Private and independent schools, with counsel on call.
Heads of school and boards of trustees balance families, faculty, and finances, often without in-house counsel. We fill that seat.
The hardest calls in a school rarely wait for the next board meeting.
A family withdraws mid-year and disputes the tuition owed. A teacher’s contract won’t be renewed, and the conversation is next week. A staff member reports a concerning disclosure from a student and asks what the school has to do.
Each of these has legal deadlines, contract terms, or reporting duties attached. We help heads of school act quickly and fairly, and we build the policies that make the next decision easier. Our team includes a former educator turned lawyer and a former U.S. Department of Education attorney.
Counsel for every part of school life.
Enrollment and tuition
Enrollment agreements, withdrawal and refund terms, and financial aid policies that families can understand.
Students and families
Handbooks, discipline and dismissal procedures, and accommodations for students with disabilities.
Faculty and staff
Employment agreements, handbooks, background checks, non-renewals, and separations.
Safety and reporting
Mandated reporting obligations, child safety policies, and internal investigations.
Governance
Trustee duties, bylaws, conflicts of interest, and head of school contracts and evaluations.
Public services and funding
The services and reimbursements available to nonpublic schools and their students, including special education services through your local district.
The same two partners handle your matters in New York, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, and Connecticut, with no handoffs to random associates or local counsel you’ve never met.
1.Legal Spotlight
A single pressing question answered for a flat fee, like a revised enrollment contract: a short findings memo, priority next steps, and a readout call.
2.Legal Floodlight
A review of your policies, contracts, and governance, with a Remedy Roadmap your board can use for the year ahead.
3.Outside General Counsel
Counsel through the full school calendar, from enrollment season to graduation, at the level your school needs.
One question, or a whole-school review.
Ready to talk?
A complimentary 30-minute call with a managing partner. Clear scope.
Transparent fees. No primer required.