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Oakland Unified School District

About Us

The Office of the General Counsel (Legal Department) is dedicated to providing the Oakland Unified School District with the highest quality legal advice and representation.  The department’s goals include:   

  • Supporting the District’s five-year strategic plan, “Community Schools, Thriving Students” to ensure that every student graduates from high school as a caring, competent, critical thinker, ready for college and career;
  • Protecting and preserving the legal, ethical and financial stability of the District;
  • Ensuring all District employees and partners comply with laws, regulations, policies, and the District’s strategic plan;
  • Partnering with District Departments to ensure successful implementation of important District-wide initiatives, including the Voluntary Resolution Plan to end disproportionate suspensions of African American male students; implementation of the Common Core curriculum; ensuring equal access to educational opportunities for all students, including English Language Learners, special education students, foster students and students from at-risk, low-income communities.

Please note that the Legal Office is no longer located at 1000 Broadway. We have moved to 1011 Union Street.  We are therefore accepting submission of the following documents via email to ousdlegal@ousd.org: 

  • Service of legal documents (including summonses and complaints) on the Oakland Unified School District and Board of Education; 

  • Government Code Claims;

  • Subpoenas (general)

Requests for Student Records and Subpoenas for Employment/Student Records should be sent to: legalstudentrecords@ousd.org.

Upon receipt, we will confirm service via an email back to the sender. Submission of these documents will be deemed complete for purposes of all legal timelines at the time of confirmation of receipt.  If you have questions or need assistance, please call (510) 879-8535.

Please note: Our office does not provide legal services to members of the public, students, or families.

Contact Us

1011 Union Street, Site 946
Oakland, CA 94607

Phone: (510) 879-8535

Email Us

Main Practice Areas

Governance & Policy

  • Advises the Board of Education, Superintendent, school sites, and departments on legal requirements, and the development of and compliance with board policies and administrative regulations.
  • Advises on major policy initiatives, including the strategic plan, the balanced scorecard, the Voluntary Resolution Plan (VRP) to end disproportionate suspensions of African American male students, the CORE waiver, the implementation of the Core Curriculum standards, ensuring equal access to educational opportunities for all students, including English Language Learners, special education students, foster students and students from at-risk, low-income communities.
  • Advises the Board of Education in open and closed session, regular and special meetings.
  • Advises the District on public records laws, open government laws, and conflict of interest laws and requirements.

 Labor and Employment  

  • Advises the District on public employees’ legal rights and duties.
  • Collaborates with Labor Relations and other departments around issues relating to collective bargaining rights.
  • Advises on employee discipline and misconduct.
  • Represents the District in employee discipline and termination proceedings.
  • Represents the District in Labor and Employment law matters before state and federal courts.
  • Investigates and respond to complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and other agencies.

Litigation/Claims 

  • Investigates and Resolves Government Tort Claims.
  • Defends the District in litigation against the District.

Business Operations

  • Drafts, negotiates, and/or reviews contracts and memoranda of understanding (MOUs).
  • Advises staff on matters related to procurement, contracts, and agreements.
  • Prepares and coordinates Request for Proposal, Request for Qualification, and other contract outreach.
  • Supports fiscal services audits, waivers, and compliance.
  • Supports the District’s Facilities and Buildings and Grounds programs and services, including the Bond program modernization programs, local business program, and Project Labor Agreement.

Special Education 

  • Handles state and federal special education and Section 504 compliance issues.
  • Represents the District at special education mediations and due process hearings.
  • Represents the District in special education litigation.

General Student Matters

  • Investigates and responds to regulatory inquiries from the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and the California Department of Education (CDOE).
  • Facilitates child custody conflicts and abuse reporting responsibilities at school sites.
  • Responds to student records requests.
  • Advises school sites and student discipline office in suspension, expulsion, and transfer of students.
  • Advises on constitutional issues related to student’s civil rights, including free speech, searches, non-discrimination, and other related issues.

Charter Schools 

  • Supports compliance with Proposition 39 and charter schools facilities requests.
  • Reviews charters for legal compliance.