Julie C. Fay represents a wide range of educational and other non-profit institutions, including k-12 public and independent schools and colleges and universities, in legal issues related to students, employees, governance and policy. Her work has included advising camps and after school programs, in addition to serving as independent counsel for organizational ombudsman programs for higher education and other entities. Julie understands the education environment and is sensitive to the unique issues of a modern educational institution. Serving as general counsel, Julie works collaboratively with lawyers across the firm to provide comprehensive, practical, legal advice and effective solutions to meet the business needs of sophisticated educators. Prompt, attentive service is the hallmark of Julie’s practice.
Julie emphasizes a preventative, practical approach. Her work with educational institutions on wide-ranging issues allows her the peripheral vision that is often needed to help schools navigate and respond to difficult situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and claims of sexual misconduct. A member of Shipman’s School Law practice group, Julie most recently has been assisting schools in all matters related to pandemic response, including complicated re-opening plans, policy development, and employment issues, and understanding complex legislation, including the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Julie advises schools on all aspects of day-to-day operations, including student and faculty matters, student discipline, special education, student health, confidentiality, mandated reporting, employment issues, handbooks and general school governance and policy. She is well versed in Title IX and schools’ obligations under the IDEA, Section 504 and the ADA, and conducts and advises schools in investigations. Julie also represents schools in administrative hearings, including expulsion hearings, special education due process hearings and related proceedings, and has advised and represented schools in matters before the Office for Civil Rights.
Julie regularly provides training and professional development workshops for faculty, staff and students on current and important topics, such as professional boundaries, social media, sexual assault and harassment, and special education. She is a seasoned presenter for national education associations, including CAIS, NAI, TABS, NBOA, AISNE, CAS, NSBA, ConnCASE, and CIAC. Julie is a past president of the Connecticut Council of School Attorneys (COSA) and is a former adjunct professor at Quinnipiac Law School where she taught a course on Education and the Law.
Having worked as an independent school teacher and coach prior to pursuing her legal career, Julie brings her unique, personal experience and valuable insight to her education practice.