General Counsel

BCPS•Towson, MD

25d•Onsite

About The Position

Leads the Office of Law in its role as in-house counsel for the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). Supervises and evaluates professional and administrative staff. Directs the workflow and oversees the budget of the office. Serves as the chief legal advisor to the school system. Provides advice and counsel to the Superintendent, system leadership, administration, and the Board of Education regarding all legal matters affecting the administration of public education. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Possession of a juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
Ten years of professional experience in the practice of law which includes experience with legal issues involving public schools, students’ rights, including the rights of students with disabilities, litigation, labor arbitration, settlement, and administrative hearings.
Experience supervising professional and administrative staff.
Admission to the Bar of Maryland.
Knowledge of legal principles and practices.
Knowledge of legal research.
Knowledge of Maryland education law.
Knowledge of litigation involving administrative agencies and courts.
Knowledge of the Open Meetings Act.
Knowledge of the Maryland Public Information Act.
Knowledge of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Knowledge of special education law.
Knowledge of employment law.
Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements.
Knowledge of the policies and procedures followed by local school systems.
Skill in the practice of law.
Skill in conducting legal research.
Skill in conducting litigation before administrative agencies and courts.
Skill in providing legal opinions.
Skill in communicating effectively.
Skill in developing effective working relationships with school administrators.
Skill in oral advocacy.
Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships.

Responsibilities

Serves as the Baltimore County Public Schools system’s primary legal advisor.
Provides leadership, planning, and direction for the Office of Law to ensure their support of and alignment with the system-wide goals and priorities.
Plans, directs, supervises, and evaluates attorneys, paralegals, and other staff.
Coordinates and reviews the work of outside counsel.
Coordinates the work of the Law Office with the programs and activities of other departments and local, state, and federal agencies.
Provides advice and counsel to the Superintendent, school administrators, and others regarding a variety of legal issues.
Confers with the Superintendent.
Assists the school system in compliance with and creation of Board of Education Policies and Superintendent Rules.
Responds to and directs the school system’s response to complaints such as those filed with state and federal administrative agencies, including the Office for Civil Rights, Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education, the Open Meetings Compliance Board, the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Public Information Act Compliance Board, and the Public Employees Relations Board.
Represents the Baltimore County Public Schools in arbitrations, administrative hearings and in judicial proceedings.
Represents BCPS at meetings, public hearings, and conferences.
Negotiates settlement agreements.
Reviews legislation, judicial decisions, and state and federal agency opinions.
Keeps current with pertinent legislation, regulations, and case law involving students, public employees and public bodies.
Prepares witnesses, presents arguments, and provides representation to the school system.
Performs other duties as assigned.