Attorney
Under general supervision, drafts and reviews agreements, policies, procedures, and other legal documents. Provides legal guidance on matters including, but not limited to, student discipline, special education, employment and personnel issues, public records, procurement, governance, risk management, school safety, and regulatory compliance. Conducts legal research, prepares legal opinions, and develops strategies to address complex legal matters affecting the district.
Essential Functions:
- Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and revises contracts, memoranda of understanding, intergovernmental agreements, procurement documents, leases, and other legal instruments.
- Reviews and prepares Board policies, administrative procedures, resolutions, and other governance documents to ensure legal compliance and alignment with best practices.
- Provides legal advice and guidance regarding compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and administrative rules affecting public education.
- Researches, analyzes, and interprets statutes, regulations, case law, and legal opinions applicable to school district operations.
- Provides legal counsel regarding employment matters, including employee discipline, investigations, hiring, evaluations, grievances, leave issues, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour compliance, and employee separation, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504.
- Advises on student matters, including student discipline, student records, residency, student rights, Title IX, Section 504, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and other applicable laws.
- Advises on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
- Assists with responses to subpoenas, public records requests, discovery requests, and other legal inquiries.
- Develops legal training and professional development.
- Monitors legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments affecting public education and recommends appropriate policy or operational changes.
- Maintains confidential and privileged communications in accordance with applicable ethical and legal standards.
- Attends meetings and training as assigned to provide legal advice and support.
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with district employees.
- Complies with all federal laws, state statutes, Board policies, administrative rules, and/or directives.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Education and Training:
Requires a Juris Doctorate degree. Education law experience preferred.
Minimum Qualifications and Standards:
Required Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including a computer, telephone, etc. Must be able to exert up to five pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for periods of time. Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of five to ten pounds.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability to speak with individuals and groups to convey and exchange information clearly and professionally, including receiving assignments and providing information to administrators, employees, and external agencies. Includes giving instructions and/or assignments to clerical personnel.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems; to deal with nonverbal symbolism in its most difficult phases; to comprehend the most abstruse classes of concepts.
Requires the ability to learn and understand complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply logical thinking to define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw sound conclusions while managing multiple variables and complex situations.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow and give verbal and written instructions; to counsel employees.
Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational backgrounds and in a variety of technical and/or professional languages including personnel, legal, etc.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and interpret timelines, percentages, and data as related to investigative findings.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape, and visually read various information.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office machinery.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in the operation of office equipment and the preparation of written and electronic materials.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and managing sensitive, confidential, or contentious situations.
Physical Communications: Requires the ability to talk and hear, including communicating effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual platforms.
Performance Evaluation Criteria:
Job Knowledge: Demonstrates thorough knowledge of the job by effectively carrying out the duties and responsibilities.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high-quality communication and interaction with all district departments and divisions, co-workers, and the public.
Quantity of Work: Performs described "Specific Duties and Responsibilities" and related assignments efficiently and effectively in order to produce quantity of work which consistently meets standards and expectations of the District.
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for completing assigned work. Completes assigned work within deadlines in accordance with directives, District policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Remains accountable to assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends and remains at work regularly and adheres to District policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice where appropriate and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Relationships with Others: Establishes and maintains effective, professional working relationships with district staff, administrators, and external agencies. Handles sensitive matters with discretion and respect.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety standards and maintains an orderly and professional work environment.
This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required.