Today’s education landscape presents many opportunities for public and private institutions, but also poses many legal and regulatory challenges. Preti Flaherty’s Education Law group is well-prepared and positioned to smoothly guide secondary schools and higher learning institutions through the complexities of varying issues and toward their educational missions. We don’t just find solutions to problems. We create a solid framework through advocacy, planning and policy-making that helps our clients successfully advance their goals and avoid legal conflict in the future.

Our attorneys have knowledge and experience in all aspects of education law, as well as other areas of law that impact educational organizations including employment, taxation and tax exemption, real estate and corporate law. We help clients deal with a range of legal matters that exist within education policy, including:

  • School reorganization
  • Charter school contracts, negotiations, and legislation
  • Structuring new or renewed educational enterprises
  • Compliance and regulation
  • Negligence and liability
  • Discrimination and harassment
  • Faculty tenure and employment
  • 501(c)(3) issues
  • First amendment issues
  • Education legislative reform
  • Regional School Unit formation/amendment and withdrawal/accession
  • Alternative organization structures
  • Disability issues
  • School safety legal issues and laws
  • Business opportunities in the education sector

A primary legal resource for secondary education

Clients come to us because we step outside conventional thinking to carve out new solutions in secondary education. From working with our Maine Legislative team to spearhead reorganization laws for rural communities and expand formation of Regional School Units, to negotiating Maine’s first charter school contract and continuously influencing charter school legislation, we have a successful track record of working with the government to develop and implement creative education programs and policies.

With our firm’s diverse strengths in legislative advocacy, administrative law, litigation, business organizations and transactions, combined with our deep experience in innovative problem solving on a wide range of matters, we have a unique ability to overcome complicated legal challenges related to secondary education. When clients need an unusual exemption, or a policy change to meet new educational objectives, we have the tools and experience to develop a practical solution tailored to their circumstances.

Charting the course in higher education

Preti Flaherty has been an active and prominent presence in higher education policy for decades, representing numerous institutions on legislative and legal matters. We serve as strategic partners, helping our clients identify areas of growth through new laws, as well as avoid penalties and problems that may result from regulation. As representatives of Maine’s primary association of private higher education institutions, our attorneys participate in most of the major state policy discussions in this sector. From closely monitoring developments in higher education policy at both the state and federal level, to serving as General Counsel for higher learning institutions and providing direct legal services to support our clients’ day-to-day needs, our education law team is a trusted resource for a diverse range of legal needs.

Firm Highlights

News

Attorney Jeffrey Thaler Named to 2024 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Energy Law

Preti Flaherty’s attorney Jeffrey Thaler has been recognized by  Lawdragon  as one of the top 500 Leaders in Energy Law. This is Jeff’s third time named to this prestigious list since the first publication...

Publication

Helping Employers Navigate the New Independent Contractor Rule and Compliance Challenges

On March 11 th , the United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) new Independent Contractor Rule goes into effect.  As your organization readies itself for compliance, it’s imperative to scrutinize your independent contractor classifications...

Publication

USCIS Announces H-1B Registration Period for FY2025: New “Beneficiary Centric” Registration Process and Increased Fees

USCIS has recently announced a series of changes that will impact the FY2025 H-1B registration system and cap filing season. H-1B Registration Period and Organizational Accounts As in prior years, under this process, prospective petitioners...

Event

Accessing Police Misconduct Records

Preti’s Sigmund Schutz will be one of the Maine panelists in New England First Amendment Coalition’s Accessing Police Misconduct Records series. This series continues NEFAC’s freedom of information lessons and builds on the information...

News

David Van Slyke Named to 2024 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law

Preti Flaherty’s Managing Partner David Van Slyke has been recognized by Lawdragon as one of the top 500 environmental lawyers in the U.S. It’s the third time he has been named to this prestigious...

News

Benchmark Litigation Names Preti Flaherty 2024 “Maine Firm of the Year"

Benchmark Litigation has named Preti Flaherty as 2024 Litigation Firm of the Year in the State of Maine. Through extensive peer- and- client reviewed research, as well as analysis of casework; the Benchmark Awards...

Event

Sigmund Schutz to moderate panel at 36th Annual Media and the Law Seminar: Under Attack! Existential Threats to Journalism and Free Speech

From unlawful searches and seizures of newsrooms and highly contentious litigation to physical harassment and calls for violence online, journalists and news organizations are under attack like never before. At the 36 th Annual...

Publication

Failure to Follow Your Contract's Notice Requirements Can be Costly

In Kinetic Systems, Inc. v. IPS-Integrated Projects Services, LLC et. al., No.: 20-cv-1125 (D.N.H. February 6, 2024), the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire granted summary judgment for a general contractor...

Publication

November 7, 2023 Election Results

Maine’s November 2023 statewide elections were exclusively referendum questions, four were citizen initiatives, and four were proposed amendments to the Maine Constitution. Of these, Questions 5, 7 and 8 were placed on the ballot...

News

Preti Flaherty Welcomes Trust and Estate Attorney Elise Salek to the Firm

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce that Elise Salek has joined the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. Practicing out of the firm’s Concord, New Hampshire office, Elise brings nearly three decades of experience...