Neuropsychological evaluations can play an important role in special education matters, but the scores and recommendations are only part of the picture. Attorneys must also understand how the evaluator reached those findings, what they mean for the student, and how they will be weighed at a hearing. This program brings together two neuropsychologists, two special education attorneys, an educational specialist, and an Impartial Hearing Officer to examine evaluations from each perspective.

The neuropsychologists explain how an evaluation is built. They translate areas such as working memory, processing speed, and executive functioning into practical terms and address what an evaluator can appropriately conclude or recommend. The attorneys cover the legal framework and how to connect findings to FAPE, placement, and tuition reimbursement claims. The educational specialist discusses how recommendations become a school program, and the Impartial Hearing Officer explains how evaluations and expert testimony are weighed.

Cultural and linguistic considerations are addressed throughout. The program closes with real-world scenarios, including outdated evaluations and conflicting expert opinions. Attorneys will leave better prepared to read, question, and use neuropsychological evaluations in their cases.

This program will explore the emerging legal, ethical, and practical implications of AI-assisted filings, including those submitted by pro se litigants. The panelists will address associated concerns, including:

• attorney-client privilege
• authentication
• identification of AI-generated content
• local court rules and requirements
• ethical considerations related to courts monitoring or limiting AI use

Panelists will examine whether and how current legal frameworks, such as model rules, the NIST AI RMF, and standards applicable under the E-SIGN Act, address these developments. They will also discuss what obligations, if any, should be placed on technology providers, courts, and litigants to ensure reliability and accountability.

The discussion will also consider whether AI represents a meaningful advancement in access to justice or introduces new risks to the integrity of the judicial process. Panelists will debate the appropriate balance between expanding access to legal resources and preserving procedural fairness by analyzing recent developments and case law, including court responses to litigants’ use of private or sensitive information in AI systems. Attendees will gain practical insights into:

• a lawyer’s professional responsibilities when evaluating AI-generated work product
• questions general counsel and courts are increasingly asking
• safeguards that may be necessary as AI becomes a more prominent feature of modern legal practice