School District Legal Counsel

SCHOOL DISTRICT LEGAL COUNSEL

The Legal Counsel is a full-time, exempt, confidential in-house position and serves as the Legal Counsel for Everett Public Schools (EPS), reporting directly to the Superintendent. The Legal Counsel must become familiar with EPS policies/practices and school law requirements. The Legal Counsel will advise the Superintendent and staff on legal issues. Legal Counsel will represent the Everett Public Schools before federal, state, and local courts, administrative agencies, and legislative bodies. Legal Counsel will use judgment and initiative to conduct legal research, interpret laws, render legal opinions, and provide representation and technical legal expertise on behalf of the EPS.

Essential  Responsibilities and Duties:

• Provides legal opinions, legal interpretations, advice, and recommendations for the purpose of ensuring that EPS maintains compliance with local, state, and federal laws, regulations, policies, and protocols.
• Provides legal expertise, information, and assistance in the formulation and development of policies, procedures, contracts, and programs related to EPS to ensure legal compliance.
• Advises the Superintendent and staff of unusual trends or issues and recommends appropriate corrective actions.
• Reviews, edits, and creates EPS documents for the purpose of conveying information to both internal and external entities in a legally compliant manner.
• Advises and assists in EPS investigations involving students and/or staff.
• Conducts research, gathers evidence, prepares pleadings and legal briefs, and takes other action as necessary to defend or initiate legal action on behalf of EPS.
• Appears before federal, state, and local courts and legislative bodies to represent the Superintendent and staff on issues pending before those entities.
• Represents the Superintendent and staff at administrative hearings and before fact-finding panels.
• Attends various meetings at district, regional, and state levels for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform job functions.
• Performs related duties, as assigned, or needed.
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school required.
• Licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts required.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and court decisions applicable to PreK-12 public schools and experience in federal and Massachusetts education law.
• Knowledge of constitutional and administrative law; juvenile law, student rights and discipline; school law; contract laws; employment laws; Robert's Rules of Order, and other laws and/or rules related to representing and advising EPS.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and explain complex state and federal policies, laws, regulations, and court decisions applicable to school business.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Organized with attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with several agencies including but not limited to Department of Developmental Services, Department of Children and Families, Office of Child Advocate.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish rapport, motivate, and maintain positive and productive relationships with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration, intergovernmental relations, and school business operations.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures required to provide legal services to an administration in a large urban district in Massachusetts, as well as knowledge of current issues and special challenges of a large urban school district.
• Knowledge of current local, state, and federal issues related to public schools and PreK-12 public education.
• Knowledge of EPS policies, priorities, and objectives.
• Ability to prepare and render legal opinions.
• Ability to oversee, prepare, and conduct litigation and administrative law hearings and review existing and pending legislation related to procedural guidelines and EPS policies.
• Ability to represent the EPS in a variety of public settings.
• Demonstrated professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with people across all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage complex tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with confidential information and maintain the highest level of? confidentiality. 
• Ability to effectively manage a varied caseload while balancing multiple and competing priorities.

Terms of Employment:

In office, twelve-month work year.

Everett Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.