Robin S. Ballard
rsb@spsk.com

Robin S. Ballard is counsel with Schenck, Price, Smith & King’s Business Law Department and is a member of the firm's School Law Labor and Employment Practice Group representing statewide private and public school districts in all facets of special education law, including evaluations, eligibility, program development and placement determinations, dispute resolution with parents, and disciplinary matters. Dr. Ballard regularly attends IEP meetings and mediations conducted through the Department of Education, as well as appearing before the Office of Administrative Law for emergent and plenary hearings. Dr. Ballard regularly conducts in-service presentations on special education and 504 issues for teachers, special services personnel and service providers in various districts, including the preparation of legally compliant documents. Dr. Ballard has also conducted trainings for employees of Boards of Education on effective strategies for dealing with difficult situations and effective communication with parents. She also serves as guest instructor at St. Elizabeth College for school administrators who are pursuing their doctoral degrees.

Prior to practicing law, Dr. Ballard completed a dual degree program, obtaining a doctorate in psychology as well as her law degree. Through the doctoral psychology program, Dr. Ballard conducted therapy with individuals suffering from addictions, chronic mental illness, sexual abuse, learning disabilities and other mental health diagnoses. In her graduate program, Dr. Ballard also performed psychological and educational testing to further identify aspects of individuals’ functioning and areas in need of therapeutic intervention. Dr. Ballard’s experiences with counseling and testing individuals with psychiatric disabilities has given her insight into the difficulties experienced by the special education population, which is the focus of her work. In addition, Dr. Ballard is very familiar with mental health terminology and exhibits an extensive understanding of psychological and educational testing reports, as well as psychiatric evaluations. Dr. Ballard’s experiences have enhanced the advice she offers to Boards of Education in special education matters and provided her with a thorough knowledge-base from which to formulate strategy for handling various matters. Her background has also been useful in hearing preparation, particularly in developing questioning for expert witnesses. As a result of Dr. Ballard’s education and experiences, she excels in meeting our clients’ needs in the area of special education law.

Dr. Ballard graduated from Johns Hopkins University, with a B.A. in Psychology, in 1995. She is also a graduate of Widener University, where she obtained a M.A. in Psychology, 1999 and a Psy.D. in 2001. Dr. Ballard received her J.D. in 2001 from the Widener University School of Law, cum laude. She has been a speaker for the New Jersey Association of School Administrators as well as the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. She was recognized in 2009 and 2010 by New Jersey Monthly magazine as one of New Jersey’s “Rising Stars“ and was featured in an article in the New Jersey Super Lawyers 2010. Dr. Ballard was also recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal in its “40 under 40 Publication”, as a New Jersey lawyer whose achievements and in public service distinguish her among her peers.

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