Assistant Legal Counsel II - Exempt RB #25-567

Responsibilities

• Counsels with and advises departments, schools, principals and other School District officials and personnel on matters of law and the development and interpretation of policies, affecting the School District and its various departments, and on occasion be directed by the Legal Counsel to give such advice to the members of the Board of Education or Superintendent.
• Defends and represents the School District and its officers and employees eligible for defense services in various courts and before State or Federal administrative agencies such as the Commissioner of Education, the State Division of Human Rights, the Public Employment Relations Board, the United States Department of Education, and at arbitration and mediations.
• Evaluates and resolves questions regarding special education issues, residency of students and tuition obligations, student emancipation, immunization requirements, custody and guardianship of students in separation, divorce and foster care situations, alternative education issues (including charter schools and home schooling), student discipline and the Code of Conduct, and athletic or extracurricular eligibility.
• Prepares drafts, and researches, edits and submits legal documents and briefs to various State and Federal courts.
• Attends Board of Education meetings, committee meetings, departmental and other internal or external meetings in which the School District personnel participate, or on behalf of such officials, giving legal assistance when required.
• Interviews and prepares other attorneys and witnesses, including expert witnesses, for depositions, hearings, arbitrations, mediations and trials.
• Provides training for School District administrators and teachers on the legal implications of various aspects of general and special education and student discipline.
• Handles all aspects of the District’s arbitration practice.
• Aids in the preparation and/or review of Board of Education resolutions.
• Aids in the drafting of School District’s policies, rules and administrative regulations in education related areas.
• Drafts, negotiates and prepares contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, deeds, easements, leases and any other legal documents and forms on behalf of the School District and its departments and schools, examines and approves specifications in connection with such agreements, when applicable.
• Represents the School District at due process hearings regarding students with disabilities.
• Interprets questions and provides advise pertaining to the confidentiality and disclosure of student records, or regarding access to School District records under FERPA or under the Freedom of Information Law.
• Affords assistance in mediation of ad hoc disputes with various community members, groups or agencies.
• Performs legal work necessary in connection with collective bargaining, employee grievances or other labor relations matters.
• Prepares and conducts training sessions for District personnel and volunteers.
• Conducts legal research, as required and related to duties performed.
• Performs other legal work and related duties as required.

Requirements

• Graduation from a Law School of recognized standing
• Three years of full-time experience as a practicing attorney. Experience must include oral and written arbitration; legal defense work; legal research; legal writing.
• Admission to the New York State Bar and proof of good standing and maintained during employment.
• Admission to the bar of the United State District Court and maintained during employment.
• Fulfillment of biannual New York State continuing legal education requirement during employment.
• Completion of a police background record check and DCJS fingerprinting process.