School Districts

We represent school districts and provide advice and legal counsel to administrators concerning urgent issues, transactional matters, and litigation representation.

Washington State school district lawyers.

Our school law practice is devoted to serving the full range of legal needs for our school district clients. We understand the challenges and issues that school districts and administrators face, and our experience enables us to provide considered legal advice at a moment’s notice.

Our school district lawyers are dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals. We provide proactive counsel, help clients to successfully meet challenges, and serve as outside general counsel. We also provide transactional counsel and litigation representation on a variety of matters and issues.

General and Outside Counsel Representation

We have substantial experience in serving as general and outside counsel to school districts in Western Washington, providing timely and sound legal advice and representation for matters including:

Contracts and business matters
Real estate and land use
School policies and procedures
Special education counseling and dispute resolution (IDEA) (ADA)
Professional misconduct, discipline, discharge, and non-renewal
Collective bargaining agreements, grievances and arbitration
Public Records Act
Open Public Meetings Act
First Amendment issues, including free speech and religion
Privacy issues and student and teacher rights
Student discipline and appeals
Laws against discrimination
Administrative disputes and appeals
Public entity compliance and policy
Board responsibilities and procedures
Background checks and internal investigations
Construction and capital facilities projects, including drafting of contracts for architects, contractors, general conditions, and representation from the bidding stage through project closeout and claims
School choice, transfers and boundary issues

Providing Timely Advice on Urgent Matters

School administrators and principals routinely face unique issues that have immediate legal consequences, requiring them to take immediate action. We develop close relationships with school administrators so that we can provide accessible service when urgent matters arise. With decades of school law practice, we provide accessible, timely, and sound advice.

Transactions and Litigation Counsel

Many of the legal matters that affect school districts are similar to those of businesses, requiring representation on contract, employment, real estate, construction, land use, and tax issues. We are experienced in each of these practice areas, as well as how the particular nuances of each area pertain to school districts. We provide timely counsel on issues related to school facilities, including land use planning and permitting, environmental review, feasibility and site selection, and public bidding and alternative construction procurement including GC/CM projects and compliance.

We represent school districts in many litigation and administrative matters, including Washington state and federal courts, PERC, PDC, the Washington Human Rights Commission, EEOC, OCR, special education eligibility and placements, accommodations and hearings regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and OSPI.

Proactive School Counsel

As school counsel, we advise school districts on legislative and other legal matters that are likely to affect school operations. In some circumstances, such matters require changes to school policies and procedures; we are available to draft and help clients implement new policies and procedures.

In-Service Training

We provide in-service training on a wide variety of legal issues. Our training sessions involve current issues and new topics of concern to our clients, including search and seizure, freedom of expression, religion, employment discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying, interaction and boundary issues with students, personnel and student policies, and public records.