What can I solve for you?

I fully recognize the many challenges my clients encounter, and I work diligently to ease their legal worries so they can focus on fulfilling their important mission to help kids learn. Bringing deep and broad knowledge of the many issues that arise in special education, student services and due process hearings, I help education professionals comply with the law, address complaints and resolve disputes.

What's it like to work with me?

I’m driven to do everything in my power to make sure that an appropriate education is not just a privilege but a right for every child. I thoroughly enjoy working directly with administrators and others to figure out exactly what they and their organizations need. While it’s very gratifying to focus on and resolve issues of individual students, it’s also highly rewarding to help clients improve policies districtwide so that many children benefit for years to come.

Top Issues in My Practice

“I hope to do everything that I can to make sure that an appropriate education is not just a privilege, but rather a right for every child.”

Overview

Diverse experience and passion for helping clients, Ankita Sheth advises school districts, county offices of education and special education local plan areas on student issues across all facets of special education law and student services. She adeptly represents clients in due process hearings and guides them in fulfilling their duties under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and related California laws and regulations.

Clients bring Ankita a variety of student-related questions involving discipline, safety, speech and expression, records privacy, banned substances and many others. They appreciate her excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to connect with them on a personal level, and professional yet relatable manner. Ankita always takes the time to break down complex topics, set specific matters in a larger context, and talk through ways that similar problems can be addressed and prevented in the future.

Ankita’s background greatly enriches her ability to serve clients today. She previously practiced at an education law firm where she worked at on a variety of special education and student matters, with a focus on charter schools. Prior to that, during law school, Ankita was an associate editor of the Pepperdine Law Review and earned the Best Oral Advocate award at the Traynor Moot Court competition. During that time, she also externed for the Criminal High Court of the Ugandan Judiciary through the Pepperdine Global Justice Program and interned in the general counsel offices of Marvel Entertainment and Bruce Lee Enterprises.

Experience Highlights

  • Pepperdine Law Review, Associate Editor

Externships

  • Externed for the Criminal High Court of the Ugandan Judiciary through the Pepperdine Global Justice Program

Internships

  • Marvel Entertainment, VSP Office of the General Counsel, and Bruce Lee Enterprises

Recognition

  • Awarded Best Oral Advocate at the Traynor Moot Court competition

After School

I’m very close to my family and friends, so I prioritize spending time with them and staying connected electronically if we’re not in the same city. My husband and I love to travel whenever we get the chance. I also enjoy hiking, board games and reading, especially biographies and other thought-provoking non-fiction.

Education

  • Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D., Certificate in Dispute Resolution, cum laude)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., Political Science; Minor, Education Studies)

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • California

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