About Janeen
Janeen Steel is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. She was admitted to the California State Bar in 2000. Her license is currently in active status. Ms. Steel is a partner at Vanaman German LLP, a law firm specializing in special education and disability rights, located in Sherman Oaks, California. She has been practicing law for over 25 years, focusing on advocating for the educational rights of students with disabilities throughout California.
Ms. Steel earned her Juris Doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1999. Prior to law school, she completed her undergraduate education at San Francisco State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993. During her time at UCLA, she was awarded the La Raza Alumni Association Cesar Chavez Summer Fellowship, which enabled her to create the Learning Rights Manual, an advocacy guide for families of students with disabilities. She also served as the President of the Disability Law Society.
Ms. Steel concentrates her practice in the areas of special education law, civil rights, and disability discrimination. She represents individuals and families in matters involving special education services, advocating for appropriate educational programs and accommodations for students with disabilities. Her practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout her career, Ms. Steel has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to joining Vanaman German LLP in 2021, she founded the Learning Rights Law Center in 2005, serving as its Executive Director and Co-Executive Director for over 15 years. In these roles, she managed operations, supervised attorneys, and led litigation efforts to advance educational equity for students with disabilities.
Ms. Steel is an active member of the California State Bar Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She has taught special education law at various law schools, including Loyola Law School, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and UCLA School of Law. She has also presented at numerous conferences and workshops, advocating for the rights of students with disabilities. Ms. Steel is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing her to serve the diverse communities of California effectively.
