Top Lawyers: Jennifer Chang, Special Education Attorney On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law
An Interview with Eric L. Pines
You have to be completely dedicated to your clients and their well-being as an attorney, especially when representing children. Passion keeps you focused and aligns your personal and professional goals with the success you reach for your clients and their families.
The legal field is known to be extremely competitive. Lawyers are often smart, ambitious, and highly educated. That being said, what does it take to stand out and become a “Top Lawyer” in your specific field of law? In this interview series called “5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law”, we are talking to top lawyers who share what it takes to excel and stand out in your industry.
As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Chang.
Jennifer Chang is an education rights attorney who is a staunch advocate for the rights of children with special needs in the California public school system. With over a decade of experience in the complex laws of special education, she has had great success assisting students with disabilities and their families to understand and exercise their legal rights and receive the services they are entitled to under the law. Equally important to Jennifer’s practice is helping the families of students with special needs learn to advocate for themselves and their children, and hold the school system accountable when it comes to providing equal educational opportunities.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit more. What is the “backstory” that brought you to this particular career path in Law? Did you want to be an attorney “when you grew up”?
Growing up in an Asian household, the expectation was to either become a doctor or a lawyer. From a young age, I gravitated toward law, which was further encouraged when my 5th-grade teacher asserted that my talkative nature would be a great skill to have as an attorney.
Coming from an immigrant family, and growing up in an immigrant community where English was a second language for many families, including my own, it was not uncommon to see and hear about other children getting into legal trouble and the lack of rights observed on their behalf.
I learned about District Attorney’s offices from television shows that romanticized the image of an attorney in court, litigating for the rights of people who needed a powerful advocate. I decided to become a DA and work with juvenile delinquents.
In pursuit of my dream, I started working at a firm at a young age, first as a receptionist, then as a legal assistant. While interning for the DA’s Office in the Juvenile Delinquent Department as a student at Southwestern Law School, I learned that, logistically, the work of a DA is not departmental and would require me to work with adult criminals and not only with juvenile delinquents.
A professor advised me to attend the Southwestern’s Children’s Rights Clinic which provides representation to low-income children in the areas of school discipline, special education, and other education-related issues. I found the clinic’s work to be extremely rewarding and fulfilling of my goal to make a difference in someone’s life.
During my time at the clinic, I noticed that not a single Asian family utilized the available services. The stigma of seeking professional services for a non-visible disability runs deep in my culture despite the need that I knew existed in the Korean American communities. I asked my professor to write an article about the clinic’s work for the local Korean newspaper, but my professor was reluctant since a published piece would imply that Korean language services would always be available at the clinic. She did not want to turn away Korean-speaking families if there was not a Korean-speaking law student at the clinic.
In realizing that my community needed someone they could trust, and after passing the bar in 2012, I decided to take things into my own hands which eventually led me to open my own practice, founded on the principle of protecting the rights of children with disabilities and promoting self-advocacy for their parents.
Can you tell us a bit about the nature of your practice and what you focus on?
By law, all children have the right to a free and appropriate public education. My work protects students with disabilities and ensures they receive the curriculum and services they require from public schools in order to be provided access to general education. While some disabilities are apparent, others can manifest in many ways, causing students to struggle and fall behind academically. Schools are expected to identify these students and develop appropriate plans to provide them with services including therapies, individualized instruction, one to one assistance among many others. Without appropriate advocacy, many times students do not receive the services they require or are mistreated by the district due to how a disability presents itself.
While the core of my practice focuses on special education law and protecting students with disabilities, I am also passionate about educating Korean American families and helping them navigate the complexities of advocating for their children while language poses a barrier. When I began my practice, I reached out to the Korean American community in many ways including publishing an article for the Korean American Community Newspaper, Korean Joongang Daily, to bring awareness and education to parents about available resources and opportunities for advocacy for students with special needs.
You are a successful attorney. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? What unique qualities do you have that others may not? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Passion, learning, and perseverance.
In order to be a successful attorney, it is key to be passionate and develop a personal connection to your work. My passion to help children and families keeps me committed and connected to what I do and reminds me of who I am helping in the process.
It is also important to be a lifelong learner and continue to develop yourself as an attorney after your formal education. Attending conferences will open the door for new skills, perspectives and topics that you can adapt to your practice. Networking will help you make connections within your scope of practice and beyond. Take opportunities to attend conferences, networking events, and fundraisers to meet people from all over the country as well as internationally. Special Education Law is a unique area of law and I regularly find myself to be the only special education attorney in the room at any given event. I am able to promote myself and share a lot about my practice areas within circles of law.
During Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing, she talked about walking around Harvard thinking that she didn’t belong. One person came up to her and told her to persevere. That story resonated deeply with me and I continue to remind myself of what I have overcome and what I am capable of overcoming with perseverance. When I explain the concept of perseverance I like to use a football analogy: most of us start life around the 20-yard line. Some of us are lucky to start at the 50+ yard line and some of us only at the 1-yard line. No matter where you start, you, as the quarterback of your life, must march downfield to the goal line. Sometimes you’ll advance yards at a time, and sometimes you’ll lose some yards. Keep focus and move forward, don’t allow your start line or circumstances to get in the way of your growth and success.
Throughout the process of becoming a special education rights attorney, I realized that I had a learning disability of my own. The challenges I thought I faced due to learning English as a second language learner were actually due to dyslexia, dysgraphia, and auditory processing issues. In school, I was a slow reader, and my difficulties were apparent in my scores and tests. I figured out on my own that I did well with a lot of visuals and was able to adapt my learning style to be successful as a student.
My challenges in school have allowed me to be more relatable to my clients and truly understand children and families with similar concerns. I see the importance of ensuring students with disabilities receive early access to services and equal opportunities to avoid disinterest or dislike of education and learning.
Do you think you have had luck in your success? Can you explain what you mean?
Luck is different for everyone. For me, I was lucky enough to be able to put myself in the position to meet the right people throughout the start and development of my practice. I was fortunate to build relationships with some wonderful colleagues who have supported me along the way, providing the right advice at pivotal moments.
Do you think where you went to school has any bearing on your success? How important is it for a lawyer to go to a top-tier school?
It is my experience that where you attend school bears small influence on the success of your career as an attorney. When someone seeks out an attorney, they are looking for help and support for a specific concern. Ultimately, it is the connections you make and the reputation you build based on your results and reviews that determine your success. Do good work that you are passionate about and success will follow.
Based on the lessons you have learned from your experience, if you could go back in time and speak to your twenty-year-old self, what would you say? Would you do anything differently?
I would tell my younger self to be confident and do your best. Before I realized I had a learning disability, I was constantly struggling and often left disappointed. School was hard and my test scores didn’t reflect the effort that I was putting into my degrees. What most people don’t realize about individuals with disabilities is how much harder they have to work in order to achieve the same results. One particular course in Law School — Constitutional Law — was especially challenging for me. The course had a lot of language-based content with very few visuals but I was able to dig deep and find creative ways to succeed. Constitutional Law was far from the only academic challenge I faced, but the experience taught me to not give up, to keep hitting the pavement, and that hard work pays off.
During the first five years of my practice, when I was really still developing my professional identity, practice areas, and brand, I also married my husband and started a family. I found that as a mother, my understanding of my work changed. I was better able to empathize with clients and brought more understanding and compassion into client relationships. My new perspective helped me shift my practice and my goals to better serve families and meet their needs.
This is not easy work. What is your primary motivation and drive behind the work that you do?
My motivation stems from being able to provide help and support to families who have nowhere else to turn. Surrounding communities are diverse, and I regularly see immigrant families that remind me of how I grew up. Being able to give back to these families and help children experience a positive and encouraging academic experience so they are prepared for a fulfilling future is my priority.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Giving back to the communities that supported me is important to me. I am involved in a number of sponsorships and educational programs that help make education more accessible to individuals and families. I want to teach my own children about philanthropy, working hard, and giving back. They are growing up with a much different childhood than I had with a lot more opportunities available to them and I want to role model kindness and the importance of community.
The Clinic at Southwestern Law School was pivotal in my path as a Special Education Attorney. I established a scholarship program to assist the next generation of attorneys at the Clinic with their education. Each semester the program awards a scholarship to a first-generation Clinic student. Additional funds are provided to the Clinic twice a year to support the pro-bono services they provide to underserved families in the community. Since I began giving back, the program has continued to grow with more first-generation students than ever before and I am eager to find more ways to support them.
Another project that is close to my heart is the work of Training Individuals for Grassroots Education Reform (TIGER) at the Learning Rights Law Center in Los Angeles. The program teaches families in need about special education and trains them on how to advocate for themselves across the public education system. Since 2016, I have taught TIGER classes in Korean to help bridge the cultural divide between Korean American families and local school districts.
I find that being a part of bar associations is a wonderful way to network and give back. I am a 2021–2022 Fellow in the Leadership Advancement Program for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), I serve on the Advisory Board for the Korean American Special Education Center, and I am a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), among other organizations.
Where do you go from here? Where do you aim to be in the next chapter of your career?
I have several female colleagues who work in education law. It is my goal to join forces with them and build a minority female education service law firm that can handle any issues within education. A team of strong women demonstrates a lot of power to other female and minority law students and attorneys. In addition to advocating for students’ rights, I am very passionate about elevating the legal profession by creating a voice for more female attorneys. I want to be the role model I didn’t have as a young attorney and empower and bring worth to outliers.
Without sharing anything confidential, can you please share your most successful “war story”? Can you share the funniest?
Although not a “war story,” my very first case was a tough, noteworthy, and inspiring case that I often reflect on throughout my career. I took a pro-bono opportunity for a Korean mom who was living at a women’s shelter with her son. Her son, who has autism, was being bullied at school and she was seeking out every possible way to help him. I went to the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting as her representative and was able to establish a safety plan for the boy. I had so much respect for this woman, for having the courage to share her story, seek help, and advocate for her son despite the odds stacked against them and the cultural shame that would have likely held others back. The time and effort that it took for her to seek out my help and stand up for her son at his school was exceptional.
I have learned how to stand my ground and not be “scared off” by aggressive opposing counsel. Even today, there are male attorneys who see female counsel as weak and attempt to sway counsel by being a bully or condescending. There was one case in particular where a longstanding male attorney was particularly aggressive in an attempt to get me to settle a case rather than take it to trial. His intimidation tactics did not work, and ultimately, the attorney gave in and we settled with very favorable terms for my client.
Ok, fantastic. Let’s now shift to discussing some advice for aspiring lawyers. Do you work remotely? Onsite? Or Hybrid? What do you think will be the future of how law offices operate? What do you prefer? Can you please explain what you mean?
Stick to what you are passionate about and keep in mind why you went to law school. Doing so will set the tone for the kind of attorney you want to be. Chasing after a path that you don’t find fulfilling will lead you to burnout, which is all too common in the field of law. When you do what you love, it’s no longer a job, but a passion.
Before COVID, I only went into the office to meet clients. Since everything has shifted, and even hearings are virtual, I work remotely. I have found that it is much easier to connect and communicate with parents virtually and it provides flexibility for a busy family.
Connecting with people and organizations is still a large part of the legal profession and continued education for lawyers. I enjoy attending conferences and networking events to help stay connected with the friendships and partnerships I have developed in the industry.
How has the legal world changed since COVID? How do you think it might change in the near future? Can you explain what you mean?
While COVID brought many challenges to the legal profession, the forced flexibility offered lawyers, firms, and the legal system an opportunity to change and adopt new practices. Since the pandemic, a lot of interactions both between lawyers and clients and within the judicial system remain virtual. Zoom is utilized a lot and it doesn’t seem likely to revert back to completely face-to-face anytime soon. People are looking for more opportunities to connect; conference attendance has increased and those in attendance include more students and lawyers from different practice areas and geographical regions.
COVID also seems to have created a new sense of understanding within the legal profession. People are more open to flexibility, there is less pressure in many situations, and individuals have a kinder way of handling issues.
The wide acceptance of Zoom and other communication technologies has eliminated many meeting complications for families and districts such as distance and time restraints as the capacity to hold meetings virtually has drastically increased. I am now able to better connect with and represent families in rural areas who may have missed out on legal services in the past due to transportation and travel restrictions.
Based on your experience, how can attorneys effectively leverage social media to build their practice?
Social media is a great story-telling platform and has amazing potential to help you celebrate your work and accomplishments and expand connections to colleagues, organizations, clients and many others. The important thing to remember with social media is what works for one firm or lawyer might not work for you. Devote your time to your strengths and lawyering. If you are not proficient with ever-changing social media platforms, I recommend doing what you do best and hiring others to do the rest — work with a marketing firm that can handle your distinct needs and help you develop your online presence.
Excellent. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law?” Please share a story or an example for each.
The five qualities of a top lawyer in education law are passion, gratitude, lifelong learning, self-care, and giving back.
You have to be completely dedicated to your clients and their well-being as an attorney, especially when representing children. Passion keeps you focused and aligns your personal and professional goals with the success you reach for your clients and their families.
Gratitude will take you far as a lawyer. Even the smallest potential clients that come through your door can be pivotal to your career. Seemingly small cases can lead to much more due to connections, impact, and the quality of your work. You want your name to be the referral shared by clients and your gratitude can be the catalyst for that.
In addition to achieving continuing legal education credits, it is key for lawyers to be life-long learners. Conferences and panel discussions can provide a wealth of information and perspectives across many areas of law within your concentration and there is always room to learn from experienced lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals.
We have all heard the saying, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” This remains especially true in law where we are often emotionally burdened by the injustices we see our clients face on a daily basis and our stressful, demanding roles that leave us exhausted. We have long hours and late nights that can impact our sleep, mental health, and wellness. In order to be a good advocate for my clients I need to be mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy. I make the time to exercise, get massages to release tension, and turn off my phone and email notifications after a certain time. Spending meaningful time with my family and scheduling time off from work to relax or vacation rejuvenates me so I am able to be present and productive in both my personal and professional life.
Giving back to the communities that contributed to your development as an individual and a professional is a great way to connect with the people and organizations in and around your practice. Aligning your philanthropy efforts with your professional mission can help guide your purpose and build your image as you meet new people. The Clinic at Southwestern Law was such an important part of my path as an attorney, I enjoy being able to stay connected to the program and its growth.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might see this. :-)
Michelle Obama is a remarkable person and she represents many of the ideals I want to help develop among my community, young people, and my practice. Her work to inspire women, no matter their race or background, as well as empower young girls is incredible. Her passion, grace, class, and down-to-earth perspectives are magnetic and I can learn much from her.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!
About the Interviewer: Eric L. Pines is a nationally recognized federal employment lawyer, mediator, and attorney business coach. He represents federal employees and acts as in-house counsel for over fifty thousand federal employees through his work as a federal employee labor union representative. A formal federal employee himself, Mr. Pines began his federal employment law career as in-house counsel for AFGE Local 1923 which is in Social Security Administration’s headquarters and is the largest federal union local in the world. He presently serves as AFGE 1923’s Chief Counsel as well as in-house counsel for all FEMA bargaining unit employees and numerous Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs unions.
While he and his firm specialize in representing federal employees from all federal agencies and in reference to virtually all federal employee matters, his firm has placed special attention on representing Veteran Affairs doctors and nurses hired under the authority of Title. He and his firm have a particular passion in representing disabled federal employees with their requests for medical and religious reasonable accommodations when those accommodations are warranted under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (ADA). He also represents them with their requests for Federal Employee Disability Retirement (OPM) when an accommodation would not be possible.
Mr. Pines has also served as a mediator for numerous federal agencies including serving a year as the Library of Congress’ in-house EEO Mediator. He has also served as an expert witness in federal court for federal employee matters. He has also worked as an EEO technical writer drafting hundreds of Final Agency Decisions for the federal sector.
Mr. Pines’ firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has offices in Baltimore, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia. His first passion is his wife and five children. He plays classical and rock guitar and enjoys playing ice hockey, running, and biking. Please visit his websites at www.pinesfederal.com and www.toughinjurylawyers.com. He can also be reached at eric@pinesfederal.com.
