Law Firm Overview

A practicing attorney since 1983, Ilene B. Young, Esquire, combines her courtroom experience in general civil and family law with her knowledge in legal matters concerning children with special needs. As a parent of a special needs child, Ilene recognizes that the times a family member is in need of assistance and counsel are filled with uncertainty and endeavors to develop a full understanding of the legal situation through careful attention to the client's needs. In her exceptional children practice, she believes in offering parents strength through knowledge, and enabling parents to effectively advocate for their own child, navigate the complexities of the legal and educational systems, obtain the services to which the law entitles them, and achieve the peace of mind which comes from successful planning.

Ilene is a member and course planner with the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee, a professional member of the Pennsylvania Children's Behavioral Health Task Force, a member of the Elder Law Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and a member of many special needs advocacy and support organizations including Aspen and Autism Society of America. She is also a member of the Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates, a national collegiate organization of parent's attorneys in special education dedicated to maintaining standards in the profession. She has been an invited speaker throughout the country on legal topics relating to Special Needs Children and Special Education.

Ilene Young's practice, Young Law Offices of suburban Philadelphia, is limited to legal issues of families with special needs. After working in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Ilene was a founding partner of Petkov, Sninski and Cardonick. . With a background in Philadelphia civil litigation and family law, she combines courtroom experience with specialized knowledge in legal maters concerning exceptional children. She has been an invited speaker on education topics in various professional and nonprofessional forums nationwide, and is a member and course planner with the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Committee. She is also a Professional member of the Pennsylvania State Children's Behavioral Health Task Force, TASH and the council of Parents Advocates and Attorneys, a national collegiate organization which promotes the exchange of information and maintenance of standards for parents' attorneys. She received her J.D. Degree with honors from Temple University, Where she was the recipient of three bests and the Barristers Award for Trial Advocacy.

Areas of Practice

• Education Law

Classes and Seminars

• Special Needs and Divorce, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2009
• Special Needs Issues in Family Law, Bucks County Bar Association, 2008
• Medically Fragile Children: Legal Issues for Practitioners, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2008
• Bullying and Disabilities Harrassment: Finding a Cause of Action, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2007
• Peer Reviewed Research and Educational Benefit Standard under IDEA: From the Parents' Bar, Lehigh University, June 8, 2009
• Top Ten Ethical Issues in Special Education Law, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2006
• School Vioilence, Zero Tolerance and Students with Disabilities, Lorman Publishing, 2005
• Introducation to Special Education Law, Disabilities Rights Section Louisiana Bar Association, 2004

West Practice Categories

Education Law