School and College Legal Services of California (SCLS) is a Joint Powers Authority serving school and college districts throughout the state of California. Our goal is to provide high-quality legal services to public education agencies at the lowest possible cost. To ensure cost-effectiveness and breadth of service, the agency operates on a regional scale and employs staff with expertise in education law, collective bargaining, special education, and litigation. SCLS provides legal consultation and representation to K-12 school districts, county offices, community colleges, boards of education and other education related organizations throughout California. We have staffed offices in the counties of Sonoma, Alameda, Humboldt, Marin and Santa Cruz.

SCLS attorneys provide school and community college districts with consultation and representation in all facets of the law. The staff assists all educational entities in addressing legal matters related to school bond and parcel tax elections, school site acquisitions, sexual harassment issues, special education, student discipline, certificated and classified personnel matters, Brown Act and all other important aspects of school law. Attorneys provide contracting agencies with written updates on key legal issues, staff training and informational workshops, and policy and contract review services.

SCLS assists contracting districts and county offices of education with the collective bargaining issues that are an integral part of the employment process in education today. SCLS staff supports all educational entities in negotiating bargaining unit contracts and responding to legal issues related to employer-employee relations.

SCLS has a highly experienced team of attorneys who specialize in disability and special education issues at both the K-12 and community college levels. Our attorneys conduct trainings, provide consultation, attend IEP meetings when necessary and handle all aspects of litigation from mediation through due process hearings and appeals.

While the goal of SCLS is to anticipate legal problems and offer timely advice on law to avoid costly adversarial proceedings, SCLS does employ professional and support staff with special expertise in school litigation matters and proceedings.