Lawyers Sangamon County IL – Role of School Lawyer in the Administration System

Posted byPaola Nadeau on Nov 2020 in Business | 0 comments

A school attorney is an important part of school administration. These lawyers ensure that the rules, regulations and policies in an education institution are in accordance with the state and federal rules and regulations. Essentially, they are legal advisors to the school board. So, it is important for the board to discuss decisions with school lawyers in Sangamon County IL before implementing them. In a nutshell, the job of a school lawyer is to uphold the interests of the school and defend it.

An overview of the duties and responsibilities of school attorney

The job of a school attorney transcends offering mere legal advice based on the laws in the books. He also acts as a mentor. The lawyer is expected to use his experience and analyze the future legal implications of implementing a particular decision. Not all legal actions offer benefits. Some actions and decision, although legal, can lead to undesirable repercussions. In order to perform this role, the attorney should have an in-depth understanding about the laws related to school education.

Secondly, a school attorney acts as a mediator between the school and the court. If lawsuits are slapped on the school, the lawyer steps in and defends the school in the court of law. Hiring a lawyer helps the school wrap up the dispute sooner and within lower costs, especially when the other party slaps a compensation suit.

The third major duty of a school attorney is counseling. The lawyer has to analyse every decision made by the school board and provide necessary advice in order to help the board achieve the desired results. Counseling and legal representation are also required for incidences of crimes such as substance abuse and violence among students.

Additionally, school lawyers in Sangamon County IL oversee all the legal aspects associated with expansion of the school, obtaining permits required to undertake new functions, negotiating lease contracts, dealing with contractors hired for various functions, drafting agreements with teachers and the nonteaching staff and several other situations. When an attorney handles these functions, the tasks are done smoothly, efficiently and affordably.

While a school attorney is a legal advisor to the school board, he does not have to defend individual board members if allegations are slapped on them. The lawyer might choose to defend individual members of the board. He is however, not obliged to do so. His allegiance lies with the school board as a whole and not to individuals in the administrative set up of the school.

Hiring a school attorney

Schools may either choose to hire a full time attorney or opt for an outside legal counsel whenever required. The decision depends on the size and activities that the school board takes up. In most cases, hiring outside counsel in times of need turns out to be more cost effective for schools.

Lawyers Sangamon County IL – Rammelkamp Bradney Attorneys at Law offer legal counsel for a wide range of issues including school law.