What can I solve for you?

Whether you’re facing compliance challenges, discrimination or harassment complaints, or student discipline concerns, I offer more than legal advice. I give you practical insights emphasizing equity and student outcomes and grounded in your day-to-day realities. My role is to help move from reactive problem solving to proactive, prevention-focused strategies—so you can anticipate risks, address issues early, and stay focused on your mission: educating students equitably.

What's it like to work with me?

I take the time to understand your priorities and context, then work with you to develop creative, realistic options tailored to your environment and that make sense for you. My approach combines legal precision with empathy, clarity, and a focus on your mission. Once we identify a path forward, I stay engaged and accessible, guiding you through each step. My goal is to make complex issues more manageable, support confident decision-making, and help you move forward with clarity and purpose.

Overview

Until recently an attorney at the U.S. Deptartment of Education (DOE), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Nezhia Burkes offers F3 Law clients the benefit of her deep experience in civil rights and education law, helping them to navigate complex issues in special education, student matters and employment matters, with strategies that are both legally sound and realistic for school environments. Her dedication extends to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals, empowering them to excel in safeguarding educational opportunities for all.

While at the DOE, Nezhia gained significant experience handling investigations and complaints, negotiating resolution agreements and bringing schools into compliance in matters involving race-, disability- and sex-based harassment and different treatment, post-secondary accommodations, and retaliation, among other issues. Her DOE role also allowed her to establish relationships with school districts, county offices of education and institutes of higher education, which she now continues in this different context.

Current client concerns include student safety; equity; budget; student services; or the rapidly shifting landscape following the issuance of Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” involving DEI. Given Nezhia’s OCR experience, and her deep understanding of both federal regulatory compliance and the interplay between federal and state, those clients will be more strongly situated with her at their side.

Nezhia is a first-generation college graduate with more than 20 years of combined public (military and federal civilian) service

After School

When I’m not working, I enjoy reading books (I am in a book club), recharging in nature, spending time with my ‘fur-babies’ and connecting with loved ones. Keeping a balance helps to keep my professional perspective sharp.

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • California

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