Experience

An attorney's experience in cases is evaluated by their courtroom trial record, the complexity and seriousness of past cases, and their familiarity with specific legal areas. A lawyer's experience is demonstrated through their ability to handle the legal process, present evidence, question witnesses, and make arguments, which builds confidence in their ability to represent a client's interests effectively. 

 

Attorney Robert Burgermeister was working in a California law firm from 2021 to 2025, where he handled exclusively special education cases. In his position as an Associate Attorney, later as a Department Head, he drafted hundreds of complaints and motions, he reviewed dozens of settlement agreements, and he represented many special needs students and their parents in court hearings. The number of his court hearings and their frequency, indicates his courtroom comfort and a history of handling special education cases that go to trial. 

 

Special education law refers to a body of federal and state laws that grant students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The key federal law is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires school districts in the State of California to identify and evaluate eligible children, provide special education and related services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and educate students in the least restrictive environment (LRE).

 

Robert Burgermeister is an experienced special education attorney who has honed his ability to present compelling arguments, examine expert witnesses and cross-examine school district employees, as well as understand courtroom procedures and rules of evidence. He is an attorney with experience in special education, who can draw on past strategies and outcomes, in order to create a tailored complaints for a special needs client. He has experience in handling complex high-stakes situations and difficult legal issues in special education, that even school district employees sometimes don’t fully understand. In several cases where the student was represented by attorney Burgermeister, at the end of the hearing the school district employees were ordered by the judge to take classes in how to conduct an IEP. 

 

A deep understanding of the federal special education law, which comes with experience, is crucial for developing a strong legal strategy. Attorney Burgermeister’s courtroom experience demonstrates his ability to protect a special needs student's interests by presenting evidence, challenging the opposition's evidence, and making persuasive arguments. His years of experience led to a greater level of confidence and poise in the courtroom, which is reassuring for special needs students and their parents facing legal proceedings.