Educational Services and Institutions

Overview

Our experienced education law team provides effective and pragmatic legal counsel to school boards and school administrators across New Mexico. Our team recognizes and appreciates the inherent challenges of overseeing and managing student education within the demanding milieu of public opinion and parental expectations. Whether relating to student discipline or safety, personnel issues, property matters, bond and financing work, or the unique challenges of delivering special education, school boards and administrators face complex legal obligations on a daily basis. Modrall Sperling has a team of knowledgeable lawyers with the expertise to advise school leadership with specialized and practiced guidance to meet these day-to-day legal needs. Public servants in education benefit from the support of empathetic legal counsel from lawyers who devote a substantial part of their practice to education law, and to supporting those who are committed to educating our youth.

Experience

We serve as primary counsel to the Albuquerque Public Schools (one of the largest public school districts in the nation), as well as several other school districts in New Mexico. We also serve as counsel for a number of private schools. At the post-secondary level, we have represented colleges and universities throughout the state.

As general counsel to school boards and administrators, our lawyers have the experience and depth to assist with the full range of responsibilities and all aspects of litigation and dispute resolution. Our experience includes general employment issues and disputes, collective bargaining agreements, workers compensation, public procurement code, school related real estate matters, curriculum issues, public financing and bonds, special education law, personal injury claims, student disciplinary issues, student transportation, and civil rights issues involving both employment practices and student rights. We assist with the development of school policies and procedures, with assuring compliance with state and federal funding and associated mandates, and with trials and appeals both within the relevant agencies as well as in state and federal courts throughout New Mexico and in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.