Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
If you’re a teacher, school administrator, or director of special education, you’re no stranger to the impact that the pandemic had on the education system. The growing need for legal advice in education law during and after COVID led me to focus my practice there, with a particular emphasis on special education law. A partner at KingSpry since 2014, I became Chair of the Special Education Law Practice Group in 2022. When providing guidance to clients in this capacity I continue to draw on my background, which includes several years working as a masters-level therapist in a residential school setting before pursuing my law degree. My familiarity with mental health systems and experience with the administration of psychological assessments gives me a unique lens for understanding the reports and recommendations we review regularly in special education law. Additionally, my knowledge of child development informs the guidance I provide to schools when individualizing each student's educational program. Along with my clinical background, my experience as an attorney includes a general practice that encompasses civil litigation, foster care, adoption, and family law. I’ve had the opportunity to litigate in a range of settings, including state and federal court as well as administrative hearings. As Chair of the Special Education Law Practice Group, my practice now focuses on representing schools in a wide range of legal matters including special education consulting and litigation, truancy, discipline matters, custody and enrollment issues, and the provision of in-service trainings to schools. I’m on LinkedIn to connect with like-minded professionals — message me here to start a conversation!
With the intricacies of school law that have proliferated in the wake of the pandemic, I’ve focused my practice at KingSpry on the Education and Special Education departments, where I represent multiple school districts and other educational entities in a wide range of legal matters including special education consulting and litigation, truancy, discipline, public records requests and more. I was elevated to Chair of the Special Education Law Practice Group in 2022. As Chair, I work to cultivate a collaborative and high-performing team where each person’s potential is maximized and there is equal opportunity for contribution and advancement. I also train and mentor new attorneys and strategically match team members with clients whose cases require their particular strengths, while still offering each attorney a chance to develop their skills. This leadership extends to the wider legal community as I’ve shared my expertise through presentations including: • “Overview of Laws Affecting Student Attendance” (11/6/2024) for the Attendance / Child Accounting Professional Association. • “Special Education Updates and Year in Review” (6/24/21) and “Special Education Legal Trends 2021-22” (6/23/22) for Colonial Intermediate Unit 20's Summer Administrative Workshop. Key Achievements • I serve a wide range of clients in matters related to education, and am known for my personal service, quick and efficient resolutions, and ability to combine legal expertise with a client-focused approach that has contributed to the firm’s high retention rate. • My work in special education law has led to a strong knowledge base in matters surrounding special education, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related state and federal statutes and regulations. I work to continuously stay abreast of legal developments stemming from changes in the law and judicial decisions.
The Law Office of Thomas F. Dirvonas served clients in the Stroudsburg, PA area in matters related to civil law, family law, and education law. I worked primarily in the areas of family law, general civil litigation, school law, and real estate transaction litigation including boundary disputes, adverse possession, and quiet title, providing legal advice and litigation services. My experience at this law office served as my introduction to school law—a practice area that has carried over to my current role. I became familiar with the Pennsylvania School Code, and my successful handling of key litigation cases, including one that involved multiple school districts and their management of delinquent real estate tax collection, solidified school law as a new practice area for me. I also served as Conflict Counsel for Monroe County Children and Youth Services, where I handled hearings on matters ranging from shelter care and adjudication to review and administrative appeal hearings. As a Pro Bono Solicitor, I worked with the Poconos-based Burnley Workshop, a rehabilitation service for people with disabilities, advising them on regulatory and business matters. I enjoyed both of these roles for the opportunity they gave me to be a voice for the vulnerable—another trait that has carried over to my current position with areas of practice in child and family law. Key Achievements • I established school law as a new practice area, successfully handling complex educational litigation cases. • I worked with vulnerable populations as Conflict Counsel for Monroe County Children and Youth Services and Pro Bono Solicitor for the Burnley Workshop.
Amori & Riegel, LLC was a multi-practice law firm assisting clients in the Stroudsburg area. My first job in a law firm after clerking for Judge O’Brien, Amori & Riegel gave me the kind of opportunity to learn and grow in all aspects of my profession as a lawyer that only a smaller firm can. Thanks to the all-inclusive work experience I gained here, I never had to spend years as an apprentice only doing research and drafting documents, then years as a second chair assisting in litigation before being given the chance to handle cases on my own. Instead, I was in court my first day on the job, and handled all aspects of each case on my own from the start, from discovery disputes and client interviewing to witness prep and going to trial. My practice included family law, bankruptcy, employment law, and civil and criminal litigation. This sound foundation in comprehensive client care has served me well in all of my subsequent roles, enabling me to work with speed and efficiency without losing sight of how to interact with my clients as human beings deserving of care and respect. Key Achievements • My immediate and total immersion in all aspects of general law practice gave me a solid foundation for moving forward as an effective and caring attorney.
My choice to clerk for Judge O’Brien was driven by the fact that he handled all of the foster care and dependency matters for the county. With clerkship for a local court, I also benefitted from access to the courtroom where real-life experience fleshed out what I learned in law school. I admired and learned from Judge O’Brien’s practical approach to case management, as well as the way he dealt with people on a human level. His guidance to write opinions as if I were writing for my own grandmother, parent, etc. helped me form an approach to law that marries professional expertise with approachability.
As a Student Extern I spent a semester working with the Senior Citizen Judicare Project, providing assistance to low-income senior citizens. I got to interact with them one-on-one, doing intake interviews, and helping with matters involving simple wills and landlord-tenant issues. Working with this vulnerable population familiarized me with some of the risks they face, like door-to-door sales scams and issues with rent-to-own or collections. I valued the opportunity to help the senior citizens I worked with navigate these issues and find resolutions that enabled them to have peace of mind.