Jan E. Tomsky is a partner in the firm, serving clients from the Oakland office. A nationally recognized leader in special education law, Jan has represented school district clients in mediations and due process hearings, as well as in special education-related litigation in both state and federal courts and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her expertise in special education matters has helped scores of districts to address issues and resolve disputes in this specialized field. Additionally, Jan has assisted districts in countless student expulsion hearings, particularly those that involve complex or sensitive issues, and has successfully defended districts’ decisions on appeal to county boards and in court.
In addition to student-related advice, Jan regularly assists clients on issues related to cyber misconduct, social media and technology matters. Moreover, Jan is certified as a trainer of trainers in Interest Based Bargaining, and she advises clients on contract and general labor and employment matters.
A popular speaker, Jan is asked to present throughout the country on education and the law. She frequently presents for the Association of California School Administrators, LRP’s national Institute (focusing on legal issues related to educating students with disabilities), the LRP Special Education School Attorneys Conference, and the LRP Directors' Summit. In addition, Jan presents at state and regional conferences throughout the country, and designs and delivers workshops for individual districts, which are specifically tailored to address their needs. Jan is the author of Personal Liability for IDEA Violations: Where the Courts Stand, and was a contributing author to The Administrator’s Guide to Building and Maintaining a Comprehensive Autism Program and IDEA Due Process Survival Guide, all of which are LRP publications.
Jan received her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where she won a Best Brief award in moot court and was Production Editor for the California Law Review. Prior to law school, Jan worked as Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid and as the Registrar at the Dominican University of San Rafael. Jan holds a master's degree in Education, with an emphasis in special education and student development, and a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, both from the Dominican University of San Rafael.