Office of Legal Advisor

The Office of Legal Advisor to the Boston Public School Department, a division of the City of Boston Law Department, advises, counsels, and represents the Boston Public Schools Department and the Boston School Committee in all legal aspects of its operations.

Who We Are

The office is comprised of six attorneys who perform a variety of litigation and transactional functions. The primary areas of law the office specializes in are: special education law, education law, employment law, general civil litigation, constitutional law, and contract law. The office is located on the 4th floor of the Bolling Building and the attorneys are available on a daily on-call basis (known as the Attorney of the Day) and by appointment. 

What We Do

The Office of Legal Advisor advises, counsels, and represents the Boston Public Schools Department and the Boston School Committee in all legal aspects of their operations. The six attorneys perform a variety of litigation and transactional functions, including but not limited to: contract review and approval; the editing and negotiation of agreements between internal departments and with external parties; advising on short-term and long-term BPS policy matters and issues; assisting with responses to public record and student record requests; attending monthly Boston School Committee meetings; attending school-based special education team meetings; and defending BPS and litigating at the Bureau of Special Education Appeals, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and in state and federal court proceedings. The office does not handle matters related to employee discipline, grievances, or issues pertaining to collective bargaining agreements (see the Office of Labor Relations), or internal discrimination or harassment complaints or disability accommodation requests (see the Office of Equity).