Attorneys Neel Lalchandani and Lauren DiMartino recently co-presented a webinar on “Applying for Accommodations for the Bar” at Brooklyn Law School, and Lauren presented on the same topic at the City University of New York School of Law. The presentation was attended by law students seeking guidance on the process of applying for reasonable accommodations due to a disability and professors and student services professionals interested in learning more about the process.
The New York State Board of Law Examiners provides non-standard testing accommodations (NTA) to applicants with disabilities for the bar exam and the New York Law Exam (NYLE). Neel and Lauren walked through the process of securing documentation to apply for accommodations, what it means for requests to be reasonable, how to challenge denials on appeal, and ultimately, for bar applicants to recognize their rights when it comes to standardized testing.
The webinar at Brooklyn Law School was facilitated by two professors: Karen Porter, associate dean for academic and student success and associate professor of clinical law, and Prianka Nair, assistant professor of law & director of the Disability and Civil Rights Clinic. Director of Student Services, Pat Kennedy, facilitated the presentation at CUNY.
Lauren and Neel both have in-depth experience in handling civil rights law, including cases related to disability rights and education. Lauren, who received her J.D. in New York and is licensed to practice in the state, has centered much of her legal work on educational equity and access. Her past experience working as a Student Support Counselor uniquely positions her to work with students to ensure accommodations for high-stake testing.
In addition to his civil rights experience, Neel serves as adjunct faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches and mentors law students. Both Neel and Lauren are dedicated to ensuring that every student and professional has an equitable chance to succeed in testing and beyond as each one of their peers.
ABOUT NEEL LALCHANDANI
Neel Lalchandani represents individuals, nonprofits, and companies in a diverse array of civil rights and commercial matters. Among other victories for his clients, Neel has helped secure several of the largest payments in Maryland history for victims of police misconduct, including over $15 million in state compensation on behalf of innocent men imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. Learn more about Neel.
ABOUT LAUREN DIMARTINO
Lauren DiMartino joined Brown, Goldstein & Levy to represent clients across various areas of civil rights law, including fair housing, education and disability rights, police misconduct, and workplace discrimination. Much of Lauren’s legal experience has centered on education equity, constitutional law, anti-discrimination, and government misconduct, and she is a specialist on the Fair Housing Act. Learn more about Lauren.
ABOUT BROWN, GOLDSTEIN & LEVY
Founded in 1982, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a law firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an office in Washington, D.C. The firm is nationally recognized in a wide variety of practice areas, including complex civil and commercial litigation, civil rights, health care, family law, and criminal defense. Above all else, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a client-centered law firm that brings decades of experience and passionate, effective advocacy to your fight for justice.