Santa Barbara CA Education Law Attorney | Government Benefits Lawyer University of California

Experienced Attorney Working on Your Behalf

I offer my clients unique legal representation.

I was a professor at the University of California for many years. The understanding I gained of how institutions deny individuals their legal rights informs how I practice law.

I represent only individuals, never public or private institutions.

Graduation from Caltech Admission to the Bar

Contact me to schedule a free initial consultation. I will gather the relevant facts from you, then give you an assessment of the prospects for a successful outcome if you decide to hire a lawyer.

I will not represent you unless I believe there is a good chance I can help you.

I don't bill by the hour. I charge a one-time flat fee for legal services. I also don't charge you for my time or costs if I have to appear where you live or work to represent you. Once the fee is paid, you will not have to pay me any additional money as I pursue all available options to meet your legal needs.

Education Law

I represent students, professors and staff at public and private educational institutions throughout California in administrative and disciplinary hearings. These include colleges and universities, as well as elementary and secondary schools.

I also advise students from other states on qualifying as California residents for tuition fees at California universities and colleges.

Representative clients include:

Students accused of plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty, or facing disciplinary charges for alleged violations of the student conduct code
Students facing academic probation or academic dismissal
Staff members facing disciplinary charges or wanting to negotiate a separation agreement or settlement agreement
Professors facing disciplinary charges for alleged violations of the faculty code of conduct
Professors involved in privilege and tenure disputes
Professors and staff wanting to negotiate a separation agreement or settlement agreement
Professors and staff seeking advice on retirement and which retirement options to choose
Students, staff or professors accused of sexual harassment
Students wanting to appeal a classification of nonresident for tuition purposes to the Principal Legal Analyst-Residence Matters at the University of California or to The California State University Office of General Counsel
Whistleblowers threatened with retaliation
Children facing suspension, involuntary transfer, or expulsion from elementary or secondary school
Children with special educational needs that aren't being met in school who would benefit from having an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or an Individual Education Program (IEP)

I will prepare you for a hearing or meeting with school administrators, and will accompany you to and advise/represent you at the meeting or hearing.

Please see the Education Law page of this Website for additional information relevant to your situation.

Appealing Disapproval of Government Benefits

I work with clients who have been wrongfully denied:

Social Security benefits
Social Security Disability benefits
Veterans benefits
Veterans Disability benefits
Unemployment benefits
Medicare
Medicaid

I will assist you in filing an appeal and will represent you in front of the administrative law judge who will decide your appeal.

Please see the Government Benefits page of this Website for additional information relevant to your situation.

General Civil Practice

There are a variety of other legal matters in which I offer my services. These include, but are not limited, to:

Civil harassment cases, where, for example, a neighbor is harassing you but the police can't stop it. I will help you obtain an order from a judge that will stop it.
CC&Rs enforcement in condominiums and housing developments.
Sale of structured settlements, annuities and insurance policies to companies such as J. G. Wentworth, Novation Capital, Stone Street Capital, and Woodbridge Structured Funding. You will pay nothing to me if I represent you in such sales. By California law, the buyer must pay my fee, and cannot take it out of your proceeds from the sale.
Representation at mandatory fee arbitration hearings. The legal basis for recovering fees from a lawyer who represented you is well defined. Most clients lose fee arbitration hearings because they don't know the law. I will examine your situation, and advise you on your chances of success. If you retain me, I will submit a legal brief to the arbitrator, then prepare you and represent you at the arbitration hearing.
Mortgage modifications and foreclosure avoidance*
Student loan issues, including erroneous interest charges
Contract disputes
Civil annulment
Negotiation of severance packages
Inmate civil rights lawsuits (aka Bivens actions) filed under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983, that allege a violation of an inmate's civil rights, typically by the officials or entities having custody of him
Federal cases involving violation of state laws on federal property. I can represent you if, for example, you were caught speeding on Vandenberg Air Force Base or on the Point Mugu Naval Air Station

Please see the Civil Law Practice page of this Website for additional information relevant to your situation.

Contact me Today

I offer day, evening and weekend consultations by phone. To schedule a free initial consultation, call me at (805) 845-8223 or, if you prefer to email, click on this link Contact me.

Michael J. DeNiro Ph.D. J.D.
Attorney at Law

* pursuant to Senate Bill 94, signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 11, 2009, fixed fees for any legal work I do for you to avoid foreclosure will not be due until after I have performed the legal services.