About Jennifer Chang

Education Rights Attorney

Jennifer Chang AttorneyJennifer Chang is a California Education Rights Attorney who fights for children with special needs to get them the education and services they are entitled to by law. These students and their families are the heart of Jennifer’s practice, and she has worked tirelessly over the last decade to bring them the same educational opportunities and chances given to any other student in the American school system.

Equally important to Jennifer’s practice is helping the families of students with special needs learn to advocate for themselves and their child, and hold the school system accountable when it comes to providing the right educational opportunities.

Millions of children in the U.S. have special needs because of mental and physical disabilities, and far too often, they are either disregarded or stigmatized by educators. These children are entitled to an appropriate education under federal and state laws, including the Individuals and Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Through public schooling, all children have the right to a free and appropriate public education, or FAPE. Jennifer works to protect students with disabilities and ensure they receive the curriculum and services they need from the school and/or school district.

No issue is too small when it comes to the needs of special education children, and Jennifer’s practice covers numerous areas. Some of those include students being bullied at school by peers or even teachers, cases where a student’s disability is the reason for their expulsion or suspension, and getting students more adequate services than they are currently receiving for their disabilities.

For example, Jennifer represented one student with severe emotional disturbances and a history of anxiety, depression, and self-medication with illegal substances. Working with the student’s family, she was able to get the school district to fund a stay at an out-of-state residential treatment center for the student.

In another notable case, a public school could not meet a student’s specific needs and was therefore unable to provide the free and appropriate education that the child was entitled to. Jennifer represented the child and their family, eventually getting the school district to fund a non-public school that would meet the child’s needs.

Jennifer also advocates for children and families dealing with manifestation determination, compliance complaints, IEP meetings, behavior interventions, due process proceedings, and juvenile court proceedings, among others.

Jennifer graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a B.S. in Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice. She received her Juris Doctor with Distinction in Public Service from Southwestern School of Law. She started her own firm, the Law Offices of Jennifer Chang, in order to better serve children with special needs in all types of schooling environments.

Education

Southwestern Law School, J.D.
California State University, Northridge, B.S.

Bar Admissions

California

Publications

Awards

  • Super Lawyers®: 2026 – current
  • LA Business Journal: Women’s Leadership Award Nominee: 2026
  • LA Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40s: 2024 – 2026
  • LA Business Journal Women of Influence Award: 2023 – current
  • Orange County Business Journal: Women In Business Award Nominee: 2024
  • LA Business Journal Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys List: 2023
  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars: 2022