Education Law
The Education Law Group of Upton & Hatfield, LLP is comprised of seven attorneys with extensive experience in and a commitment to school law and its related areas. The firm has represented school districts in New Hampshire for more than 40 years.
Our services include the following:
- Providing same-day responses to inquiries from the Superintendent, Business Manager and/or Special Education Director. Daily questions that arise include those in discipline, special education, or personnel matters. We recognize the need to provide information to the school district in a timely pro-active manner so that matters are handled properly from the start.
- Providing in-district workshops to administrators and staff on timely education topics. Topics have included:
- “The Responsibility of the School District Under The New Bullying Law”
- “The Role of The Regular Education Teacher In Special Education”
- “Grading, Accommodations and Modifications”.
- Providing representation to the School Board or the Administration at student discipline hearings, employee discipline hearings or grievance hearings under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- Assisting with the preparation of the warrant and attendance at the annual school district meeting.
- Providing labor relations services including the preparation and review of collective bargaining agreements, actual table legislations, handling grievances (both at the administrative level and through arbitration), PELRB hearings and Supreme Court appeals.
- Providing representation in special education matters including attendance at mediation, administrative due process hearings, and appeals from due process decisions, attendance at team meetings when required and representation in district court proceedings on issues with regard to the legally liable school district.
- Reviewing existing, and drafting as appropriate, policies and procedures for the district in the area of employment, student discipline and conduct, and special education.
- Advising the district on sexual harassment investigations, 504 hearings and OCR complaint investigations.
- Providing representation in litigation matters in the local District Court, Superior Court, U.S. District Court of Appeals (with the exception of litigation handled by attorneys selected by district insurance carriers).
- Providing consultation in school construction issues.
- Policy review and drafting including policies relating to FMLA, board conflicts, weapons and early retirement.
Upton & Hatfield represents nearly 40 school districts throughout New Hampshire. (The firm also represents 30 cities and towns). Offices in four geographic locations allow for easy access to school districts throughout the state. Upton & Hatfield is able to handle all matters for a school system. For many school districts, the firm provides all legal representation, for others the firm provides selected representation, such as special education, labor relation matters, or multi-district negotiations.
A strength of the education services that Upton & Hatfield provides is the depth of experience of our attorneys. Members of the educational law group are actively involved with the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, the New Hampshire School Boards Association, and the Council of School Attorneys. Several members of the group have served as aadjunct professors of education law at Franklin Pierce Law Center and the University of New Hampshire. Attorney Moran belongs to the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators. Upton & Hatfield is also a member of the NHSAA-Special Education Support Center.
We understand that superintendents and school board members often need immediate advice and we pride ourselves in providing prompt and thorough response. Our attorneys will return calls before the close of business on any school day.
Serving New Hampshire's
Legal Needs Since 1908
Education Attorneys