Dr. Goetz joined Whittier Law School as a clinical professor in the Children’s Rights Legal Clinic and founded the Whittier Law School Special Education Legal Clinic, which partners exclusively with Lanterman Regional Center, in 2001, after having founded the first Special Education Law Clinic in California at Pepperdine Law School in 1996. Dr. Goetz provides law students enrolled in the Special Education Clinic with the substantive analytic skills to interpret the law and actively learn through direct involvement about the process and institutions of the legal justice system as it relates to children with disabilities. Individual clinic students develop an understanding of the policies and procedures which affect legal representation of children with disabilities in the education system. Legislation and case law in the field of special education is analyzed, and awareness and appreciation of the concerns of persons with disabilities is raised. Students learn the law on an individual level, as it interfaces with a whole system of services: social, educational and medical. Students are given the opportunity to work on a wide variety of client matters under Dr. Goetz’ supervision, including but not limited to educational assessment, appropriate educational placements and related services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and behavior modification.

Since the Special Education Clinic’s inception at Whittier Law School, clinic students have provided legal assistance and direct representation and successfully resolved issues for over 1000 families with children ages 2-24 with a wide variety of diagnoses and special needs. Clinical students’ work has a broad impact and creates system change. Many of the students who have participated in the clinic have gone on to become disability and/or special education attorneys upon graduation.

• Coordinator, Whittier Law School Annual Children’s Rights Symposium-Special Education Law/Inclusion, 2007
• Coordinator, Whittier Law School Annual Children’s Rights Symposium-Special Education Law/Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 2006
• Parent group/community presentations, Lanterman, Harbor and Orange County Regional Centers-IEP process, 1995-present
• Parent group/community presentations, Lanterman, Harbor and Orange County Regional Centers-Early Intervention, 1995-present
• Parent group/ community presentations, Lanterman, Harbor and Orange County Regional Centers-Transition Services for High School Students, 1995-present
• Parent group/community presentations, Lanterman, Harbor and Orange County Regional Centers-Full Inclusion , 1995-present

Pro Bono Activities and Awards

• California State Legislative Committee, Sacramento, Association of Regional Centers. Analyzed prospective legislation pertaining to the rights of Californians with developmental disabilities and assisted in implementing legislative reform through communication with state and local legislators, 1992-94.
• Assisted in developing special education legal clinic proposals at the University of Southern California, University of Santa Clara, and University of Auckland, New Zealand.
• Consult with private non-profit law firms and organizations interested in working with Whittier Special Education Clinic, 2001-present
• Developed cross-cultural survey to measure impact of parent outreach and education on the quality of children’s special education programs. Dissertation analyzed impact of parent outreach, education and involvement in advocacy groups within the context of the dup process model. 1991

• State Bar of California (1990-present)
• Adjunct and clinical professor Pepperdine University School of Law (1995-2001)
• Client Rights Advocate-Regional Center of Orange County-1992-1994 Enforced Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as state civil rights laws on behalf of clients with developmental disabilities. Instructed and advised individuals and families on their legal, civil and service rights and options in the state of California. Independently interpreted and implemented pertinent law within the regional center system to police the system. Supervised paralegal and social workers in implementing the above.
• Client Rights Advocate-Harbor Regional Center-1990-1992. See above