Amanda J. Cordova is a Partner in Lozano Smith's Los Angeles and San Diego Offices. Ms. Cordova represents public school districts, county offices of education, and special education local plan areas, focusing on various aspects of education law with a concentration on special education and student issues.
Experience
Ms. Cordova advises clients in all aspects of special education law under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including compliance, investigations with the Office for Civil Rights and California Department of Education, and representation at IEP meetings, resolution sessions, mediations, due process hearings, and federal appellate proceedings. For instance, Ms. Cordova successfully represented a large school district in a due process case and subsequent appeal in federal court and obtained an entirely favorable outcome on behalf of a small school district in response to an Office for Civil Rights complaint related to facility accessibility.
Education
Ms. Cordova received her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Irvine School of Law (cum laude), and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Law & Society, from the University of California, San Diego. While in law school, Ms. Cordova was a Staff Editor and Research Editor for the UC Irvine Law Review. In addition, she was a student leader for the Education Rights Project, a pro bono project where she provided Know-Your-Rights presentations and direct representation in special education matters.
Who has the authority to make educational decisions for a student? In this episode, host Michelle Cannon is joined by Lozano Smith attorneys Amanda Cordova and Anna Wood to discuss the legal framework surrounding educational rights, including special education considerations. The conversation explores custody arrangements, caregiver authority, AB 495, and when students hold their own educational rights. Join us as we explore practical guidance for navigating custody orders and other common educational rights issues faced by school districts.
In this Lozano Smith Podcast episode, host Sloan Simmons talks with Lozano Smith special education attorneys Kendra Tovey and Amanda Cordova regarding independent study in the context of special education students in light of the now existing independent study legal framework post-pandemic.
