Jacqueline F. Wernz

Jackie represents educational institutions, including public school districts, private schools and institutions of higher education, in a variety of general education law matters.  She litigates on behalf of clients in both state and federal court, and represents clients before the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the Illinois State Board of Education.  Jackie also represents public school districts in residency, homeless dispute and discipline hearings, and advises clients on various issues arising under federal and state education law, including student constitutional rights issues, freedom of information act requests, and labor and employment issues.

Jackie began her legal career as an associate at Hogan & Hartson, LLP in Washington, D.C., where she assisted in representing educational institutions and nonprofit organizations on various matters, including as amici before the U.S. Supreme Court.  During law school, Jackie received the Dillard Scholarship and was a member of the editorial board for the Virginia Law Review.  She is a graduate of the honors program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the Donaghey Scholars Program.

Jackie was recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Schools & Education for 2012. She is co-chair of the Education Committee of the Young Lawyer’s Section of the Chicago Bar Association. She is also a member of the Iranian American Bar Association and the Education Section of the Illinois State Bar Association.    

Jackie volunteers in various community interest programs with Franczek Radelet, including serving as a “Principal For a Day” with Dvorak Academy, the firm’s Chicago Public Schools’ partner school.  Jackie is also an active volunteer with the Food For Friends program at Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church in Chicago.

Jackie enjoys cooking and traveling.  Prior to law school, Jackie studied abroad twice in Orléans, France, and in recent years she has traveled to Barbados, Bolivia, Corsica, Ecuador, France, Italy, Peru, Spain and Switzerland.

News

• Respond to Teasing Even If Unrelated to Child’s Disability

Publications

• Amended School Code Addresses Discipline of Student Electronic Misconduct
• School Board Members Properly Petitioned Court to Oust Board Member from Office
• School Districts Should Handle Religious Accommodation Requests by Employees with Care
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Events

• 2011 Laws Private and Public School Lawyers Should Know
• Residency and Homelessness Issues
• Careers in Education Law
• Careers in the Law
• Back to School Webinar Series Part II: The Challenges of Student Fees & Waivers
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