Our collective scope of experience is evident in the number of educational institutions who rely on us, and how often we are called upon as an authority in school law. Our school law attorneys represent over 100 local and regional public school districts and other public educational entities throughout Connecticut and in neighboring states. Over the years we have represented more than 30 independent schools, as well as 20 public and private colleges and universities throughout the Northeast and nationally. We combine our extensive school law experience with the resources of a full-service firm to provide our education clients with prompt, cost-effective, high-quality legal services.
K-12 Public Schools
Shipman & Goodwin’s school law attorneys have more than 40 years of experience representing public schools, including charter schools and magnet schools. We work with over 100 public school districts and other educational entities, as well as public school member organizations and associations, on the broad range of legal issues that they confront, from general education law to special education matters. Co-Chair of the School Law Practice Group, Thomas B. Mooney, is the author of A Practical Guide to Connecticut School Law, currently in the 9th Edition (2018), the only comprehensive treatise on Connecticut school law, published by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and used by teachers, administrators and board of education members throughout Connecticut.
Independent Schools
Our school law attorneys use a proactive approach to counsel our more-than-30 independent school clients, including boarding and day schools, Montessori schools, Waldorf schools and religiously affiliated schools. We understand the complex issues and the unique nature of the independent school environment, including all aspects of boarding school communities. As Counsel to the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools for over 20 years, we represent them and many of their member schools in a wide range of legal issues such as student admissions and discipline, faculty relations, fund development and charitable giving, mandated reporting, real property tax exemption, corporate governance, finance, environmental land use and a wide variety of litigation and labor issues.
Colleges and Universities
Shipman & Goodwin’s school law attorneys represent leading colleges and universities throughout Connecticut and nationally on a full range of legal matters, including student issues, faculty issues, governance, finance, government relations, intellectual property, employment and labor relations, real estate, construction, environmental compliance and risk management, taxation, and technology. Drawing on nearly a half century of experience representing educational institutions, our attorneys deliver thoughtful, experienced and skilled counsel to provide clients with solutions to difficult issues while minimizing risk.
We recognize that each educational institution is unique. We believe the key to effective client representation is our collaborative, strategic and practical approach to each situation. Although many of the issues that arise may be similar, their resolutions are not. Each problem requires a solution that best fits the atmosphere, culture, history and core values of the school. We guide our clients through the problem solving process with all of this in mind.