About Us

School and College Legal Services of California is a duly established joint powers authority that was formed to provide legal and labor relations services for community colleges, school districts, and county offices of education at a reasonable cost. Operationally, we combine the best features of private law firms and governmental law offices.

The services provided include personnel matters, facilities issues of all kinds, student rights and discipline, contracting and purchasing, Brown Act, administrative hearings, collective bargaining and PERB matters, grievance arbitration, litigation, and real property matters.

We are strongly committed to the practice of preventive law through in-service training and timely newsletters, Legal Advisories and checklists. Recent in-service training programs have covered sexual harassment, employee evaluations, employee discipline, student rights and student discipline.

SCLS NEWS

  • SCLS Staffing and Workshops

    As we all launch into the 2010-11 school year, I want to update clients on our new staff members at SCLS and our initial list of workshops for fall 2010.

    Staffing:
    I am very pleased to announce that Robert Henry is rejoining our office and will be available as of September 1, 2010. As a retiree, he will work on special projects/assignments. Bob has expressed an increased interest in the traditional concept of "retirement," and thus, he will be working part-time.

    Workshops:

  • LAYOFFS; PROBATIONARY AND TEMPORARY TEACHER RELEASES; ADMINISTRATOR RELEASES-REASSIGNMENTS-CHANGES

    To: Superintendents, Member K-12 School Districts, County Offices of Education

    From: Margaret M. Merchat, General Counsel

    Date: January 12, 2010

    Given the ongoing economic challenges facing public schools, we anticipate that significant work will need to be done on certificated layoffs in the coming weeks prior to March 15 and on classified layoffs. We therefore want to encourage all clients to contact us as soon as possible if your agency is considering:

    1. Certificated layoffs
    2. Non reelection of Probationary employees
    3. Non reelection of Temporary employees

  • High School Exit Exam Clarification from CDE

    Below is a response from the California Department of Education (CDE) to Margaret M. Merchat, General Counsel's, letter regarding the effect of Education Code section 60852.3, the recent exemption for students with disabilities and 504 plans from having to pass the California High School Exit Exam as a condition for graduation, for students who were high school seniors prior to 2009-2010.

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    CA-DOE-letter10-27-2009.pdf
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    CA-DOE-letter10-27-2009.pdf