Education Law

Legal Practice

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Our experienced education law team

The Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton law firm was founded on the strength of our education law practice group, which has only grown in skill and success through our 50 years of practice. We are proud to be one of Michigan’s foremost education law firms, with decades of experience representing and serving public school districts, charter schools, intermediate school districts, independent schools, and universities through a comprehensive list of legal issues.

Our experienced Education Law Attorneys:

TIMOTHY J. MULLINS
Chair Education Law Section
KENNETH B. CHAPIE
JOHN C. CLARK
TRAVIS COMSTOCK
LINDSAY P. HAZEN

TIMOTHY J. MULLINS
Chair Education Law Section
KENNETH B. CHAPIE
JOHN C. CLARK
TRAVIS COMSTOCK
LINDSAY P. HAZEN
STEPHEN J. HITCHCOCK
ADAM LEVITSKY
CHRITOPHER D. MESSING
JOHN L. MILLER
KATHERINE E. ROSS
ANNABEL F. SHEA

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General School Law Compliance

School districts, charter schools, and universities are large entities that require careful guidance in order to grow and flourish as exceptional education institutions. For help ensuring compliance and for representation regarding general school law compliance legal issues, call the Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton education law practice group.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Conflicts of Interest and Compatibility of Offices
Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Checks
School Election Laws
Crisis Management and Response
Safety and Security

Board Policies & Administrative Guidelines
Board Governance
Public School Legislation and Laws
Michigan Revised School Code
Freedom of Information Act
Open Meetings Act
Robert’s Rules of Order

school business law

Many forget that schools and universities are businesses, too. At Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton we know that contracts, real estate issues, and school election laws have a huge impact on the everyday operations and functionality of your school. Our education law attorneys are here to help you navigate the complicated legal issues related to the business of running a school. Here are just a few of the education business law issues we can help with:

Purchasing and Competitive Bidding
School Construction and related professional services contracts
Real Estate Issues
Leasing
Land Use Regulation
Cell Tower Leasing
Telecommunications
Retirement & Employee Benefits
Technology

Outsourcing of Non-Instructional Services
Pupil Transportation
Food Services
Facility Operations & Management
Maintenance
Intellectual Property
Environmental Regulations
Educational Foundations & Charitable Giving
Contract Drafting
School Election Laws

labor law

Educational labor law is a complex issue affecting many parties, from administrators to teachers to students, parents, and of course, the school itself. For quality, experienced representation you can trust, choose the Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton team to represent your school, school system, or university in the following:

Collective Bargaining
Administrative of Collective Bargaining Agreements
Grievance Arbitrations
Mediation & Fact Finding
Unfair Labor Practice Charges
Union Campaigns & Elections

EMPLOYMENT ADVICE

Hiring staff, teachers, and professors is one of the most important and delicate aspects of running a school or university. Make sure your education facility is hiring the right people, in the right way. Consult with the GMH Education Law Practice Group for the education employment advice you need to properly employ and retain new staff. We handle every legal issue related to education employment, and would be happy to offer our advice and expertise in any of the following areas:

State Wage & Hours Laws
Social Media
Unemployment Compensation
Teacher & Staff Evaluations
Employee Discipline
Harassment/Bullying
Freedom to Work
Weapons in School
First Amendment & Establishment Clause
Occupational Safety & Health Investigations
Employee Discipline & Investigations

Federal & State Equal Employment Opportunity Laws
Employee Handbooks & Personnel Policy Manuals
Employment Contracts
Severance Agreements
Employment Counseling & Training
Family & Medical Leave Act
Disability Accommodations
Criminal Background Checks
Fair Labor Standard Act

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Employment Benefits, Compensation & Tenure

Legal concerns surrounding education employment are often murky and complex. If your school is revisiting employment benefits, compensation, or tenure, is looking for help establishing policy, or would like representation defending a current policy, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the GMH Education Law Practice Group. We have the experience, education, and results-driven approach necessary to support your school.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Compliance
Public Acts 54 and 152 of 2011
403 (b) Plans
Section 125 Cafeteria Plan Compliance
Compliance with the Michigan Teachers’ Tenure Act
Filing of Teacher Tenure Charges
Representation before the Michigan Teacher Tenure Commission

education law litigation

As Michigan’s largest public school attorney, Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton has the experience and the resources to handle any education law litigation case you may be defending. Whether you’re looking for advice from a trusted legal resource or you’re in need of education law representation, the GMH team has represented more Michigan schools than any other firm, and we would love to help you too. Here are a few of the education law litigation areas we can provide representation for:

Whistleblowers’ Protection Act
Civil Rights Litigation under Federal and State Civil Rights Laws, including alleged discrimination based on race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability, religion, pregnancy, marital status, height and weight
Compliance Audits by the Office of Civil Rights Wage and Hour Laws Administrative Proceedings
Michigan Employment Relations Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Michigan Department of Civil Rights
Teacher Tenure Commission
Michigan House/Wage Division
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
U.S. Department of Education