Education Law
At Roberts & Stevens, we know the importance of a great education. And it takes a great school, administrators, and teachers to provide a great education. Therefore we are dedicated to serving the multifaceted legal needs of both public and private educational institutions.
We practice all aspects of Education Law as it impacts many types of educational operations. We represent numerous public and private colleges, universities, community colleges, and K-12 schools in Western North Carolina. We understand federal and state laws and regulations that govern this wide range of educational institutions.
We advise and assist schools with policy development, disability law, human relations, student rights and student discipline, residency and admission issues, board of education powers and duties, open meeting laws, public records requests, school budget and finance matters, and teacher nonrenewal and tenure issues.
Our education lawyers work with lawyers from multiple practice areas within the Firm to provide expertise in specialized legal areas such as tax, employment, intellectual property and litigation. Together we devise practical and flexible solutions for the increasingly complex landscape of education law.
Types of Services
- Constitutional issues affecting public institutions
- Defending contractual, personal injury and other claims made against educational institutions
- Discrimination, harassment, bullying claims, investigations
- Drafting and revising policy manuals and student and staff handbooks
- Ethical duties of board members and public employees
- Faculty tenure and contract renewal/non-renewal issues
- Family and medical leave act and other leaves of absence
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- FOIA and public records requests
- Legislative and lobbying issues
- Liability of school districts and public officials
- Open meetings law and public participation
- Overtime, flex plans and wages under Fair Labor Standards Act
- Personnel grievances, suspensions and termination proceedings
- Public financing
- Special education law and disabilities law consultation and representation
- Student discipline issues
- Title VI and Title IX issues and other federal statutory or regulatory requirements
Types of clients
- Community Colleges
- Private Colleges
- Private Schools K-12
- Public Schools K-12
- Public Universities
- School Boards, Superintendents and Administrators
Memberships, Awards and Presentations
- National Council of School Attorneys
- National School Boards Association
- North Carolina Association of Community College Attorneys.
- North Carolina Bar Association, Sections: Education Law, Government and Public Sector Law
- North Carolina Council of School Attorneys
- North Carolina School Boards Association
- U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firm" Ranking Asheville Tier One Firm in Education Law (2011)
- Education Law presentations, most recently including:
- Asheville City Board of Education: Legal Changes to Section 504, 2009
- Buncombe County Board of Education: Legal Changes to Section 504, 2009
- Asheville City Board of Education: Keeping Kids Safe: Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Harassment and Inappropriate Internet Use, 2008
- Asheville City Board of Education: The Jessica Lunsford Act and Registered Sex Offender Policies, 2008
- North Carolina School Boards Association Annual School Law Conference: Building Schools Through the Use of Certificates of Participation, 2007
