategizing every step of the way as to how to accomplish the ultimate goal of learning and access to schools for all children. Parents appreciate that she takes the lead at these meetings ensuring that no stone is left unturned when it comes to providing quality education for children with special needs. She is the go-to person for a variety of cases ranging from simple to complex and represents children in all categories of eligibility.
Setting her apart from many others is Mandy’s wealth of experience not just attending IEP meetings and Section 504 plan meetings, but she heads litigation in special education administrative due process hearings, the firm's law and motion practice in state and federal court and has appeared before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of children with disabilities. Mandy has also appeared in the state appellate court and has a keen grasp of when to take issues on appeal. She has obtained important published opinions and has obtained favorable settlement outcomes for her clients.
Mandy speaks nationally and speaks for the Council for Parents, Attorneys and Advocates annual conferences. She is often called upon to speak to Parent organizations, Non Public Schools and Agencies and provides training on special education compliance through blogs and social media.
Civil rights attorney specializing in special education, employment and school related matters.
Special education, Regional Center, In Home Support Services, Expulsion
Discrimination, ADA and 504 representation, OCR investigations and State complaint
Suspension, Truancy, Expulsion, Special Education and Discrimination
Wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Education
40%
22 years
Administrative Law
20%
22 years
Civil Rights
20%
22 years
Employment and Labor
20%
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
2020
Licenses
Licensed in California for 22 years
State: California
Acquired: 2003
No misconduct found
Location
Leigh Law Group, P.C.
(415) 399-9155
Fax
582 Market Street, Suite 905, San Francisco, CA, 94104
leighlawgroup.comOnline Presence
Other places you can find Mandy online.
Mandy Gina Leigh's Reviews
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Case Results (17)
Advocacy (14)
Recommendation (12)
General Knowledge (8)
Practice Area Knowledge (8)
Professionalism (8)
Compassion (6)
Communication Style (4)
Responsiveness (4)
Trustworthiness (4)
Character & Conduct (3)
Cost of Services (3)
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Showing 1 - 5 of 8 reviews | General Knowledge
Posted by Evelyn | December 17, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Education
Mandy Leigh is the real deal
Mandy Leigh handled my special education case with a level of skill and professionalism that immediately stood out. She was knowledgeable, prepared, and extremely organized, which mattered a lot because the process can be stressful and emotionally draining for families. Mandy explained each step c...
Posted by Sean | June 21, 2021 | Education
Scholar of the law and a fierce advocate
Mandy Leigh and her team are the most knowledgable, skilled and empathetic legal advocates for families with children who have special needs I know. When a school district is not being responsive or acknowledging the unique learning needs of one of my clients I connect them with Mandy. Mandy fights t...
Posted by Patricia | July 17, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Education
Mandy Leigh is Outstanding, Caring, Honest, Effective
Mandy worked with us to evaluate and improve our son's IEP, and later, helped guide us through our daughter's 504 meeting and to work through the lengthy process of getting her professionally evaluated and securing an IEP. Mandy is incredibly knowledgeable, and helped us greatly to evaluate our chil...
Posted by Raymond | July 08, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Education
Amazing
We have a daughter with special needs that was not being addressed in anyway by her school. Mandy helped us reach a settlement agreement that we were unsure was even possible with the School District. Mandy and her entire team communicated all the information and steps needed during the proces...
Posted by Joe | June 19, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Appeals
A Lawyer's Lawyer and good Communication
We knew we needed serious legal firepower, and found Leigh Law by looking at amicus briefs for key appeals in our case's field. That turned out to be a very good decision. Mandy is what you'd call a "lawyer's lawyer": knowledgeable about both the legal and human dynamics, with a formidable networ...
Mandy Gina Leigh's Lawyer Endorsements
"Mandy is a superb attorney, litigator, and mentor. She is deeply knowledgeable, strategic, tenacious, and compassionate. Our work requires advocating on behalf of children often with extremely complex and co-morbid academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and/or medical needs. Our clients often come to us in crisis and they need immediate help. Those moments are when Mandy shines. I greatly admire her ability to withstand the pressure and fight for our clients' needs and rights. I am a better lawyer because I work for and alongside her."
"Mandy is incredibly knowledgeable of education law and a fierce litigator."
"I endorse this lawyer. I worked closely with Ms. Leigh on several Education legal matters and she is by far the best attorney in this field for several outstanding reasons: First, she is highly skilled and an excellent negotiator; Second she is very tenacious and persevere; Third, her ethics and conduct is beyond reproach and she always puts the interests of her clients first. I wish more practitioners possessed her skills and dedication. I look forward to working with her in the future."
Michael Fiumara
Criminal defense lawyer
Experience
Honors
2020
Client's Choice, Avvo
2015
Client Distinction Award, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
America's Most Honored Professionals 2015 - Top 10%, America's Most Honored
2014
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Work Experience
2005 - Present
Partner, Leigh Law Group
2004 - 2005
Associate, Beeson, Tayer, & Bodine, PC
Associations
2003 - Present
Supreme Court of CaliforniaMember
2003 - Present
United States Ninth Circuit Court of AppealsMember
2003 - Present
United States District Court – Northern CaliforniaMember
2003 - Present
United States District Court– Eastern CaliforniaMember
2003 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
Sample of Legal Cases
J.B. v. Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools et al
Parents received monetary and school based remedies which greatly improved the student's life.
Education
2002
Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center
JD - Juris Doctor
1993
University of Florida
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2015
COPAA 17th Annual Conference (San Diego, CA)
Autism and Special Education
Publications
2018
Languages
Portuguese
Spanish
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can an assistant principal share personal information about a parent (without consent) with a child, that is not school-related?
16 Apr 2021
Q&A
What should I say or ask the school principal?
18 Nov 2020
Q&A
We are seeking an attorney who deals with education, particularly cases involving abuse of children with special needs.
08 May 2017