Education Law

› General Representation
›  Public Finance
›  Civil Rights Disputes
›  Administrative Hearings
›  Employment

Our attorneys have provided legal analysis, counsel and representation to a variety of educational institutions, including public school districts, charter and private schools, and two- and four-year colleges for over twenty years.

General Representation

Because of our extensive experience representing educational institutions, we are able to offer clients a full range of legal services tailored to meet their unique needs, including comprehensive legal analysis, efficient and cost-effective legal representation in administrative and judicial proceedings and advice and counsel on day-to-day matters. Our attorneys are prepared to assist you with:

• Development and interpretation of school policies
  
• Public finance
  
• Disciplinary actions and expulsions
  
• Employment disputes and staff due process
  
• Labor negotiations and union grievances
  
• Real estate acquisition and school construction
  
• Drafting of forms and contracts
  
• Special education issues
  
• Constitutional matters (affirmative action, discrimination, privacy, due process, and freedom of speech and religion)
  
• Open meetings compliance and records requests
  
• Student search and seizure
  
• Sexual abuse and harassment allegations
  
• Race and gender discrimination and harassment

Recognizing the need to provide our clients with up-to-date information concerning areas of potential liability, we have developed a wide range of seminars and workshops on school law issues. Our attorneys stay abreast of the changing laws  affecting our clients through membership and participation in the Council of School Attorneys of the National School Boards Association, and National Association of Bond Lawyers and attendance at national and regional conferences on public employment, education, finance and special education matters. 

Finance Issues

Our attorneys have served as bond counsel, issuer's counsel and underwriter's counsel on numerous financing obligations for educational institutions and in municipal financings. We can assist you with tax levy and bond election proceedings to authorize public financings, and with issuing public financings such as general obligation and revenue bonds, lease purchase arrangements and tax anticipation notes. Our education law attorneys are well-versed in public finance law and can offer guidance and advice regarding general finance issues.

Civil Rights Disputes

We represent public employers in civil rights disputes including allegations of invasion of privacy, lack of access to services, discrimination, including Title VII and Title IX claims, police misconduct and excessive force, infringement of speech, denial of due process, illegal search and seizure, and sexual abuse and harassment.

 Administrative Hearings

We represent public employers at administrative hearings and offer advice and counsel regarding a broad spectrum of administrative law issues before the New Mexico Human Rights Division, Employment Opportunity Commission, federal Office of Civil Rights, New Mexico Public Employees Labor Relations Board and local District authorized labor boards.

Employment

We provide representation in defending against workplace claims and offer advice on how to minimize your potential liability. We represent and defend public and private employers facing claims of harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination or alleged unlawful employment practices, including unpaid wages and overtime pay, labor grievances, unfair labor practice claims and labor negotiations.

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Attorneys with Expertise

› Kristin Davidson
› Charlotte Hetherington
› Tony Ortiz