Florida Guardian ad Litem Academy

Kate York is currently a Special Education Attorney in the Children’s Rights Unit for Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida. The Unit represents special needs children in special education matters in twelve counties in Central Florida. Kate York has been a licensed attorney for 11 years, with most of her tenure spent advocating for vulnerable children in Central Florida. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law. She began practicing law as a Guardian ad Litem Staff Attorney at the Statewide GAL Program in Miami, before moving back to Central Florida to become a GAL Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. For over 7 years she practiced dependency law as a GAL attorney, litigating on behalf of children and young adults who experienced significant family trauma. Kate’s advocacy in a high-profile media case ultimately resulted in a change in the statute governing private adoption intervention in dependency cases. Kate then worked as the Director of Grants for The Florida Bar Foundation, a statewide charitable funder of civil legal aid. Through this work Kate developed a unique perspective of children’s advocacy around the state and decided to return to legal aid to put her knowledge and skills to work as a Special Education Attorney for Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida. Kate represents parents with children who have difficulties in school, home, and the community, including those with disabilities who have been denied an appropriate education.