Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO YOU COMPARE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES?

As you read through our Frequently Asked Questions, as well as the rest of our website, we believe you’ll understand the unique philosophy and value that constitute the Homeschool Legal Advantage.

We’ve been humbled and encouraged by the outpouring of support and enthusiastic feedback we receive daily from homeschooling families throughout the United States.   We look forward to being of service to you and your family as well.

For your consideration, here are some distinct and advantageous differences, which HLA provides:

1) HLA is a ministry.

There are other organizations that operate on the order of an unfunded insurance concept. You might compare this to something like Pre-Paid Legal Services.  For example, some organizations require an application process.  If accepted, you pay $110 per year, follow their rules and they will possibly help you. (Insurance companies often try to avoid claims to maximize profits.)  While some of these organizations operate like insurance companies, they do not register as insurance companies and do not operate under the legal guidelines for insurance companies.

In contrast, the Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA) is a ministry to homeschool families and operates as an outreach of the Christian Law Association (CLA), a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. The Christian Law Association has been protecting the rights of believers and homeschoolers for over 40 years.  Due to a steadily increasing number of homeschooling families requesting and receiving help from the Christian Law Association, the decision was made to create a division of CLA dedicated specifically to serving homeschooling families. With this objective, the Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA) was launched in 2009 as a critical resource for today’s homeschooling family.

2) HLA operates through a suggested donation model.

We keep the suggested donation for membership in HLA as affordable as possible. Make no mistake; we are faith dependent on membership contributions. However, we want to be of service to your family and will never let finances stand in the way.

3) HLA provides an unlimited number of “scholarship” memberships.

Very specifically, we never ask a widow or widower to provide a donation to join HLA. (James 1:27) Further, we also provide scholarships to single parents, and to any other homeschooler who would like to join HLA but cannot afford to make a donation.

4) All homeschooling families can join HLA.

Our heart is to serve today’s homeschooling family. Other organizations require an “application” process and require you to follow their defined rules.  Homeschool Legal Advantage simply invites you to complete a simple “registration” process in order to join.  We do not want to control your homeschooling efforts.  We are here to provide you with information, encouragement, and support as you diligently homeschool your children.

5) HLA offers our first-year members a complimentary Last Will and Testament.

Due in part to Attorney David Gibbs’ III representation of Terri Schiavo’s family, we feel very strongly that provision should be made for future decisions.  Most young couples with children do not have a will, and it is estimated that as many as two-thirds of adults do not have a will.  Consequently, HLA provides a great (optional) value-added benefit of membership to our first-time families as a part of our commitment to honor the family’s decisions both now and the future. Please see our Member Benefits page for more information on this and other benefits of membership in HLA.

6) HLA attorneys and support staff serve as legal missionaries.

As a faith-based ministry we give God all of the glory for the churches and individuals who have supported the ministry of the Christian Law Association these past forty years.

7) HLA is a team of committed attorneys across the nation (more than 200) available to you and your family at a moment’s notice.

8) Contributions to CLA and HLA are tax-deductible. We are an IRS-recognized 501 (c) (3) organization.

9) We are called of God and committed to serving you and your family.

Each of our attorneys and support staff is called of God and committed to serving you and your family as legal missionaries.   

In short . . .

We provide homeschooling families with every legal service that any other homeschool legal organization provides. Additionally, we provide a free will for both Mom and Dad, represent homeschool organizations, help working parents with workplace issues related to their Christian faith, serve local churches and pastors, and we do it all on a suggested donation model.

This is not to say that our model of service is the only worthwhile model. It is fair, however, to recognize the fundamental differences in what we do as compared with other homeschool legal organizations.  Other organizations that “sell” memberships based on business insurance models can be highly profitable, and we respect the right of any organization to sell any program or service they choose.

But we have decided to serve as legal missionaries and that is a huge HLA distinctive, that we would like you to understand. We serve you believing that if homeschool families pull together by faith, God can indeed protect our God-given and constitutionally protected right to educate our own children.

WHAT DOES OUR FAMILY DO IF WE SHOULD NEED THE HELP OF AN ATTORNEY FOR HOMESCHOOLING-RELATED ISSUES?

You have access to our attorneys at any time for legal questions relating to homeschooling. In fact, on your membership card you are provided with the CLA/HLA 24- hour emergency phone number. If your homeschool is challenged legally, we will represent you up through and including litigation.

Other family challenges:

(a) Social service agency inquiries:  We will work with your private counsel and/or directly with the social workers to provide information on homeschooling and evidence of its effectiveness.  If the social service inquiry deals with matters outside of homeschooling, we will try to help you find local counsel to be engaged at your expense.

(b) Divorce:  We are receiving a growing number of calls concerning divorce where one parent wishes to continue home educating but the other does not.  We cannot intervene to represent one party or the other, as this is essentially a dispute between the parents. However, when needed and where appropriate we are available to provide written memoranda or briefs or expert witnesses to the party seeking to continue home education.

(c) Faith-related employment discrimination challenges: If someone in your family lost a job due to a faith-related issue, or is facing other faith-related employment challenges, CLA/HLA attorneys stand ready to provide you with information, advice and even direct legal assistance, if necessary.

HOW MANY ATTORNEYS WORK WITH HOMESCHOOL LEGAL ADVANTAGE?

In recent years, the CLA has actively assisted an ever increasing number of homeschooling families. In 2009, the CLA assembled a dedicated team of homeschool parents, homeschool graduates and attorneys to form the Homeschool Legal Advantage – a division specifically charged with protecting the rights of homeschoolers, and to provide practical advice regarding home education and compliance with homeschool laws. Today, the HLA team includes a large group of full-time attorneys and an additional 200+ affiliated attorneys throughout the United States.

HOW MANY CASES HAVE YOU HANDLED?

HLA is an outreach of the Christian Law Association (CLA). The CLA has faithfully served churches and families since 1969, and has successfully defended over 8,000 educational freedom related cases.

WHAT OTHER PROJECTS ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH?

Our main “project” is working one-on-one with families, churches and pastors to preserve religious and educational freedom.  We do not operate or fund any college, political project, or other activity.

DOES THE HOMESCHOOL LEGAL ADVANTAGE HAVE ANY SPECIFIC POLITICAL AFFILIATION?

HLA does not endorse or support any candidate or cause, save for the cause of homeschooling.  We do not actively lobby or engage in efforts to persuade the electorate.  We do, however, monitor legislation and, where appropriate, bring measures to the attention of our membership to allow them to make their own informed decision.

DO YOU HELP PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS TO HOMESCHOOL AND / OR OBTAIN THE SERVICES THEY NEED THROUGH THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL?

Yes!  We have specific experience in this area as well. Homeschool Legal Advantage is here for today’s homeschooling family– ready to help!

DO YOU SUPPORT OR ENDORSE ANY PARTICULAR COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OR CHURCH DENOMINATION?

No. Although we have genuine respect, affection, and fantastic relationships with many colleges, universities and churches, we do not operate or fund any college, university, individual church or church denomination.  We are a “ministry of helps” to local churches, individuals, and families.

WHAT DO WE RECEIVE AS A MEMBER OF HOMESCHOOL LEGAL ADVANTAGE?

Please see our Member Benefits page for complete details.

DO YOU SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO PASS A PARENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT?

We believe in parents’ rights. But we are not investing time or money in support of this action. Interestingly, this idea was first raised back in 1998, but has recently been highlighted by many within the homeschooling community.

It’s important to note that this proposed amendment is not a homeschooling rights amendment. We also see certain risks inherent in this amendment including that any exceptions to this amendment that deal with child abuse could be used against homeschooling parents.  Another risk is that, if passed, this amendment might be used to protect child-abusing parents.

Practically speaking:

1. The U.S. Supreme Court has already recognized the rights of parents to direct and control the up-bringing of their children. It’s hard to ask Congress for what the Supreme Court already says parents have.
2. Its likelihood of passage is very low. Passage of any constitutional amendment requires extraordinary cooperation in the U.S. Congress (two-thirds of both houses) as well as the voters’ approval in three-quarters of all our states. It is extremely unlikely to succeed, given the political climate and preoccupation of politicians.  It is also interesting to note that over 10,000 constitutional amendments have been proposed over the years, with only 27 successes.

For your own information as you consider this issue, you will find additional insight in the following article:

Yes – Parental Rights, No – Constitutional Amendment

DO YOU STILL HAVE AN UNANSWERED QUESTION ABOUT CLA or HLA?

Please feel free to Contact Us and we’ll be glad to provide you with an answer. Thank you!