About Wendy

 

Wendelyn L. Pizer, Attorney at Law

Special education lawyer and advocate, serving families in Arlington, Northern Virginia and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Education:

  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
  • B.A., Political Science with distinction, Yale University

Specialized Training:

  • The William & Mary Law School Institute of Special Education Advocacy (ISEA)
  • Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Special Education Law, Procedure and Strategy
  • COPAA Special Education Law & Related Services Training for Attorneys
  • COPAA Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT)
  • Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) Parent to Parent (P2P) Training
  • Numerous additional trainings in special education and related topics from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), COPAA, Children’s Law Center, Parent Training and Information Centers, Parent Resource Centers, Wrightslaw and others

Past Legal Experience:

  • Practiced litigation in the public and private sectors
  • Former prosecutor who managed pretrial diversion programs
  • Taught legal writing at George Mason Law School as an Adjunct Professor
  • Interned with the Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice

Community Service:

  • Past Chair/Vice Chair, Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC)
  • Advocacy Chair, Arlington Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA)
  • Representative, Arlington Public Schools (APS) Advisory Council on Teaching & Learning (ACTL)
  • Member, Aspire! Afterschool Learning Performance Committee
  • Member, Policy Subcommittee, Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee
  • Past Member, APS School Health Advisory Board (SHAB)
  • Past Member, APS Gifted Services Advisory Committee (GSAC)
  • Former SEPTA Special Education Parent Liaison
  • Served on numerous APS task forces, panels, and working groups
  • Chaired various school-level committees, including a Food Allergy Committee​​

Bar Admissions:

  • Licensed to practice in Virginia
  • Licensed to practice in the District of Columbia 

Professional Affiliations:

  • Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
  • Disability Rights Bar Association
  • Learning Disabilities Association of America