Education Law
Education law, primarily representing public school districts, has been the foundation of Lexow, Berbit & Associates P.C. Our attorneys take pride in being intimately involved in the educational community and have a long standing history not only with public schools, but other municipalities as well.
While the law firm mainly serve as General Counsel to school districts, we also provide services to individuals and groups who may have disputes with private or public school districts. Of course, because our long standing relationship with school districts in the Rockland County region, we typically offer these services to our neighboring counties in the Hudson Valley and lower New York region.
In addition, we provide Special Education law services to both sides of the aisle as well. And, with the vast experiences and skills of the Firm, we also act at times as Special Counsel or Of Counsel to other school districts, as needed.
Education law is an expansive and all encompassing field that not only deals with day to day school law related matters, but many different practice areas. With this as the cornerstone of our Firm, it only makes our attorneys more versatile to handle any issue which may arise, regardless in what field of law.
General Counsel
The Firm has served as General Counsel to one of the largest public school district’s in Rockland County predating its centralization in the mid-twentieth century. As General Counsel, the lawyers at our firm advise and represent school districts in every facet of the law, including:
- Grievances and labor arbitration;
- Immunization matters;
- Administrative proceedings (i.e., Human Rights Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Public Employment Relations Board);
- Special education;
- Appeals to the Commissioner of Education;
- Litigation on all related subjects in the New York and federal courts and appeals with respect to the same;
- Defense of tax certiorari claims;
- Drafting and negotiating contracts relating to bid awards, construction work, real property transactions, intramunicipal agreements, employment contracts and disputes with respect to same;
- Collective bargaining and related services;
- Bonding an all forms of debt service;
- Disciplinary proceedings relating to employees and students (i.e., Education Law Sections 3020-a and 3214; Civil Service Law Sections (72-75);
- Elections;
- Propositions;
- Seniority and tenure issues;
- Board member and responsibilities.
Impartial Hearing Officer
Through the services of Susan Mills Richmond, we are actively involved with school districts serving as Impartial Hearing Officer (“IHO”). An IHO is an expert in special education and administrative law who presides over hearings related to special education between school district and parents.
Special Counsel
With our experience and cumulative knowledge in the areas of education, and its subcomponets, we ofter act as Special Counsel or Of Counsel to other school attorneys, school districts, or anyone in need for our guidance and expertise.
Parents and Students
Although primarily representing school districts, we on occasion represents parents in their disputes with other schools that we do not have, or have not had, an general, special or of counsel relationship with. This also applies to school district employees and disputes they may have with a public or private school district.
