Seattle Public Schools
The position will remain open until filled.
The General Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor to the School Board, the Superintendent, and senior District administrators; provides expertise in specialized legal areas, including school district governance, labor and employment law, and capital projects; oversees the management of litigation and other adversary proceedings; and supervises staff within the General Counsel’s office, including attorneys, legal assistants, public records and Risk Management staff. The General Counsel is expected to exercise sound professional judgment with minimal direction from the Superintendent and School Board, based upon experience and practice as a lawyer or in a government position.
Leadership (30%)
Leads and supervises a team of attorneys, legal assistants, records officers, and risk management personnel.
Serves as a member of the District’s executive leadership team.
Oversees development and implementation of departmental budget.
Legal advisor to Board and executive leadership (30%)
Attends School Board meetings, advises the Board on parliamentary procedure and open public meetings issues, and responds to inquiries from Board Directors as necessary.
Serves as principal legal advisor to the Superintendent, School Board, and senior District administrators.
Consults with and advises District’s ethics officer.
Maintains current knowledge of legislative, legal and regulatory developments affecting the District.
Manages District Litigation (30%)
Manages the District’s caseload in litigation, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and other adversary procedures.
Oversees the work of outside counsel, including providing direction on litigation decisions and settlement authority.
Participates in District litigation.
Works closely with the District’s insurer (the Washington Schools Risk Management Pool).
Governmental relations (10%)
Serves as District representative and liaison to other governmental and regulatory agencies.
Other Functions
Serves as Assistant Secretary to the School Board.
Takes a lead role in training District staff.
Acts as District representative in regional and national organizations focused on education law, including the Council of School Attorneys and the Council of Great City Schools.
Cabinet Core Competencies Managing Vision and Purpose
Develops a clear sense of purpose and mission that captures the imagination of others.
Shares vision in a way that influences others as demonstrated by their words and actions.
Anticipates and identifies long‑term, future organizational needs and opportunities.
Accountability
Takes responsibility and action as if the risks (financial or otherwise) are his or her own.
Holds individuals and team accountable for their actions and results.
Initiates action even if outcome is uncertain and is willing to accept the consequences of failure.
Aligns own activities and priorities to meet broader organizational needs.
Demonstrates courage and confidence in his or her own ability.
Planning
Allocates and coordinates time effectively and efficiently to avoid conflicts.
Anticipates potential problems and develops plans to address them.
Develops an appropriate work plan to achieve results.
Monitors progress, responds to problems and measures performance.
Getting Results (Action Oriented)
Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.
Focuses on achieving the goal even in the face of obstacles.
Assumes responsibility for starting and finishing work with minimal supervision.
Strives for new levels of performance.
Collaboration
Is seen as a team player who encourages efficient and effective collaborations.
Works skillfully in difficult situations with both internal and external groups.
Represents his/her own interests while being open‑minded to other groups.
Builds respectful and productive relationships internally and externally.
Decision Quality & Problem Solving
Weighs the consequences of options before making a decision.
Applies appropriate criteria to situations for the purpose of making decisions.
Displays self‑confidence in own judgment.
Focuses on the facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems.
Integrity
Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.
Represents information and data accurately and completely.
Represents the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.
Relevant Competencies Intellectual Acumen
Demonstrates and is described as someone who is intellectually sharp, agile and capable.
Handles concepts and complexity comfortably.
Demonstrates the ability to comfortably shift thinking on a dime.
Time Management
Focuses their efforts on the most important priorities.
Uses time effectively and efficiently.
Handles multiple tasks effectively and efficiently.
Values other people's time.
Written Communications
Organizes and presents information in writing in a clear and convincing manner.
Uses appropriate writing style and tailors writing to meet the needs of the audience.
Uses correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Experience in working on legal and compliance issues that impact school districts and other public entities, including constitutional law, labor and employment law, public records and open public meetings laws, capital projects, and parliamentary procedure.
Demonstrated management skills.
Experience in speaking at public meetings.
Familiarity with public sector budgeting process.
Familiarity with laws and regulations affecting public schools and other local government entities in Washington.
Collaborative problem‑solving skills.
Conflict management skills.
Strong oral and written communications skills.
Ability to think logically and creatively.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with District management and staff, students, parents/guardians, outside agencies and the public in a multicultural community.
Experience/Education Ten (10) years of successful experience practicing law and managing legal staff, preferably in an educational or public sector setting; Juris Doctor degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the relevant knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work will be considered.
Desired Certification & Licenses Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association; valid Washington State driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility.
Continuing Education/Training Satisfaction of continuing legal education requirements/reporting every three years.
Clearances Criminal Justice fingerprint and background check.
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The General Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor to the School Board, the Superintendent, and senior District administrators; provides expertise in specialized legal areas, including school district governance, labor and employment law, and capital projects; oversees the management of litigation and other adversary proceedings; and supervises staff within the General Counsel’s office, including attorneys, legal assistants, public records and Risk Management staff. The General Counsel is expected to exercise sound professional judgment with minimal direction from the Superintendent and School Board, based upon experience and practice as a lawyer or in a government position.
Leadership (30%)
Leads and supervises a team of attorneys, legal assistants, records officers, and risk management personnel.
Serves as a member of the District’s executive leadership team.
Oversees development and implementation of departmental budget.
Legal advisor to Board and executive leadership (30%)
Attends School Board meetings, advises the Board on parliamentary procedure and open public meetings issues, and responds to inquiries from Board Directors as necessary.
Serves as principal legal advisor to the Superintendent, School Board, and senior District administrators.
Consults with and advises District’s ethics officer.
Maintains current knowledge of legislative, legal and regulatory developments affecting the District.
Manages District Litigation (30%)
Manages the District’s caseload in litigation, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and other adversary procedures.
Oversees the work of outside counsel, including providing direction on litigation decisions and settlement authority.
Participates in District litigation.
Works closely with the District’s insurer (the Washington Schools Risk Management Pool).
Governmental relations (10%)
Serves as District representative and liaison to other governmental and regulatory agencies.
Other Functions
Serves as Assistant Secretary to the School Board.
Takes a lead role in training District staff.
Acts as District representative in regional and national organizations focused on education law, including the Council of School Attorneys and the Council of Great City Schools.
Cabinet Core Competencies Managing Vision and Purpose
Develops a clear sense of purpose and mission that captures the imagination of others.
Shares vision in a way that influences others as demonstrated by their words and actions.
Anticipates and identifies long‑term, future organizational needs and opportunities.
Accountability
Takes responsibility and action as if the risks (financial or otherwise) are his or her own.
Holds individuals and team accountable for their actions and results.
Initiates action even if outcome is uncertain and is willing to accept the consequences of failure.
Aligns own activities and priorities to meet broader organizational needs.
Demonstrates courage and confidence in his or her own ability.
Planning
Allocates and coordinates time effectively and efficiently to avoid conflicts.
Anticipates potential problems and develops plans to address them.
Develops an appropriate work plan to achieve results.
Monitors progress, responds to problems and measures performance.
Getting Results (Action Oriented)
Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.
Focuses on achieving the goal even in the face of obstacles.
Assumes responsibility for starting and finishing work with minimal supervision.
Strives for new levels of performance.
Collaboration
Is seen as a team player who encourages efficient and effective collaborations.
Works skillfully in difficult situations with both internal and external groups.
Represents his/her own interests while being open‑minded to other groups.
Builds respectful and productive relationships internally and externally.
Decision Quality & Problem Solving
Weighs the consequences of options before making a decision.
Applies appropriate criteria to situations for the purpose of making decisions.
Displays self‑confidence in own judgment.
Focuses on the facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems.
Integrity
Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.
Represents information and data accurately and completely.
Represents the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.
Relevant Competencies Intellectual Acumen
Demonstrates and is described as someone who is intellectually sharp, agile and capable.
Handles concepts and complexity comfortably.
Demonstrates the ability to comfortably shift thinking on a dime.
Time Management
Focuses their efforts on the most important priorities.
Uses time effectively and efficiently.
Handles multiple tasks effectively and efficiently.
Values other people's time.
Written Communications
Organizes and presents information in writing in a clear and convincing manner.
Uses appropriate writing style and tailors writing to meet the needs of the audience.
Uses correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Experience in working on legal and compliance issues that impact school districts and other public entities, including constitutional law, labor and employment law, public records and open public meetings laws, capital projects, and parliamentary procedure.
Demonstrated management skills.
Experience in speaking at public meetings.
Familiarity with public sector budgeting process.
Familiarity with laws and regulations affecting public schools and other local government entities in Washington.
Collaborative problem‑solving skills.
Conflict management skills.
Strong oral and written communications skills.
Ability to think logically and creatively.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with District management and staff, students, parents/guardians, outside agencies and the public in a multicultural community.
Experience/Education Ten (10) years of successful experience practicing law and managing legal staff, preferably in an educational or public sector setting; Juris Doctor degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the relevant knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work will be considered.
Desired Certification & Licenses Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association; valid Washington State driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility.
Continuing Education/Training Satisfaction of continuing legal education requirements/reporting every three years.
Clearances Criminal Justice fingerprint and background check.
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