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Top-Ranked Education Lawyers in Orlando, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.25 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked education lawyers in Orlando, Florida are William John Mullowney (LexRank 84.00), Marylin Batista (82.60) and Karen Meta Chastain (82.60).

This ranking lists 5 education lawyers in Orlando, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 5 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Education Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 23 to 40 years in practice. 1 of the 5 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
5
Fully verified
5 of 5

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    William John Mullowney

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Education
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    Marylin Batista

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Education
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #1, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.40 points behind #1 (William John Mullowney): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  3. No change

    Karen Meta Chastain

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Education
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  4. No change

    Youndy Christine Cook

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Education
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  5. No change

    David Jeffrey D’Agata

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Education
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 81.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.00 points behind #4 (Youndy Christine Cook): Experience −2.4.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 5 profile pages53 facts for 5 lawyers

Education market in Orlando

LexRanked tracks 5 lawyers in education law in Orlando, Florida. 5 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 19, 2026.

Lawyers
5
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
5 of 5
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
32 years5 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Orlando

What sets these Orlando lawyers apart

All 5 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Education Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 5 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Education Law 5 of 5
Years in practice 23 to 40 (median 32)
Languages besides English Spanish (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Miami School of Law (3 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Orlando office address and education as a practice area on record. It compares 5 education lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Parents of Florida students have firm rights and deadlines: a special education due process hearing must be requested within 2 years, and school records must be shown within 45 days of a request.

Rule What it means
Due process deadline A special education due process hearing must be requested within 2 years of when the parent knew or should have known of the problem (20 U.S.C. § 1415(f)(3)(C))
School records A school must let parents inspect their child's education records within 45 days of a request (34 C.F.R. § 99.10)
Suspensions Each suspension and its reasons must be reported to the parent in writing within 24 hours (Fla. Stat. § 1006.09)
Weapons A student who brings a firearm or weapon to school is expelled for not less than 1 full year (§ 1006.07)
Eligibility notice Parents must be told they may request a due process hearing on identification, evaluation and eligibility for exceptional student services (§ 1003.57)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Orange County is in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to request a special education due process hearing?

Under the IDEA, 20 U.S.C. § 1415(f)(3)(C), within 2 years of the date the parent or school district knew or should have known about the action the complaint is about, unless state law sets another limit.

Can I see my child's school records?

Yes. Under FERPA the school must let you inspect your child's education records within 45 days of your request (34 C.F.R. § 99.10).

Must a Florida school tell me when my child is suspended?

Yes. Under section 1006.09 the principal must try to inform the parent by phone right away, and each suspension and its reasons must be reported in writing within 24 hours.

What happens if a student brings a gun to a Florida school?

Section 1006.07 requires expulsion from the regular school for not less than 1 full year and a referral to mental health services.

Who certifies education lawyers in Florida?

The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in Education Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.

What does Board Certified in Education Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 5 of the 5 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Orlando?

State court cases in Orange County are heard in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking education lawyers in Orlando?

Yes. 1 of the 5 ranked lawyers lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

5 of the 5 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: William John Mullowney, Marylin Batista, Karen Meta Chastain, Youndy Christine Cook and David Jeffrey D’Agata.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

William John Mullowney scores 84.00 and Marylin Batista 82.60, a gap of 1.40 points, mostly in data quality. Compare them side by side

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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