LARA A. CLEARY is a partner with the law firm of Hansen & Cleary, LLC. Her law practice is concentrated in the areas of special education law, disability law, school law, mental health law, confidentiality of information, and representation of hospitals, non-profits, schools and mental health professionals.
Ms. Cleary has spent her entire law career helping children and families. Lara received her law degree from DePaul University School of Law in 1998 and her B.S. in Education, summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993. Before becoming an attorney, Lara was a special education teacher for the Chicago Public Schools. In 2001, Ms. Cleary founded the special education law firm of Whitted and Cleary with law partner and mentor, Brooke Whitted. Ms. Cleary was honored to practice law with Mr. Whitted for 15 years prior to his passing.
Lara is a popular speaker on the topic of special education law and was an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine for many years. Lara has served on several non-profit boards and is currently appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association – Education Law Section Council as Vice-Chair.
Ms. Cleary is married to Casey Crnich and has two wonderful children, Cooper and Caroline.
Areas of Law Practice:
- Child Welfare Law
- Mental Health Law
- Confidentiality of Information
- Special Education Law
- Disability Law
- School Law
- Non-Profit Law
Education
- DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois – 1998 J.D.
- University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, Missouri – 1993 B.S. Education
Classes Taught:
- UIC, Adjunct Professor, Psychiatry and the Law
