About Diane

Biography

Practice Areas

While my specialty is the law for children with special needs, I also represent children with education issues not related to special education. I can provide help with almost any educational issue, including discipline hearings for suspension or expulsion.

29 years | 1,050 cases

95%

Guardianship 5%

When you need help establishing or maintaining a guardianship, conservatorship, or temporary fiduciary, Wiscarson Law can assist you throughout all phases of the process. We are knowledgeable about the intricacies of State requirements. We will discuss with you the extent to which your loved one is unable to independently manage their personal or financial matters, help decide which kind of fiduciary best fits their needs, and then file the necessary paperwork to commence the proceeding.

15 years

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 23 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2002

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Oregon for 29 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 1996

Active

No misconduct found

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Location

Wiscarson Law, A Professional Corporation

3330 NW Yeon Ave, Suite 240, Portland, OR, 97210

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Diane Wiscarson's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

98 Client Reviews

5 star (95)

4 star (0)

3 star (0)

2 star (2) 1 star (1)

Showing 1 - 5 of 98 client reviews from Avvo

Posted by ruby | April 18, 2023 | Hired Attorney

Best SPED attorney!

I cannot say enough good things about Diane. I began working with an advocate at her firm when my son's IEP was not being followed, and when the district failed to meet with us to discuss the issues, she did not hesitate to jump in and represented us throughout our mediation. Because of her, my son n...ow has a solid IEP that he can take with him throughout high school and I gained the tools to better hold the school, admin, and district accountable to ensure my son never slips through their cracks again. From asking for more useful IEP accommodations, to demanding up-to-date assessments, to securing the paraprofessional my son needs to be successful in general education and ensuring remedies for multiple years of past services not delivered, Diane was a true fighter -- and, most importantly, a firm believer in my son and his rights to a quality education. My son is *finally* successful in school and no longer hesitates to attend. We could not have gotten here without Diane. My only regret is not hiring her / her team sooner!

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Posted by Robert VanderKloot | June 20, 2022 | Hired Attorney

Taylar Lewis at Wiscarson law is an excellent advocate

Taylar Lewis filed a due process motion against our school district on behalf of my son. She understood the law and the needs of nuero-diverse kids education. The district settled in mediation and provided resources for which we had denied for many years. With out her help I doubt my son could have ...graduated. I only wish I had hired her many years earlier. The value of the Wiscarson law's help exceeded the cost many times over.

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Posted by anonymous | May 23, 2022 | Hired Attorney

Diane is Fantastic and Changed the Trajectory of Our Child's Life!

We hired Diane to help us with a complex and difficult case involving our child's special education with our public school district. When I was interviewing attorneys, from the moment I first interviewed her, I knew she would be the one we hired. She is an exceptionally kind and brilliant attorney wh...o truly understands both the legal and emotional aspects involved with special education for special needs, twice exceptional children. Our situation taking over our case from another firm who didn't work out. She clearly explained the process, set expectations around timing and possible outcomes, and expenses in a way that we, as non-lawyers, could easily understand. She and her staff (shout to her colleague Taylar!) even expertly identified issues in our case which neither we nor the other firm had not noticed, giving us additional grounds for our due process complaint. Our case was so complicated that I think I the opening statement for the due process complaint was over 80 pages long! This may sound like hyperbole, but I mean this literally. I cannot think of anything Diane and her team could have done differently to make the case go smoother. Our case progressed to trial (a due process hearing with a Washington state Administrative Law Judge). Not only did we "win" our case, but we got pretty much everything we asked for. The Judge himself, in his written decision, commented on how appalling the school district's performance was, with respect to their handling of our child's special education. I am convinced this outcome would not have occurred if we had not selected Wiscarson Law. She truly changed the trajectory of our child's life in a deeply profound way, for which we will always be grateful. Bottom line: if you need an advocate or legal representation to help you with the special education of your child, run, not walk, to Diane's office. You'll be very glad you did!

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Posted by anonymous | March 9, 2022 | Hired Attorney

IEP

Diane ably shepherded us through the IEP meetings for 4 years. We would otherwise have been lost in the intricacies of this very confusing process.

Posted by Tyson | March 4, 2022 | Hired Attorney

Hire her now! Diane saved us from a mess of a situation

We reached out to Diane after realizing that we had got ourselves into a mess of a situation with another attorney that we hired for our case. Diane stepped in and absolutely saved us and allowed us to get the max return for our situation. She is a pleasure to work with, a wealth of knowledge, and ha...s a genuine care for her clients and the students that she helps. I still use Diane for ongoing support and would highly recommend her as the very best special education attorney in the Pacific Northwest. Her and her team are top-notch! Hire her new!

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Diane Wiscarson's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Diane

Steven Ungar

Education lawyer | Aug 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Diane receives my highest commendation for her superb work in a one of the most difficult environments to practice law in. I know Diane as a colleague (I'm a litigator) and as a client. She has successfully represented our 9 year old son, who has numerous special education needs which were not being met by the public school district. Diane's forceful yet professional intervention on his behalf was invaluable. The district has been far more willing to recognize our son's special learning style and his learning needs since Diane was retained as our advocate. I can't say enough good things about her ability and effectiveness. And a big plus: she is a pleasure to work with."

Rebecca Boughton

Education lawyer | Jul 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Diane is very knowledgeable and a model for integrity - she gives attorneys a good name!! I appreciate her non-confrontational, common sense, and practical approach."

Kim Covington

Education lawyer | Jul 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I am a lawyer who has practiced law for 14 years. Diane is an amazing lawyer. Her professionalism, knowledge of the law, preparedness and compassion make her an excellent attorney. Diane was the attorney who assisted my family for education advocacy within the public school system. There was no one else who could have handled this matter with a better outcome, and again, with more compassion. Diane is always 100% prepared for every hearing, meeting or other court action. Diane is ethical, zealous and concerned that she conclude a case with the best overall result for her client."

Tasha Cosimo

Education lawyer | Oct 21

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Diane is one of the most exceptional attorneys I have ever had the privilege to work for. Diane is committed to her clients and puts the needs of each individual child first in every situation. I highly recommend Diane for any family who needs help navigating the world of special education. Diane's knowledge of special education law is unmatched in the Oregon and Washington legal communities. Diane is the ideal ally when working with schools to establish individual plans to meet your child's needs while fostering strong relationships between the family and the school."

David McDonald

Education lawyer | Jul 24

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Diane Wiscarson is a tenacious, thoughtful and determined advocate for students with disabilities and educational special needs. We have had several cases in common. In all instances, Diane effectively defended the child's needs and assured that the child was obtaining the services legally required and necessary for the child's overall social and intellectual development. In addition, Diane helps the parents understand and embrace the child's ability to advance despite the potential impediments."

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Kim Covington

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

David McDonald

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating: 9.0 (Superb)

Honors

2011

BV Distinguished: Very High Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, LexisNexis, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review

2011

2010 Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association, Board of Governors

2010

2009 Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association, Board of Governors

2010

BV Distinguished: Very High Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Martindale-Hubbell

2009

Pro Bono Challenge - Honorable Mention, Oregon State Bar

1997

Arbitrator of the Year, Better Business Bureau of Oregon

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Work Experience

2001 - Present

Attorney, Wiscarson Law, A Professional Corporation

1996 - 2001

Attorney, Steinman Cooper Wiscarson, LLC.

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Associations

2014 - Present

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Admitted to Practice

2014 - Present

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee

Committee Member

2010 - Present

Washington State Bar Association, Administrative Law Section

Member

2009 - Present

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

Member

2005 - Present

Oregon Women Lawyers Association

Member

2003 - Present

Program Planning Committee for the Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Committee Member

2003 - Present

United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

Admitted to Practice in

2002 - Present

Dispute Resolution Committee, a State Advisory Committee for the Oregon Department of Education

Committee Member

2002 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2001 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Disability Law Section

Member

1997 - Present

United States District Court for the District of Oregon

Admitted to Practice in

1996 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Member

1996 - Present

Oregon Women Lawyers Association

Member

1996 - Present

United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit

Admitted to Practice in

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Sample of Legal Cases

In the Matter of Forest Grove School District #15 Case No. 14-054-013

The parents prevailed in an Oregon Department of Education (ODE) State Complaint against the district.

In the Matter of Kennewick School District Special Education Cause No. 2012-SE-0033

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in a due process hearing found that the district procedurally and substantively violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2013

Wiscarson Law settled 93.75% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2013 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

In the Matter of the Education of Student and Forest Grove School District Case No. DP 13-104

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in a due process hearing found that the district substantively violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2012

Wiscarson Law settled 63.64% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2012 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

In the Matter of the Education of Student and Central Curry School District Case No. DP 11-127

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found the district denied the student a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

In the Matter of the Education of Student and West Linn-Wilsonville School District Case No. DP 11-122

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found the district denied the student a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

In the Matter of the Education of Student and Forest Grove School District Case No. DP 11-131

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found that the district denied the student a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

In the Matter of Eugene School District Case No. 12-054-002

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) found no district violation when the parents filed a State Complaint.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2011

Wiscarson Law has settled 93.75% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2011 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

In the Matter of the Education of Student and Eugene School District Case No. DP 10-116

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found that the district failed to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2010

Wiscarson Law settled 88.24% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2010 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

In the Matter of Portland School District 1J Case No. 10-054-013

The parent prevailed in an Oregon Department of Education (ODE) State Complaint against the district when the parent challenged the district’s policy for Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs).

Oregon Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Reference No. 10091289

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) entered into a resolution agreement. ODE is now required to offer all disabled and nondisabled students an equal number of opportunities to take the statewide assessment.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2009

Wiscarson Law settled 90.91% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2001 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

In the Matter of Eagle Point School District, Case No. 09-054-027

The parents prevailed in an Oregon Department of Education (ODE) State Complaint against the district.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2008

Wiscarson Law settled 83.33% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2008 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

In the Matter of the Education of Student and Riverdale School District Case No. DP 08-101

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found that the district failed to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2007

Wiscarson Law settled 100% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2007 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2006

Wiscarson Law settled 100% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2006 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2005

Wiscarson Law settled 100% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2005 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2004

Wiscarson Law settled 60.00% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2004 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

In the Matter of Vancouver School DIstrict, Special Education Cause No. 2003-SE-0137

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found that the district failed to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE).of the residential placement costs based on Greenland Sch. Dist. V. Amy N., 358 F.3d 150 (1st Cir. 2004).

In the Matter of Colton School District, Case No. 04-054-033

The parent prevailed in an Oregon Department of Education (ODE) State Complaint against the district.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2003

Wiscarson Law settled 100% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2003 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2002

Wiscarson Law settled 100% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2002 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2001

Wiscarson Law settled 100% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2001 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

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Education

1996

Northwestern School of Law Lewis & Clark College

Juris Doctor

1979

University of California - Berkeley

BS - Bachelor of Science

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Speaking Engagements

2015

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Ethics Seminar: Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Education Law

2014

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Ethics Seminar: Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Education Law

2014

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Effective Use of Mediation in Resolving Special Education Disputes

2013

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Developing and Writing Appropriate IEPS - A Different Perspective

2013

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Education Law

2012

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Ethics Seminar: Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Education Law

2012

Clatskanie School District, Classified Staff Inservice

FAPE, Confidentiality, and other Special Education Issues: A Conversational Work session

2011

rise 22nd Annual Parent Conference Ask the Attorney: A unique opportunity to have an outstanding special education attorney answer your questions about evaluations, FAPE, IEPs, placement, LRE, due process, or anything else related to special education law.

2011

Portland Public Schools Speech Language Pathologist Professional Development Workshop

Issues in Special Education

2011

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Q & A – Ask the Experts

2011

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Ethics Seminar: Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Education Law

2011

ODE/COSA Fall Conference for Special Education Administrators Effective Mediation

2011

Longview Public Schools Staff Training

What an Attorney Looks for in a Student's Educational Records

2010

University of Washington College of Education 27th Annual Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Due Process Hearing Procedures: Diane Wiscarson and Graham Hicks. This workshop will include practical tips for preparing for and conducting a due process hearing.

2010

University of Washington College of Education 27th Annual Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Scrutinizing IEPs:Diane F. Wiscarson and Elaine Eberharter-Maki. This mini-course will focus on effectively and efficiently writing IEPs that are accurate, appropriate, descriptive and measurable.

2010

Special Education Mediator Training Oregon Department of Education

Drafting Complete and Accurate Settlement Agreements: Diane Wiscarson and Graham Hicks

2010

Eleventh Annual Conference on Special Student Populations and the Law

Ramifications of New Federal Mandates; Section 504, IDEA and FERPA, a parents' perspective

2010

Eleventh Annual Conference on Special Student Populations and the Law

Building Positive Relationships

2010

"The Wisdom Among Us" Statewide Annual Conference Qualifying for Special Education

2009

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Building Positive Relationships

2009

Building Futures: Secondary Transition to College and Employment

Age of Majority – A guide for Parents

2008

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Building Positive Relationships

2008

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Ethics for Special Education Attorneys: Real-Life Survival Stories

2008

LRP’s 29th National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities

Ethics for Special Education Attorneys: Real-Life Survival Stories

2007

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Building Positive Relationships

2006

St. Helens School District

Effective Parent Relations and Working with Difficult Parents

2006

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Working with Difficult People

2005

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Working with Difficult People

2005

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

Residential Placement Cases: Child Find Nightmares

2005

Oregon PTI Annual Statewide Conference

Special Education Law: 9th Circuit Cases and IDEA ’04 Updates

2005

Oregon Conference on Direct Supports 2005

Attorneys’ Tips For Effective Advocacy While Navigating The IEP Maze

2005

Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) Rookie Academy Mentorship Program

Effective Parent Relations and Working With Angry and Difficult Parents

2005

Cascade School District

Effective Parent Relations and Working With Angry and Difficult Parents

2005

Beaverton School District Staff Development Workshop

Effective Parent Relations and Working With Angry and Difficult Parents

2004

Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) 2004 Special Education Conference

Effective Parent Relations and Working With Angry and Difficult Parents

2004

Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) Rookie Academy Mentorship Program

Effective Parent Relations and Working With Angry and Difficult Parents

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Publications

2013

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Educaiton Law

2012

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Education Law

2011

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the Practice of Special Education Law

2009

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Building Positive Relationships

2008

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Ethics for Special Education Attorneys: Real-Life Survival Stories

2008

LRP’s 29th National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities Ethics for Special Education Attorneys: Real-Life Survival Stories

2006

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Working with Difficult People

2005

Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law Residential Placement Cases: Child Find Nightmares

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