About Hailey R. Janecka
Legal Assistant: Vanisia Blackmon | 713-554-6765 | vblackmon@thompsonhorton.com
The foundation for Hailey’s passion and dedication to her work was built during the years she spent as a high school English teacher. Hailey attributes her ability to easily connect with clients and have a deeper understanding of the issues faced by educators today to her own time in the classroom.
Hailey serves as an associate in the Houston office of Thompson & Horton. Prior to joining T&H, Hailey was an assistant attorney with Harris County Attorney’s Protective Services Division. In her role as a county attorney, Hailey represented the Department of Family and Protective Services in cases involving abused and neglected children in Harris County. Before becoming an attorney, she taught 11th grade English in Houston, Texas. Hailey is currently focusing her practice on cases involving special education law.
Education
- J.D., South Texas College of Law, 2015
- M.Ed., Texas A&M University, 2010
- B.A., Texas A&M University, 2008
Licensing & Court Admissions
- Licensed in the state of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Memberships & Recognitions
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Garland Walker Inn of Court
- Mexican American Bar Association of Houston
- Association of Women Attorneys
- State Bar of Texas, School Law Section
- Texas Association of School Boards — Council of School Attorneys
Selected Client Representations
- Assisted with drafting an amicus brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit regarding the Michael F. factors in relation to the Endrew F. standard
- Assisted Region 4 Education Service Center in developing a TEA Special Education Strategic Plan: Guidance Document, which provides school districts a step-by-step compliance guide for responding to the Texas Education Agency’s Special Education Strategic Plan
- Provided in-service training for school principals and counselors on legal compliance, student discipline, and other special education issues
Representative Speeches & Presentations
- How the IDEA Affects Discipline Decisions when Special Education Students Pose a Threat at the TASA/TASB conference in Dallas, TX
- What to Expect from TEA’s Corrective Action Plan, Co-presenter with Chris Borreca and Janet Horton; Region 4 Back to School Legal Seminar, Houston, TX
- Legal Guidance for Dealing with Police, CPS, and Divorced Parents, Co-presenter with David Hodgins; Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education Interactive Conference, Austin, TX
- Special Education Law Post-Endrew F.: Has Anything Changed, Co-presenter with Chris Borreca; Legal Issues for Texas School Administrators, University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas