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

Event

Eric Osterberg Presents Webinar on IP Rights and Infringement With Podcasts and Livestreaming

Eric Osterberg joins a panel of industry experts to present “IP Rights and Infringement With Podcasts and Livestreaming.” The panel focuses on guiding intellectual property counsel on the IP issues that arise when creating...

Publication

FRBP 9006 Doesn't Take Vacations

Bodie Colwell of Preti Flaherty’s Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy Group, has authored the article "FRBP 9006 Doesn't Take Vacations," appearing in the October 2023 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute's Young & New Members Committee newsletter...

News

Preti Flaherty Ranked Among Best Lawyers 2024 Best Law Firms

Best Lawyers has ranked Preti Flaherty among the Best Law Firms for 2024. To be eligible for ranking, a law firm must have at least one attorney named in the 2024 Best Lawyers in...

Publication

Maine Workers’ Compensation Update - November 2023

The following is an overview of developments with respect to proposed legislation as well as new procedures on independent contractor determinations, medical fee schedule updates, and the use of updated Board forms, including medical...

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...

Press Coverage

Bangor Releases Unredacted Files on Effort to Close Homeless Encampment

Following a five-month effort by local media, represented by attorney Sigmund Schutz, chair of Preti Flaherty's Media Law Practice Group, the City of Bangor finally released unredacted records related to its attempts to close a...

News

Preti Flaherty Welcomes Employment Law Attorney Brooke K. Haley to the Firm

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce that attorney Brooke K. Haley has joined the firm’s Employment Law Practice Group as a Partner. Brooke will work primarily from the firm’s Portland office. Brooke’s practice centers...

News

Remembering Preti Flaherty Founder Robert F. Preti

We at Preti Flaherty are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our founding partners and longtime friend, Robert Preti. Bob was not just a part of our firm; he was a part...

Press Coverage

Maine Media Organizations Oppose Foreign Electioneering Ban

Question 2 on Maine’s November ballot asserts that corporations owned or controlled by foreign governments do not have the same rights to political speech as companies here in the U.S. and that foreign governments should be prohibited...

Press Coverage

Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting Wins Public Records Dispute with York County Jail