Nicole Joseph is an education attorney who has dedicated her career to representing children and students with disabilities. She primarily represents students in the special education process and in school discipline concerns and appeals, as well as children with special health care needs. Nicole often represents students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, twice-exceptional (2e) students, and students with emotional and behavioral concerns in Maryland public schools.
Nicole became an education attorney after working in schools, representing hundreds of children in special education, school discipline, and healthcare cases at Disability Rights Maryland, and experiencing the frustrations of the special education process as a parent.
Nicole completed her undergraduate studies at Oberlin College and received her law degree from The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2004. Nicole has appeared on several media outlets including WYPR and WPFW, lectures and leads trainings on special education law and school discipline law for both professionals and parents, and is a guest lecturer in law schools. Nicole’s writings have appeared in The Maryland Bar Journal and The Trial Reporter.
Nicole was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the International Dyslexia Association DC Capital Area Branch. Nicole is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, and the Maryland State Bar Association. Nicole was named a “Rising Star” in Schools and Education by Super Lawyers.
Clients appreciate that Nicole values the relationships that families have with their schools and strives to facilitate respectful dialogue while firmly advocating for the best outcome for the student.
When she is not practicing law, Nicole is raising a houseful of boys or racing sailboats, and therefore is scared of nothing.
Publications and Media
Keeping Students Safe in School: Redirecting School Police Funding to Benefit Students by Supporting Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs with Alyssa Fieo for the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys, September 8, 2021
COVID School Closures, the IEP process, and Special Education Rights with Education Attorney Nicole Joseph Webinar Recording, October 29, 2020
Special Education and COVID School Closures Recorded Webinar with the Jewish Federation of Howard County (Password: 9n!!#88g) April 28, 2020
Special Education Law for Parents and Families Interview of Nicole Joseph by Melissa Corkrum of The Cork Board August 23, 2019.
Nicole Joseph discussing IDEA on WPFW 9/15/17
wpfw_arise_IDEA.mp3
MP3 Audio File 27.5 MB
The Civil Rights Crisis in Schools 09/16
Nicole Joseph
Maryland Bar Journal
Civil Rights in School MD Bar Journal 20
Adobe Acrobat Document 374.9 KB
Nicole discussing the School to Prison pipeline on WYPR:
http://wypr.org/post/discipline-suspensions-and-school-prison-pipeline
Press release on Nicole’s work with the Maryland Coalition to Reform School Discipline to end the suspension of 4, 5, and 6 year olds:
https://disabilityrightsmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CRSD-hb425hb1287pressfinal.pdf