Joan Heishman Proper
Location:
Manassas, VA
Phone:
Fax:
703-574-8920
Email:
Joan Heishman Proper represents clients in education, family and juvenile law matters through legal advocacy, dispute resolution mechanisms and litigation.
Prior to law school, Ms. Proper was a teacher for nine years, first in the Diocese of Arlington and then in Fairfax County Public Schools. While she was a general education teacher, she taught students with a wide variety of special education needs.
In addition to her other areas of practice, Ms. Proper is also certified as a Guardian ad litem for children and incapacitated adults in guardianship, conservatorship and family law matters.
Areas Of Practice
- Special Education Law (Infant and Toddler through High School)
- Education Law matters in the public school system (PK-12)
- Student Discipline in the public school system (PK-12)
- Guardianship & Conservatorship
- Family Law
- Uncontested and Contested Divorce
- Negotiation and drafting of Separation Agreements
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 2007
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2009
Education
- George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia
- J.D. - 2007
- Honors: cum laude
- Virginia Tech
- B.A. - 1994
- Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- University of Virginia
- M.Ed. - 2002
- Major: School Administration and Supervision
Classes/Seminars
- School Law: Key Laws to Know and Evaluation and Identification of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder; National Business Institute; 2023
- A Survey of the Issues in Education Law that all Attorneys Need to Know, Virginia CLE, 2017
- Special Education Considerations in Custody Cases, Alexandria Bar Association CLE, 2021
- Meaningfully Advocating for Special Education Needs, Prince William Foster Parent Training, 2020
- Advocacy for Special Education Needs, The Child Protection Partnership, Prince William Area, 2019
- 504 Plan Eligibility & Accommodations; and Bullying and Harassment: Ensuring Special Needs Students Receive FAPE, National Business Institute, 2019
- Discipline and Expulsion, A Practical Legal Guide, National Business Institute, 2019
- How the 504 Plan Process Works and 504 Plan Eligibility, National Business Institute, 2018
- The ABC's of IEPs, Arc of Loudoun, 2016
- The ABC's of IEPs, Arc of Prince William, 2015
- Guardianship, Conservatorship and Less Restrictive Alternatives, Arc of Loudoun, 2014 and 2016
- FAPE: Evaluations and Eligibility, National Business Institute, 2014 and 2015
- Ethics in Special Education Law, National Business Institute, 2012
Honors And Awards
- Virginia Super Lawyers, 2020-2024
- Arlington Magazine, Top Attorneys, 2019-2024
- Virginia Business Magazine, Legal Elite, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2023, 2024
- Northern Virginia Magazine, Top Lawyer, 2015
Professional Associations And Memberships
- Virginia State Bar, Member
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- Virginia Women Attorneys Association, Member
- Fairfax Bar Association, Member
- Prince William County Bar Association, Member
- Commission on the Needs of Children, The Virginia Bar Association, Member, 2020 to Present
Past Employment Positions
- William B. Reichhardt & Associates, Associate
- William B. Reichhardt & Associates , Law Clerk
- Fairfax County Public Schools, Teacher
- Diocese of Arlington, Teacher
Pro Bono Activities
- Arc of Greater Prince William, Volunteer
- Prince William Bar, So You're 18 Program
- Arc of Loudoun, Volunteer
- Wills for Heroes Program - Culpeper