Contact

Jacquelyn Kmetz, Esq.

jacquelyn@education-rights.com

JACQUELYN KMETZ, ESQ.

Jacquelyn Kmetz is a passionate and experienced attorney who has dedicated her career to advocating for children's education rights. Jacquelyn graduated from Central Michigan University with a BS in Child Development and Psychology in December 2014. After graduating, she spent a year and a half working as a juvenile probation officer for Montcalm County before attending law school. In December 2018, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Michigan State University College of Law and began working for Elizabeth K. Abdnour, Esq., PLLC, first as a law clerk and then as a Contract Attorney following her admission to the bar.

In July 2020, Jacquelyn opened her private practice, Babinski Law, PLLC, practicing education and criminal law, along with some court-appointed family law work. Jacquelyn closed her private practice in May 2022 to join North Pointe Legal, PLLC, a criminal defense and family law firm in Ludington, MI, where she expanded her knowledge and representation of juvenile defense and child abuse/neglect matters.

From March 2020 to June 2023, Jacquelyn also provided services as a Contract Attorney to Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM). At LSEM, Jacquelyn primarily represents students attending Flint Community Schools who have been affected by the Flint Water Crisis.

From April 2023 to June 2024, Jacquelyn was an associate attorney at Barger & Gaines, a law firm exclusively representing students with disabilities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Michigan, where she further expanded her knowledge of how special education law operates in various states and representing various clients for unilateral placement claims. Outside of her employment, in February 2021, Jacquelyn co-founded MI AECRES, a nonprofit dedicated to providing education advocacy and representation to low income families primarily in west Michigan, and she continues to serve as its Executive Director and works directly with families. 

Education

B.S. in Child Development and Psychology, Central Michigan University, December 2014

J.D., Michigan State University College of Law, December 2018

Bar Admissions

State of Michigan

Federal Eastern District of Michigan

Federal Western District of Michigan

Practice Areas

Special Education, k12 Student Rights, Suspension and Expulsion, Educator Rights, Juvenile Defense and Truancy

Affiliations

Member, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

Executive Director and Board Member, MI AECRES

Recent Representative Cases*

  • Successfully obtained compensatory education services and independent evaluations for a middle school student needing remedial math and reading support.

  • Successfully negotiated partial tuition reimbursement for a student unilaterally placed in an out-of-state residential school to address his learning disabilities. 

  • Drafted and filed a USDOE Office for Civil Rights Complaint against a local school district for Section 504 violations related to unilaterally reducing a student's school day, denying him access to his education and general education peers, and retaliating against parents for their advocacy efforts. 

  • Successfully negotiated a settlement agreement after the conclusion of a due process hearing to successfully expunge a student's disciplinary record, obtain a substantial compensatory education fund, and reimburse the parents for their attorney fees. 

  • Prepared a complaint and demand letter against a local school district regarding child find violations and denial of FAPE for a student under IDEA. 

  • Obtained a favorable due process decision awarding parents reimbursement for homeschool expenses incurred due to the District's denial of FAPE.  

  • Successfully guided negotiations for a sorority facing disciplinary actions with their university, resulting in amended charges and reduced sanctions, including allowing the sorority to remain in their sorority house throughout the disciplinary term.

*The results shown are not necessarily indicative of the results that could be expected in any other matter, as the circumstances of each case are unique and involve multiple factors to consider along with possible outcomes.