Law Department

The General Counsel shall have charge and control, subject to the approval of the Board of Education, of the Law Department and of all litigation, legal questions, and such other legal matters as may be referred to the department by the Board of Education or by the Chief Executive Officer. The General Counsel shall have authority to issue legal opinions, to bring actions on behalf of the Board, to take any actions required by law and to settle any matter before the Law Department, including, but not limited to, federal and state court cases, administrative enforcement agency cases, workers’ compensation claims, employment issues, and contract disputes, for a sum up to and including $100,000, without Board approval. The General Counsel shall report all settlements for sums that are less than $100,000 to the Board as part of the Chief Procurement Officer’s delegated authority report under Section 7-14(c) of this Chapter. The General Counsel shall also review all contracts, bonds, and leases subject to the exceptions noted in Section 7-13 herein.

Assistants and Deputies General Counsel shall work under the direction and supervision of the General Counsel and are expressly prohibited from performing legal work for or undertaking legal representation of any person or entity other than the Board of Education. Violation of the prohibition against outside practice by an Assistant or Deputy General Counsel shall constitute cause for immediate dismissal from employment.