Services
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GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES
SCLS attorneys provide school and community college districts with consultation and representation in all facets of the law. The staff assists all educational entities in addressing legal matters related to school bond and parcel tax elections, school site acquisitions, sexual harassment issues, special education, student discipline, certificated and classified personnel matters, Brown Act and all other important aspects of school law. Attorneys provide contracting agencies with written updates on key legal issues, staff training and informational workshops, and policy and contract review services.
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PERSONNEL
Clients turn to us to assist them with a wide range of personnel matters involving classified, certificated/academic, and management employees. We have extensive experience in personnel matters for school districts, county offices of education, and community colleges. SCLS assists clients with layoffs, reassignments and transfers, employee discipline, unlawful discrimination complaints, sexual harassment prevention training, proper determination of temporary, probationary, or permanent status, and other personnel matters.
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COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
SCLS assists contracting districts and county offices of education with the collective bargaining issues that are an integral part of the employment process in education today. SCLS staff supports all educational entities in negotiating bargaining unit contracts and responding to legal issues related to employer-employee relations.
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GOVERNANCE
SCLS attorneys assist clients with governance issues including Brown Act compliance, ethics, proper handling of any conflicts, board member elections and vacancies, district organization, and responding to Public Records Act requests. We work closely with clients when particular governance issues arise, and we offer workshops on governance topics to help our clients comply with governance requirements.
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SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973
SCLS has a highly experienced team of attorneys who specialize in disability and special education issues at both the K-12 and community college levels. Our attorneys conduct trainings, provide consultation, attend IEPand Section 504 meetings when necessary and handle all aspects of litigation from mediation through due process hearings and appeals.
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STUDENT ISSUES
SCLS helps clients with student-related issues at both the K-12 and community college levels. We address issues such as student discipline, students’ rights, student safety, interdistrict transfers, school site administration, and other student issues. SCLS attorneys are available to draft or review student-related district policies and regulations/procedures, draft or review letters to students or parents, consult on student discipline decisions, represent clients in hearings or interdistrict appeals, and provide other services. SCLS also offers workshops on student issues and school site administration.
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BUSINESS AND FACILITIES
SCLS provides experienced transactional attorneys who can assist in the negotiating and structuring of business, real estate, construction and employment matters. SCLS attorneys also provide a broad range of legal advice and services centered on facilities, including solar/clean energy project, financing, property acquisition, constructing and modernizing schools, selling and leasing real property, and use of school district facilities.
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LITIGATION
While the goal of SCLS is to anticipate legal problems and offer timely legal advice to avoid costly adversarial proceedings, SCLS does employ professional and support staff with special expertise in school litigation matters and proceedings.