CSBA Legal Services is composed of a highly experienced and knowledgeable team of education law attorneys. With a focus on providing the best legal guidance and advice to school districts and COEs in California, our attorneys are here to handle a variety of your legal needs.
Every LEA can benefit from an outside perspective on legal matters. Whether your LEA does not have attorneys on staff and you want to delegate your legal tasks to CSBA Legal Services, or if you do have attorneys and you’re looking for independent consulting, reviews, guidance and advising, CSBA Legal Services is here to assist you with your legal needs.
Bob joined CSBA as Senior Policy Consultant in 2014, served as the Assistant Executive Director of Policy and Governance Technology Services from 2017-2021 and now serves as Chief Legal Counsel.
Bob is licensed in California, Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Court of Claims in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining CSBA, Bob was the founding partner of Jackson & Tuerck, a law office that focused on environmental law and matters affecting families, children and the local community. Bob also served on the governing boards of the Plumas Unified School District and County Office of Education and spent two years as the President of the Plumas County Bar Association.
Bob graduated with honors from Seattle University School of Law, and also has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership. Outside of education, Bob’s passions include his family, fly fishing, hiking and being outdoors.
Alex provides legal advice and representation to school districts and county offices of education in all areas of education law.
Alex is a certified mediator and an academic workplace investigator specializing in discrimination, harassment, and Title IX matters. She handles a variety of employment law matters, including consultation on progressive discipline, performance evaluations, non-renewals, and employee leave benefits.
Prior to joining CSBA, Alex worked for an education law firm where she focused her practice on employment law, public entity defense, board governance, and collective bargaining.
Alex graduated cum laude from Chapman University School of Law earning the William Stallworth award for Contract Law, and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award (highest grade) for Mediation, Advanced Mediation Clinic, Contract Law, Property Law, Psychology of Conflict, and Wills & Trusts.
Outside of work, Alex spends her time entertaining her young kids and taking her standard poodle to the dog park.
Gade Hamilton joined CSBA as a paralegal in November 2021. Prior to joining to CSBA, she worked for law firms specializing in criminal defense, civil rights, and employment law litigation. Gade has experience in civil and criminal litigation, document production, public entity defense, and employment law matters. Gade is also experienced in business development and logistical planning. Gade holds an Associates of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Journalism from California State University, Sacramento where she graduated magna cum laude. California State University, Sacramento’s Government Department faculty also named Gade the Undergraduate Student of the Year.
Outside of work, Gade enjoys spending time with her family, kayaking, and baking.
Maryela joined CSBA as a Senior Legal Services Attorney in April 2022. Maryela provides legal advice and representation to school districts and county offices of education in all areas of education law. Prior to joining CSBA, Maryela worked for a boutique education law firm, where she focused on providing counsel and support to clients regarding special education, public works, environmental compliance, and charter schools.
Maryela received her undergraduate degree cum laude from Harvard University, where she was awarded Harvard College Scholarships for Academic Achievement of High Distinction every semester. Maryela received her law degree from Columbia University School of Law, where she was an Articles Editor for the Columbia Human Rights Law Review.
Outside of work, Maryela spends her time reading, writing, and rescuing animals, as well as dabbling in all things interior design.
Legal Services clients receive unlimited access to our online Resource Library with over 12,000 collective bargaining agreements, MOUs, and salary schedules gathered from LEAs across the state.
Get AccessLegal Services clients also receive unlimited access to case updates, publications, legal alerts, webinars, templates, and legal guidance documents on all areas of education law.
Get Access
Legal Services clients can attend a no-cost Lunch & Learn event each month with Legal Services attorneys! These informal monthly events give our clients the opportunity to speak directly with Legal Services attorneys about education law topics of particular relevance to districts and county offices of education. Free for Legal Services clients, the Lunch & Learn series is a benefit you don’t want to miss!
CSBA’s District and County Office of Education Legal Services attorneys will be offering a full day of Brown Act training in March 2025, designed to provide legal information and practical guidance specifically for board presidents and executive assistants. This session will cover a wide range of topics, including different types of meetings, agenda and posting requirements, conduct guidelines for closed sessions, teleconferencing provisions, managing public comments, handling meeting disruptions, and more. Whether you're responsible for agenda preparation or overseeing the proceedings as board president, this session will equip you with valuable insights to effectively navigate the intricacies of the Brown Act. Superintendents and other LEA staff are welcome to join and participate in what we expect will be an informative training event. Check back for details!
Join CSBA Legal Services for an exclusive, in-depth training session focused on Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP). This event is designed for school district administrators, compliance officers, complaint coordinators, and board members seeking to enhance their understanding of UCP requirements and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
What You’ll Learn:
Why Attend:
This training will provide attendees with actionable tools and templates, case studies for real-world application, and the opportunity to engage in Q&A with attorneys from CSBA Legal Services.
Details:
Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location:
California School Boards Association Office
3251 Beacon Blvd.
West Sacramento, CA 95691
Reserve your spot today to ensure your district remains compliant and prepared to address UCP matters effectively and efficiently!
Registration fee: Standard Registration Fee: $300 │ Late registration: $325 (starts February 5, 2025) │ Registration closes February 19, 2025| Legal Services clients receive a $50 discount | Find out how to sign up for Legal Services to receive your discount!
The California Education Laws and Regulations, 2022 Edition was compiled by the Legal Services team, in partnership with LexisNexis. It is an invaluable resource for all those dealing with the complex and nuanced education law issues currently facing California, including school administrators, school boards, attorneys practicing education law, educational organizations, and government officials.
The publication is a three-volume set, including laws and regulations that directly impact California school districts and county offices of education. The books include relevant portions of the following codes:
Legal Services clients receive an exclusive 25% discount on all purchases of California Education Laws and Regulations, 2022 Edition! Contact us today to find out more.
Contact us by filling out this form, calling us at (916) 669-1551, or emailing us at legalservices@csba.org.
