The Law Office of Steven Alizio, PLLC offers a team approach to resolving complex special education legal issues. Our lawyers have diverse experiences and perspectives that allow us to best serve our clients. Prior to becoming a lawyer, our founder and managing partner, Steven J. Alizio, Esq., M.S.Ed., was a New York State teacher for seven years, and served as a student educational consultant in New York City. Similarly, Justin B. Shane, Esq., M.S.Ed., previously served as a New York City public school teacher.

Steven J. Alizio, Esq., M.S.Ed.

Founder & Managing Partner

Steve has extensive and varied experience within the education sector.  Prior to law school, Steve was a high school mathematics teacher in New York for seven years.  He received his M.S.Ed. from Hofstra University, and he studied philosophy and politics at The George Washington University and Pembroke College, Oxford University.

Steve earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was the Executive Development Editor of the Michigan Law Review, Vice President of the Education Law and Policy Society, and Event Coordinator for Legal Advocates for Children and Youth.  Steve spent his final semester at Columbia Law School.  While there, he served as a student educational consultant—conducting qualitative fieldwork, research, and analysis in New York City middle and high schools—for Columbia’s Center for Public Research and Leadership.

Before Steve established The Law Office of Steven Alizio, PLLC, he practiced special education law in the Special Education Unit of the New York Legal Assistance Group ("NYLAG"), and later in a New York City-based special education law firm.  He has substantial experience advocating for students and their parents throughout the IEP and hearing processes. Due to his reputation for creative and successful litigation within the field, other special education attorneys often seek Steve’s insight. Relatedly, Steve is often sought out to provide training sessions to attorneys on discrete areas of special education law.  Similarly, Steve has also provided special education training sessions for doctors, social workers, and other personnel throughout New York City.

Steve is admitted to practice law in New York.

Justin B. Shane, Esq., M.S.Ed.

Partner

Justin Shane is a magna cum laude graduate of Washington & Lee University School of Law. Justin has extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts nationwide, from shareholder and consumer class actions to individual personal injury claims. Justin’s practice now focuses on representing families in obtaining appropriate educational programs and services for their children.

Justin’s interest in working with children and their families began when he taught eighth and ninth grade science in New York City public schools. Justin taught students with a range of disabilities in both integrated and self contained classrooms. Justin now uses his classroom experience and training as a litigator to craft appropriate legal strategies for his clients.

Justin is admitted to practice law in New York.