Hannah M. May

Hannah M. May

Hannah M. May practices in the area of education law with a focus on special education and student rights. She counsels school districts regarding Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504, student discipline, Title IX, student records issues and policy development. She assists school districts in responding to complaints from the Office for Civil Rights, Office of the Attorney General and Illinois State Board of Education, and she represents school districts at IEP meetings, due process hearings, mediations, student discipline hearings and residency hearings.

While in law school at Loyola, Hannah was a Civitas ChildLaw Fellow with a concentration in education law. Hannah received her 711 license and represented students with disabilities in special education matters and served as a child representative in domestic relations and child protection proceedings. Additionally, Hannah was a senior editor on the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. She also externed for the Honorable Anna Loftus of the Cook County Circuit Court, Chancery Division, and clerked for the Southern Poverty Law Center in the Children’s Rights Practice Group in Miami, FL and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights in Chicago, IL.

As a graduate of the Chicago Public Schools, Hannah has always been passionate about advancing equity in education and giving back to her educational community. Hannah’s upbringing in a diverse Chicago community, coupled with her own experience as a student, has deeply influenced her perspective. She has great respect and appreciation for the dedication of school administrators, teachers, and staff in providing quality education to children in the community. Her unwavering commitment to equity in education is evident in her determination to create positive change both within and beyond the school setting. Her determination to effect change on a broad, community-wide level inspired her to become an attorney.

Outside of her legal career, Hannah values spending time with family and friends, staying active, and nurturing her well-being. She’s an avid hiker and cyclist, finds serenity by Lake Michigan while walking her dog, and enjoys hosting home-cooked dinners for her loved ones. Furthermore, she’s a certified Yoga Instructor at CorePower Yoga, reflecting her holistic approach to a balanced and fulfilled life.

Education

• J.D., Loyola University of Chicago School of Law
• B.A., University of Michigan

Admitted to Practice

• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Organizations

• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Illinois Council of School Attorneys

Recent Publications

• “Buried Alive: Gay v. Baldwin and Unconstitutional Solitary Confinement for Prisoners with Mental Illness” Loyola University Chicago Law Journal Volume 52, Article 8 (2021)

Recent Presentations

• Transition Programming: Preparing Student with Disabilities for Life After High School, Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (February 2024)
• It’s Not an Easy A…Developing Legally Sound Grading Practices for Students with Disabilities, Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (October 2023)