About Schools Legal Service

The Services We Provide

Each member client signing the JPA for Legal Services receives comprehensive legal consultation, advice and representation. The only matters excluded are insurance defense and workers compensation defense, for which districts are separately insured or self-insured.

Full service includes telephone and office consultations, research, written opinions, visits to districts, attendance at board meetings, and appearances on behalf of the client in administrative and court proceedings at all levels, including arbitrations and unfair practice cases.

Schools Legal Service emphasizes the practice of preventive law. Workshops and training sessions are offered to all member districts. Extensive written materials are distributed each year. These include a Handbook from Schools Legal Service for district administrators and a School Business Manual for business officials.

Periodic newsletters and reports keep clients informed about new laws, court decisions and opinions of general interest, and provide practical assistance to avoid litigation and keep pace with developments in education law. Each year we publish a Summary of New Legislation that affects school districts in California.

Clients for Negotiations Services also receive the personal assistance of an experienced labor relations specialist. The district's negotiator serves on the management team as spokesman or expert resource, drafts language for bargaining agreements, advises on grievances, unfair practice and representation cases and provides management and supervisory employees with training for the administration of contracts.

How Schools Legal Service is Administered

The Kern County Superintendent of Schools serves as administrative agent for the JPA and employer for the staff. The service has its offices in the superintendent's Bakersfield facilities.

A Board of Directors of district superintendents selected by client members meets quarterly to set policy, approve the budget and review the employment of staff. Neither the Kern County superintendent nor the board is involved in the attorney-client and negotiator-client relationships between the professional staff and individual member clients.


Print This Page   Email This Page