General Counsel

Leads the Office of Law in its role as in-house counsel for the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). Supervises and evaluates professional and administrative staff. Directs the workflow and oversees the budget of the office. Serves as the chief legal advisor to the school system. Provides advice and counsel to the Superintendent system leadership administration and the Board of Education regarding all legal matters affecting the administration of public education. Performs other duties as assigned.

• Serves as the Baltimore County Public Schools systems primary legal advisor.
• Provides leadership planning and direction for the Office of Law to ensure their support of and alignment with the system-wide goals and priorities.

• Plans directs supervises and evaluates attorneys paralegals and other staff. Coordinates and reviews the work of outside counsel. Coordinates the work of the Law Office with the programs and activities of other departments and local state and federal agencies.

• Provides advice and counsel to the Superintendent school administrators and others regarding a variety of legal issues.Confers with the Superintendent.

• Assists the school system in compliance with and creation of Board of Education Policies and Superintendent Rules.

• Responds to and directs the school systems response to complaints such as those filed with state and federal administrative agencies including the Office for Civil Rights Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education the Open Meetings Compliance Board the Office of Administrative Hearings the Public Information Act Compliance Board and the Public Employees Relations Board.
• Represents the Baltimore County Public Schools in arbitrations administrative hearings and in judicial proceedings. Represents BCPS at meetings public hearings and conferences. Negotiates settlement agreements.
• Reviews legislation judicial decisions and state and federal agency opinions. Keeps current with pertinent legislation regulations and case law involving students public employees and public bodies.

• Prepares witnesses presents arguments and provides representation to the school system.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Training and Experience:

• Possession of a juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Ten years of professional experience in the practice of law which includes experience with legal issues involving public schools students rights including the rights of students with disabilities litigation labor arbitration settlement and administrative hearings.
• Experience supervising professional and administrative staff.

Licenses and Certificates:

• Admission to the Bar of Maryland.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of legal principles and practices. Knowledge of legal research.
• Knowledge of Maryland education law.
• Knowledge of litigation involving administrative agencies and courts.
• Knowledge of the Open Meetings Act.
• Knowledge of the Maryland Public Information Act.
• Knowledge of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• Knowledge of special education law.
• Knowledge of employment law.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements.
• Knowledge of the policies and procedures followed by local school systems.
• Skill in the practice of law. Skill in conducting legal research.
• Skill in conducting litigation before administrative agencies and courts.
• Skill in providing legal opinions. Skill in communicating effectively.
• Skill in developing effective working relationships with school administrators.
• Skill in oral advocacy.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The work of this class is generally sedentary and performed in an office environment. Work includes the operation of office equipment including personal computers and occasional limited physical activities.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

May require work beyond regularly scheduled work hours with little or no advanced notice.

FLSA: Exempt

RETIREMENT: Eligible for the Baltimore County Employees Retirement System.

SALARY:$254242

Visit the BCPS Office of Payroll website for additional information on pay scales other compensation and leave accruals at:

Office of Payroll - Baltimore County Public Schools- COMPENSATION:Position may be eligible for relocation bonus extra duty activities pay or other student activities pay as defined in the applicable Bargaining Unit Agreement.

BENEFITS: BCPS offers a comprehensive benefits program for eligible employees including options for medical plans dental plans vision life insurance flexible spending accounts disability coverage and 403(b)/457 plans. Other benefits include paid holidays sick personal business and bereavement days and flexible leave options such as FMLA sick bank and board approved leaves. All new hires will attend a benefits meeting upon hire.

Visit the BCPS website for additional information about benefit plans for BCPS employees at posting describes the duties and responsibilities of a position or group of positions. It shall not be held to exclude duties not referenced nor limit the right of management to assign work to employees.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT:

The Board of Education of Baltimore County does not discriminate on the basis of race color religion sex national origin age marital status sexual orientation gender identity genetic information disability or veteran status in matters affecting employment or in providing access to educational programs or activates and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth regarding the Boards nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: EEO Officer Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Baltimore County Public Schools 6901 Charles Street Building B Towson Maryland 21204 ).

Application Instructions:

Please read and carefully follow the instructions provided below.

• Applicants are required to have a completed application on file for employment with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). Information on your resume and application must match. This information is necessary for salary determination should you receive an offer of employment.
• Professional references must be submitted to complete your application. Examples of professional references include current and former principals supervisors managers mentor teachers and university/college supervisors. Personal references from colleagues friends community members etc. will not be accepted.
• Be sure to account for all periods of employment and unemployment. Failure to complete all fields of the Work Experience section of the application may result in your application not being considered. A resume will not be the only document considered in determining your qualifications for a position.
• You MUST attach your unofficial transcript(s) or license(s) to your application if you are applying for a position as a teacher or position which requires Licensure/Certification.

Proof of Licenses Certifications and Education:

• Applicants are required to submit proof of licenses certifications and education beyond high school to meet the required and preferred qualifications of the position. Diplomas or transcripts must show the applicants major field of study. Copies and unofficial transcripts are acceptable only at the application stage. Official transcripts must be provided only after you have accepted a contingent offer.
• Failure to submit proof of Licenses Certifications and Education may result in your application not being considered. Proof of licenses certifications and/or education must be submitted with your application.

Proof of Degree Equivalency:

• Applicants who have obtained a degree from outside the United States are required to submit degree equivalence documentation from a MSDE approved Foreign Transcript Evaluation Agency. This information is located on the MSDE website at Requirements:
  • All people employed by the Baltimore County Public Schools regular and temporary are required to be fingerprinted and have a criminal background investigation (per COMAR) completed. The fee charged for fingerprinting is $109.
  • Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the US.
  • If you have military experience you will be asked to provide a copy of DD214.
  • Official transcripts will be required upon hire and must be sent via e-script/clearinghouse from your university.
  • Some positions will require employees to undergo a physical examination and/or drug testing.
  • All newly hired personnel must attend a Benefits and Retirement Orientation meeting.
  • Additional job verification will be required for salary credit.

  Contact Information

  Susan Stansbury Director Staffing & Licensure