Highly regarded for her in-depth knowledge, strategic thinking and strong communication skills, Lee G. Rideout counsels school districts, county offices of education and special education local plan areas on navigating both their day-to-day legal issues and long-term, big-picture concerns. Lee represents clients in mediations, due process hearings, as well as discrimination and other claims. She also conducts personnel investigations, provides guidance regarding IEP team meetings, and advises on an array of compliance matters, including those that involve student discipline, appropriate delivery of services to students, employment and others.

Lee brings an ability to distill complex legal issues into clear and concise language, which clients appreciate. When they ask questions about difficult, sometimes arcane, areas of the law, Lee can usually rely on her many years of legal service and provide immediate, on-the-spot answers.

Earlier in her career, Lee served as assistant general counsel with the Atlanta Public Schools for four years, where she focused on special education and student matters. Additionally, she worked as an attorney advisor to the District of Columbia Public Schools for more than four years. During her tenure there, she provided legal services on a variety of special education and related matters. She also managed various special education class action lawsuits and represented the district in due process hearings as well as proceedings before the District of Columbia Contracts Appeals Board.

Because of this experience and others, Lee deeply respects diligent and dedicated work that special education professionals perform. Working in school districts also gave her an insider’s knowledge about the challenges they encounter, not the least of which are busy schedules and budgetary pressures. While she prides herself on her availability and responsiveness to clients’ needs, it’s important to her to foster self-reliance in her clients so they don’t always have to call her for help. But when they do need her help, Lee does all she can to address their concerns and offer support.