Education

Jeffers Cowherd represents colleges, universities, public school districts and independent schools. Drawing upon the firm’s experience not only in education law, but also in corporate transactions, non-profit governance, intellectual property and labor and employment law, we counsel our school clients on a wide variety of matters. In some instances, we serve as outside general counsel, working directly with the institution’s senior administrators and staff, while in others, we provide representation on a specific matter, working closely with the institution’s counsel.

We provide a variety of training programs, customized to the institution’s needs, and work with our clients to develop strategies to minimize risk. In addition to representing schools in litigation matters, the firm frequently assists them in administrative proceedings, including school expulsion and arbitration hearings. Our attorneys have also successfully argued several important education-related cases before the appellate courts.

The following highlights specific aspects of our education practice:

Operational Matters

• Contracts with third parties
• Financing and loan transactions
• Corporate organization and structure
• Tax-exempt status

Employee and Labor

• Employment contracts and employee handbooks
• Advising on labor and employee issues, including tenure process
• Staff training regarding sexual harassment, child abuse reporting and other topics
• Litigating civil rights, discrimination and teacher termination cases before arbitrators, administrative agencies and in federal and state courts

Governance and Accreditation

• Advising governing boards regarding governance issues, liability concerns and conflict of interest rules
• Review of bylaws and board policies
• Advice regarding solicitation and management of charitable funds
• Guidance on accreditation and licensing

Litigation

• Defending civil rights and discrimination cases before CHRO and state and federal courts
• Commercial litigation and arbitration
• Negligence defense

Student Matters

• Admissions
• Campus security
• Civil Rights
• Disciplinary issues, including student expulsion hearings
• Distance Learning
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Sports law
• Students with disabilities
• Title IX

Academic Medical Centers

• Affiliations
• Billing and reimbursement
• Office of Health Care Access (OHCA) regulatory issues
• Joint ventures for technology development