Helping Children and Families

Boutique Chicagoland Law Services

Hansen and Cleary, Illinois Special Education & Mental Health Law Attorneys

Hansen & Cleary, LLC is a boutique law practice focusing on the representation of children and families, individuals with disabilities, medical and mental health professionals, private schools and other non-profit agencies in the greater Chicagoland area and throughout the State of Illinois.

Our mission is to offer the highest quality counsel to families, schools and organizations, and private clinicians.  Together with our clients we provide solution-focused and success-oriented guidance.  Whether we are advocating for a more appropriate array of services for a school-aged child or working with a private practice or private school client to meet its legal needs, we offer very attentive and personalized service.

From psychiatrists to psychologists to social workers to speech-language pathologists to educational advocates to educational consultants to attorneys, we work with a wide array of professionals who serve children and adults with disabilities. We are proud of our many, and varied, strategic partnerships which bring even greater strength to our client relationships.

Our goal is to provide clarity, experience-based insight and strategic counsel for all matters of legal importance to families, clinicians and organizations.

Our experience with mental health law and disability law is a powerful tool you can trust.  Contact us to learn more today.

Contact Us Today

Contact Us Today

Have questions or need legal assistance? Reach out to our experienced team for trusted advice and personalized support.

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Focused Legal Solutions for Families, Schools, and Professionals

At Hansen & Cleary, LLC, we provide personalized, solution-driven counsel to children, families, individuals with disabilities, and the organizations that support them. Discover how we can help you navigate your unique legal challenges with care and expertise.

Special Education Law

Hansen & Cleary, LLC helps families secure the educational services and accommodations their children with disabilities deserve. We guide clients through IEPs, 504 plans, and school disputes to ensure compliance with the law.

Mental Health

Hansen & Cleary, LLC supports mental health professionals in navigating confidentiality laws, responding to subpoenas, and addressing ethical concerns. We provide clear guidance to protect client privacy and ensure legal compliance.

IDFPR Law

We assist licensed professionals in matters involving the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. From defending against complaints to resolving disciplinary actions, our team protects your license and professional reputation.

Guardianship

We guide families through the legal process of establishing guardianship for minors or adults with disabilities. Our compassionate approach ensures your loved ones receive the care and protection they need.

Criminal Litigation

Hansen & Cleary, LLC provides skilled representation for individuals (juveniles & adults) facing criminal charges. We work tirelessly to protect your rights, build a strong defense, and achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

School Residency Laws

We assist families and schools in resolving disputes over student residency and enrollment. Whether addressing challenges from districts or advocating for compliance with residency requirements, we work to protect students’ educational access.

School Discipline

Hansen & Cleary, LLC advocate for students facing disciplinary actions, including suspensions and expulsions. Our team ensures fair procedures are followed and works to protect students’ rights and future opportunities.

DCFS, Child Welfare

Hansen & Cleary, LLC represent families in matters involving the Department of Children and Family Services, ensuring fair treatment and protecting parental rights. Our team navigates investigations, hearings, and appeals to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.

See what our educational and special needs law clients have to say:

“The first time we met Lara Cleary was when we were desperately seeking for help when our autistic son  6 years was getting beaten up in school almost every day. We were new to the school system culture having immigrated just a decade before to this country. She put us at ease, explained to us our rights and helped us in fighting the school to get the placement we wanted for him to be  safe. She visited our house, talked with our medical evaluators even called us during her family time/dinner time from home. In short she went far above and beyond. Lara works truly from her heart, because she cares and not for generating billable hours. Lara has been our friend ever since and we turn to her even today for advice.”

The P Family

“Dear Jenni – Now that the dust has settled a bit (and my head somewhat cleared), THANK YOU for all the listening and parsing, explaining, recommending and repeating all of that for months. Thanks for being expert enough to understand that [child’s name] needed more support and knowing how to get it for him. Thank you too for your patience and kindness, which are not on the bar exam, but were invaluable to our family in this process. I sincerely hope one day someone will help you the way you have done the same for us.”

The F Family

“Having Lara in our lives to navigate the Special Education system was a Godsend. I will always be forever grateful for her legal expertise and concern for my family. I felt a real connection with Lara; she took the time to explain the process so that we could understand. In the end my family received a great placement for our son, which I think, changed not only his life, but my life also. Over the years Lara and I have become friends, I’ve been able to ask her questions and get guidance for my Grandson, who is also a special needs student. Families choosing to work with Lara will be blessed, as I know I was.”

The R Family

“Jennifer helped our family gain approval for therapeutic day school placement. Then we engaged her again to tackle placement approval for a residential therapeutic school that focused on the specific challenges our daughter faces. Jennifer was successful in getting full funding from a very strapped Chicago Public School system. She accomplished this because she knows the law thoroughly and she is a very effective advocate. 18 months later, our daughter is back home and remarkably able to step back into a regular school. She would not have gotten all the help she needed without Jennifer’s help and skill. I recommend her wholeheartedly.”

The W Family