Municipal and Education Law

Municipalities and localized governmental organizations encounter their fair share of legal issues and disputes. We regularly advise and represent public sector entities on all aspects related to labor and employment, including pensions, benefits, wages, paid leave, and other critical issues. We also assist our clients in establishing clear and effective contracts that safeguard their best interests and minimize liability. If you need help enforcing the terms of a contract, our skilled and experienced municipal law attorneys are prepared to work alongside of you to defend your rights. In addition to contract drafting, review, application, and enforcement, our team can advise you on matters such as land use and development, zoning considerations and permits, negotiating intergovernmental cooperation agreements, and property acquisition. We offer consultation services regarding compliance with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act and the Open Records Act to ensure that you understand your obligations under these laws. Municipal and educational statutes and regulations can be difficult to navigate, especially as they are updated with relative frequency. Let us review these statutes and regulations to ensure that your organization remains current in its compliance with all applicable rules and laws. Ultimately, we aim to minimize your liability at every opportunity to keep your organization running smoothly and efficiently.

Campbell Durrant, P.C., takes pride in serving clients in the world of education. We have cultivated strong and lasting relationships with school districts, colleges, and universities over the years, helping them address and resolve a wide range of challenges and disputes. We can help your institution with employment and benefits matters, student discipline, sexual misconduct allegations, Title IX investigations, business transactions, risk management, governance, student privacy, record keeping, open meetings, and other related issues. Not only do we represent colleges, universities, and school districts in these types of matters, but we are also available to provide comprehensive legal representation in cases requiring litigation.

In today’s climate, the mere allegation of wrongdoing can derail an institution and threaten its reputation. We believe it is our mission to protect our educational clients from such threats by proactively implementing policies, practices, and procedures that minimize employment disputes, Title IX violations, and other operational or governance problems that can cause lasting harm to instruction, recruitment, enrollment, fundraising, and the institution’s future viability. Moreover, we are committed to providing cost-effective legal services that do not sacrifice the quality of the client experience. Consider calling our office to arrange an initial consultation with one of our knowledgeable and empathetic employment law attorneys today.

Enacted in 1972, Title IX protects students and employees from gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and unlawful retaliation. This legislation applies to educational institutions that receive federal funding, including colleges, universities, and more. In recent years, incidents and allegations of harassment and discrimination have grabbed national attention, leading to an uptick in the number of gender discrimination and sexual harassment claims made by students or employees. Unfortunately, today’s litigious climate has made it nearly impossible for those accused of Title IX violations to maintain their innocence during the investigation—the allegations of wrongdoing alone can ruin an institution’s reputation, even if the investigation later determines that the accusations are meritless or unfounded.
Educational institutions that receive public funding must take allegations of Title IX violations seriously. As the national spotlight has focused its attention on these types of cases, institutions of higher learning that receive federal funding have had to establish clear and comprehensive rules and procedures for handling, investigating, and resolving these types of claims. Our highly skilled and experienced employment law attorneys are well-versed in the policies, guidelines, and legal procedures that impact Title IX allegations, investigations, and rulings. Although the Title IX investigation process may vary from institution to institution, our experienced and knowledgeable municipal and school law attorneys will support you from start to finish and advocate vocally on your behalf at every turn.