About Hansen and Cleary, LLC
Jennifer Hansen and Lara Cleary founded Hansen & Cleary, LLC to meet a growing need.
Many children and young adults are simply not receiving the appropriate services they require in order to meet their educational needs.
Increasingly, private clinicians, private schools and other organizations are in need of legal proficiency and experienced litigators in order to navigate professionally in our complex world. Jennifer and Lara bring their depth of legal knowledge, professionalism, and solution-focused practice to their clients.
Jennifer Hansen
Jennifer Hansen is a partner with the law firm of Hansen & Cleary, LLC. Ms. Hansen focuses her practice on the areas of special education law, school residency, school discipline matters, mental health law, probate and guardianship matters, criminal and civil litigation for juveniles and adults, confidentiality issues, bullying investigations, post-secondary education matters (including appealing post-secondary dismissals), DCFS and child welfare matters, school employment issues, and domestic relations as a Guardian ad Litem, Child’s Representative, and/or Attorney for the Child.
Lara Cleary
Lara Cleary is a partner with the law firm of Hansen & Cleary, LLC. Her law practice is concentrated in the areas of special education and other disability law, school law, mental health and confidentiality of information, and representation of hospitals, non-profits, schools and mental health professionals.
Mauriel Henry
Mauriel Henry is a Paralegal at Hansen & Cleary, LLC. Mauriel Henry received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in 2019. Interested in the legal profession and advocating for others, Ms. Henry enrolled at South Suburban College for a Paralegal Certificate in 2020. She also began working for Hansen & Cleary later that same year. Ms. Henry completed her Paralegal Certificate in 2022.
Nuwani Irizarry
Nuwani Irizarry is an Associate Attorney with the law firm of Hansen & Cleary, LLC. Ms. Irizarry worked in elementary and special education, as well as school administration in Mississippi from 2016-2021. She then attended law school at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, where she graduated in 2024. There, she was a Student Attorney with the Juvenile Law Clinic, competed and helped coach Mock Trial, and wrote on the Tulane Journal of Law & Sexuality.
Summer Ardell
Summer C. Ardell is an associate with the law firm of Hansen & Cleary, LLC. Ms. Ardell focuses her practice on the areas of special education law, school discipline matters, mental health law, probate and guardianship matters, confidentiality issues, bullying investigations, and post-secondary education matters (including appealing post-secondary dismissals and Title IX matters).
Illinois Cities Where We Practice Special Education Law
We are proud to travel across the State to serve our clients’ needs. Below is an example of some of the counties and cities where we currently practice special education law services.
