Education Law
Strickland Brockington Lewis has more than thirty years of experience representing educational institutions, including private colleges and universities, public school systems, charter schools, private elementary and secondary schools, and university affiliated foundations.
SBL is prepared to help your educational institution navigate the complex duties associated with its operation.
- Accreditation
Accreditation is vital for educational institutions today, but few firms understand the complexity of obtaining and maintaining accreditation. Strickland Brockington Lewis understands the challenging world of national v. regional accreditation, self-studies, and relationships with accrediting institutions.
SBL represented a private educational institution that had its accreditation wrongfully revoked in 2001. SBL partners provided insight for understanding and navigating the complex areas surrounding accreditation, and represented the university in litigation. As a result of the litigation, the university’s accreditation was restored by injunction for the first time in U.S. history. The case eventually settled and the university continues operating as an accredited institution to this day.
SBL is ready to assist your educational institution with obtaining accreditation for the first time, maintaining your existing accreditation, or restoring lost accreditation.
- Charter Schools
Although charter schools are still a relatively new concept for many people, they are not new to Strickland Brockington Lewis attorneys. As a former teacher, SBL partner Peggy Brockington was involved in special education for years and understands the unique challenges associated with alternative methods of education.
SBL has advised charter school boards and educational management organizations, along with negotiating multiple management agreements on behalf of charter schools.
SBL is ready to assist your charter school or educational management organization on all aspects of obtaining a charter, operating a charter school, establishing internal best practices, and negotiating contracts with vendors and suppliers.
- Colleges and Universities
Running an institution of higher learning involves a multitude of legal issues, from the normal business functions of employment and vendor contracts to the complexity of legal issues such as student record privacy under FERPA. Strickland Brockington Lewis has represented private colleges and universities for years, assisting in designing policies and procedures, and avoiding pitfalls in employment law.
SBL is ready to assist your college or university in its business operations, policies and procedures, employment issues, and contract negotiations.
- Elementary and Secondary Schools
Beginning with Strickland Brockington Lewis partner Peggy Brockington’s firsthand experience in the elementary classroom and extending to the firm’s experience with designing handbooks, participating in administrative hearings, and assisting with designing best practices, SBL has a wealth of experience in the elementary and secondary school arenas. SBL understands the unique challenges faced by administrators and teachers.
SBL is ready to assist your elementary or secondary school with its policies and procedures, business operations, employment issues, and contract negotiations.
- Public School Systems
Public school systems face unique legal challenges because of the system-wide nature of the education they provide and because the outside counsel must successfully work with inside counsel for the system. Strickland Brockington Lewis lawyers deal firsthand with the challenges faced by systems, whether that involves preparing and interpreting policies and procedures, governing student disciplinary hearings, academic review hearings, and faculty and staff grievance hearings or whether that involves employment contracts and appointment letters. SBL attorneys also draft and interpret student handbooks, faculty handbooks, and personnel handbooks. SBL attorneys regularly represent public school systems in administrative hearings.
SBL is ready to assist your public school system for its outside legal counsel needs, from hearings to litigation.
- Revenue Bond Transactions
Strickland Brockington Lewis has served as special counsel to foundations and limited liability companies at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Albany State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Augusta State University, Clayton State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Fort Valley State University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Southwestern University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Macon State College, Medical College of Georgia, Middle Georgia College, North Georgia College & State University, Southern State University, Southern Polytechnic University, University of West Georgia, Valdosta State University in connection with revenue bond financing for student housing at those institutions.
SBL is ready to assist your educational institution with obtaining bond financing for improvements.