Joan Heishman Proper - Manassas, VA
Attorney at The Law Office Of Joan H. Proper, PC
Special Education Law in the public school system (Infant and Toddler through High School) Lawyers in Manassas, VA
9300 West Courthouse Road Suite 306 Manassas, VA 20110
Manassas Special Education Law in the public school system (Infant and Toddler through High School) Lawyer
Updated: 03/27/2026
Areas of Practice
- Special Education Law in the public school system (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
Attorney Information
Overview
Joan Heishman Proper represents clients in education and Guardianship and Conservatorship matters.
Ms. Proper’s education practice is focused on special education and general education matters in the public school system (preschool through high school) including bullying issues, student discipline, student behavior, student attendance, IEP and 504 issues, and other matters.
Although Ms. Proper has almost eighteen years of family law practice, she is focusing on education and guardianship and conservatorship matters. She is no longer taking new family law cases.
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.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Virginia Super Lawyers, 2020-2025
- Arlington Magazine, Top Attorneys, 2019-2025
- Virginia Business Magazine, Legal Elite, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2023-2025
- Northern Virginia Magazine, Top Lawyer, 2015
Education
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Legal Education
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George Mason University School of Law,
Arlington,
Virginia, 2007
J.D.
Honors: cum laude
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George Mason University School of Law,
Arlington,
Virginia, 2007
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Non Legal Education
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University of Virginia, 2002
M.Ed.
Major: School Administration and Supervision -
Virginia Tech, 1994
B.A.
Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences
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University of Virginia, 2002
Past Positions
- William B. Reichhardt & Associates, Associate
- William B. Reichhardt & Associates , Law Clerk
- Fairfax County Public Schools, Teacher
- Diocese of Arlington, Teacher
Classes and Seminars
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What Families Need to Know About the Discipline Process, Formed Families Forward, 2026
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School Law: Key Laws to Know and Evaluation and Identification of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder; National Business Institute; 2023
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Special Education Considerations in Custody Cases, Alexandria Bar Association CLE, 2021
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Meaningfully Advocating for Special Education Needs, Prince William Foster Parent Training, 2020
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Advocacy for Special Education Needs, The Child Protection Partnership, Prince William Area, 2019
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504 Plan Eligibility & Accommodations; and Bullying and Harassment: Ensuring Special Needs Students Receive FAPE, National Business Institute, 2019
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Discipline and Expulsion, A Practical Legal Guide, National Business Institute, 2019
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How the 504 Plan Process Works and 504 Plan Eligibility, National Business Institute, 2018
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A Survey of the Issues in Education Law that all Attorneys Need to Know, Virginia CLE, 2017
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The ABC's of IEPs, Arc of Loudoun, 2016
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The ABC's of IEPs, Arc of Prince William, 2015
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Guardianship, Conservatorship and Less Restrictive Alternatives, Arc of Loudoun, 2014 and 2016
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FAPE: Evaluations and Eligibility, National Business Institute, 2014 and 2015
- Ethics in Special Education Law, National Business Institute, 2012
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
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 2007
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2009
Other Affiliations
- 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, 2020 - Present (Member)
Reviews
Customer Reviews for Joan Heishman Proper
Highlights
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5.0 Value
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5.0 Quality of Service
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5.0 Professional Competence
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 2023-2025Joan was the best thing that ever happened to our family. For YEARS, we had been navigating the waters of having a child with disabilities within the school system alone. We had been dealing with IEP meetings since our son was just 5 years old and started school. By the time he got to high school, my wife and I were exhausted with everything that entails. We felt like, on many occasions, the various educators, counselors, and administrators were not working in favor of our son, and taking advantage of the fact that my wife and I were overwhelmed with having to deal with them alone. Things were getting rough, and we knew we were in need of help in dealing with the school system. The search for help was a bit exhausting. There are not many people (at least in our area) that we could find that deal with the school system and navigating the various laws and policies that come with dealing with them. We spoke to a few different advocates, but we felt legal representation would work best. My wife and I had kept meticulous notes, documentation, and meeting recordings over the years, and felt we just needed someone who could help us and advocate on our and our sons behalf when it came to dealing with the school system. In enters Joan. Her knowledge of school law and policies was second to none. She always communicated with us, attended school meetings with us, and made sure that we understood completely what our options were in terms of our son. She advocated strongly on our behalf with the school system and ensured our son was being provided everything that he was entitled to and needed to be successful, as well as holding the school accountable at every turn. She took a tremendous weight off our shoulders over the course of 2+ years we worked with her. Our son graduated this past year, in part thanks to Joan and all her help. The school system is so complex in terms of supporting children with disabilities, and I would call Joan the great equalizer in terms of advocating for families in our situation. She is EXCEPTIONAL and I would recommend her 1000 times over.
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 2023-2024Ms. Proper was a great help walking us through the guardianship process. For tat we are greatful.
Contact
9300 West Courthouse Road
Suite 306
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: 703-291-6660
Fax: 703-574-8920
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.jproperlaw.com
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