A good friend of mine is a school psychologist, and gave me this advice: Take anyone with you who could believably have a vested interest in your child's education. (She was talking about my mean-looking Marine husband, but I think this applies to an attorney as well). Even if they just sit there in a corner and look grumpy, it will show that there are people on your side and you're not just the overzealous, crazy mom with an inflated idea about her son's abilities.