Assistant School Board Attorney

Assists in providing general legal services to the School Board, Superintendent, and staff, performing related work as required.  The school division legal staff acts as “in-house” counsel to the school division. May focus and/or serve as primary lead on one or more essential job functions at the discretion of the School Board Attorney or his/her designee(s).

• Conducts legal research.

• Provides oral and written opinions on legal matters.

• Prepares for and attends regular School Board meetings and any other meetings during regular work hours or otherwise, as requested by the School Board Attorney, and is called upon to render procedural and legal advice. 

• Researches and coordinates the response to all inquiries and requests related to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”).

• Reviews and approves/denies school division contracts for goods and services.  Interacts with County Procurement and School Division Finance to resolve procurement issues.

• Assists in complex litigation and negotiations involving the School Board, Superintendent or employees.

• Reviews and draws up legal documents required in the operation of the school division and renders opinions relative to substance, form, and propriety of such documents.

• Advises the school division personnel on compliance with federal and state statutes, court process, rules, regulations, policy, and practice.

• Assists in the representation of the School Division in all appeals to the Virginia Employment Commission. 

• Provides primary representation for the School Division in non-classified grievance hearings, and assists as requested by the School Board attorney, in grievances of classified employees.

• Represents the School Board, Superintendent or employees before state and federal administrative agencies.

• Provides formal and informal training to the School Board, administrators, teachers, and employees in the legal aspects of their duties.

• Works closely with the County Attorney’s Office in certain matters relating to the school division.

• Advises the School Board and Superintendent on the purchase, sale, exchange or lease of property.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Participates in preparing the Office of Legal Services portion of the annual operating budget and is responsible for controlling expenditures upon adoption.

Prepares oral, written, and computer generated reports including legal opinions, court documents, and projector displayed presentations.  Participates in the preparation and review of policy documents and informational items for public release.

Uses standard office equipment and equipment related to legal research.

Considerable contact with the members of the School Board, the Superintendent, all assistant superintendents, directors, coordinators, teachers, and other staff for the provision of comprehensive legal services.  Occasional contact with members of the County Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and their staff.  Occasional contact with opposing legal counsel, employees, students, and others with adverse interests to the position of the school system.  Occasional contact with judges, administrative hearing officers, and regulatory agency personnel during the process of litigation or negotiation.

Provides work direction and supervision to Sr. Administrative Assistant.

Priority of work is established under the general supervision of the School Board Attorney and/or the Superintendent.  The provision of legal advice, as school division legal counsel, is performed independent of supervision or control as is required by the prescribed ethical considerations pertaining to the attorney-client relationship.

Participates in formulating official policy and regulations with emphasis on ensuring compliance with controlling law.

Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to use a telephone, to enter data into a computer terminal; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear, understand speech and speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly at normal levels indoors and on the telephone. Physical agility to lift up to drive, bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment.  The noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate.

Comprehensive knowledge of federal constitutional provisions, statutory law, case law, and regulations; comprehensive knowledge of state constitutional provisions, statutory law, case law, and regulations; and comprehensive knowledge of local ordinances, policies, and regulations as applicable to the authority and function of school boards and school divisions. Knowledge and a clear understanding of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.  Comprehensive knowledge of School Board policy and practice. Some experience in the area of special education law. Considerable legal research and writing skills.   Demonstrated ability to organize, interpret and apply legal principles and knowledge to complex legal issues.  Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials and the public at large.  Demonstrated ability to use good professional judgment.

Must be licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Must hold a valid Virginia Driver’s license. This position requires the incumbent to drive. In accordance with Policy 5431, an employee who occupies the position and is assigned a district-owned or leased motor vehicle will be subject to annual driving checks and must maintain acceptable records pursuant to the standards set forth in the policy.

Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation

• State Police Criminal History Investigation

• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation

• Tuberculosis Screening/Test

Chesterfield County Public Schools assures Equal Employment Opportunities for employees as required by Federal and State Orders and Laws.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements.  However, the administration reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary.  It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position and does not imply an employment contract.