Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: HLA, homeschooling, HSLDA, legal

This topic has 11 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 4 months ago by Dawn.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

Author
Posts
January 14, 2013 at 1:32 am
eawerner
Participant
I remember hearing about at least one other organization similar to but different from hslda. We probably need to join something and am wondering if anyone knows of or has experience with alternative organizations? Just trying to check all our options before we jump in.
January 14, 2013 at 2:17 am
eawerner
Participant
Ah ha! I found it. Homeschool Legal Advantage. Christian vs secular it seems. If anyone has any experience with them I would appreciate your input.
January 14, 2013 at 2:58 am
2flowerboys
Participant
Hi
Both are Christian! I have been a member of both! One yr the homeschool conference I attended offered HLA membership for attending. In turn, HLA offered a free Will and Testament too! They are with CLA which is Christian Law Association. They do many good things for churches, schools, business, etc in upholding rights of believers. HLA is cheaper than HSLDA.
I like them both! Right now we are members of HSLDA. But I wouldn’t hesitate being a member of HLA.
January 14, 2013 at 2:08 pm
TailorMade
Participant
This is the only other thing I’ve seen, but probably not what you’re needing.
http://hsislegal.com/
I’ve seen it shared when people are trying to discern whether, or not they need to join this type of organization. I think it’s based on circumstances.
I’m going to check out the other link(s) shared and get the info. to our local Homeschool groups.
Blessings,
Becca<><
January 14, 2013 at 5:47 pm
HollyS
Participant
Our state has it’s own group…you might want to see whether your state has one. I’ve been told they are more in tune with our state’s laws than the national groups are.
January 14, 2013 at 6:48 pm
2flowerboys
Participant
Holly, this is what HSLDA does ALL the time, protect homeschoolers. Therefore their lawyers have to be in tune to all of the state’s laws. When you join they will protect your right to homeschool, they go to court w/you, they speak up for homeschoolers, and they will send letters to school offficials or CPS if need be if you are harrassed.
http://www.hslda.org/about/
Are you speaking about a group to join that keeps up w/ what is going on in your state as well as laws? They are not lawyers who go to court, deal w/ officials directly etc.. Maybe your state has their own organization w/ their own lawyers that will go to court for you? If so, that is nice! I have never heard of that..and how much does it cost to join?
Here is our state group and what they do
http://www.ghea.org/pages/misc/purpose.php
As a matter of fact, they offer a discount to HSLDA if you join their group!
January 14, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Rebekahy
Participant
My husband is an attorney. In fact, he is an attorney that has trained with the Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly the Alliance Defense Fund) he has belonged to the Christian Legal Society. He has worked on constitutional cases defending a myriad of religious liberties. He, from a legal standpoint, would be quite competent to research and defend our family should the need ever arise. YET, he INSISTS that we belong to the HSLDA. The reason is because they SPECIALIZE in homeschool law and liberty. THEY better than ANYONE are able to defend you, should you need it. Is it likely that you’ll need it? Depending on the state you live in, probably not…. some states MORE than others. Yet, it’s kind of like car insurance – you probably DON’T NEED car insurance if you live in a super rural area and barely EVER drive into town – what’s the likelihood of really using your car insurance? Probably none, but if you happen to rear end a Mercedes on your monthly trip into town and you don’t have insurance – it’s going to cost you thousands of dollars…. and unless your husband is a Mercedes authorized repairman, you’re likely not going to be able to get off fixing it for less.
All that to say, our family doesn’t go without legal insurance. Your state run homeschool organization is PROBABLY run by volunteers and not full-time staff, let alone competent legal counsel. (HOLLYS – this is not in response to what you posted, but rather the link to the article above, but I would recommend that you find out what exactly your state homeschool organization will do for you if social services comes knocking at your door. – I’ve lived in some fairly populous states and even those don’t have full-time legal staff on call 24/7 as HSLDA does). SURE, you can ask another homeschool mom how to comply with state law, but it’s likely that she is not a lawyer and hasn’t even read the actual statutes pertaining to your legal right to homeschool. And while HLA is probably a good alternative if you can’t afford HSLDA, you’re still not going to get the BEST representation. My dh loves to help people out and would WANT to generously offer his time to help another homeschool family if they needed representation, BUT he wouldn’t do it, because he knows he’d be doing them (and even possibly the whole homeschooling community) a disservice. When someone represents themself, if it leads to a bad decision, it is possible for that decision to become precendent and effect homeschoolers in an entire state/region.
I know I sound alarmist, but we’ve witnessed too many cases where children have been removed from homes, forced to go back to public school, been placed under unreasonable scrutiny and undue stress to not strongly support membership in the HSLDA.

Blessings,
Rebekah

January 14, 2013 at 7:17 pm
HollyS
Participant
Our state’s group is more of a “watchdog” organization. It gives advice on how to follow current laws and lets you know of upcoming legislation. Depending on what your reasons for joining are, it would be worth looking into as another option. If you are wanting specific legal advice, it probably wouldn’t be the most effective group to join.
January 14, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Bookworm
Participant
My dh is also an attorney. Like Rebekahy, we belong to HSLDA. Even when money is tight. He insists on it, too. I find that pretty telling!
January 14, 2013 at 10:34 pm
HiddenJewel
Participant
As stated above Homeschool Legal Advantage is through Christian Law Association. So I would be surprised if it is secular.
January 17, 2013 at 2:17 am
RobinP
Participant
My husband and I were on the board of our state organization for 8 years which worked closely with HSLDA. We’ve seen their passion to protect the rights of homeschool parents. We will support them even when we no longer homeschool
January 20, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Dawn
Participant
My husband has his JD also and insists that we belong to HSLDA. We also are a member of our local state one which I think is a very nominal fee. I agree with the above that either are good options.