Lawyer, Labor, Employment and Litigation

INTRODUCTION: CONTEXT AND MISSIONThe Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) serves approximately 37,000 students in 100+ schools. Over the past several years, the Greater Cleveland community has united behind the collective goal of ensuring every child in Cleveland attends a high-quality school, and every neighborhood has many great schools from which families can choose. The Cleveland Plan defines CMSD’s approach to the reinvention of public education and holds our community accountable for the success of Cleveland’s schoolchildren. The Cleveland Plan is supported by Ohio House Bill 525, which provides much-needed flexibility and autonomy for the district and its schools. Our schools have autonomy over human and financial resources in exchange for accountability forperformance. The principal is responsible and accountable for establishing his or her school as a high-quality, high-expectations academic center focusing on personalized instruction, teacher professional support, and school-wide practices that lead to measurable results.The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has developed standards of excellence for all parts of the organization, including schools, principals, school leadership teams, networks, and the central office. Alignment between the Standards of Excellence (SoE) and the district’s Theory of Action helps ensure that principals can focus on scholar achievement and that central office support is timely and effective.Our Vision for Learning in a Post-Pandemic World:In our pursuit of a more fair, just, and good system of education, we want each of our learners, both each of our scholars and each of their educators, to be individually and collectively presented with academically / intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their productive struggle and allow them authentic opportunities to demonstrate their work and their learning of academic content and transferable skills in a joyful and adventurous environment.THE OPPORTUNITY:Reports to: Chief Legal CounselDepartment: Legal ServicesLocation: Administration/As AssignedFLSA Status: ExemptSalary Band: 16Compensation: $ 91,800. - $ 128,520. (Commensurate with Experience)As part of the district's legal team, this attorney is directly responsible for conducting litigation, trials, and appeals in the Office of Legal Services for the District with minimal supervision. The Office of Legal Services is designed to provide support and experience in collective bargaining, board policy development, discrimination claims, student discipline, special education, District-sponsored community schools, public records/sunshine laws, and more. The professional duties of the Lawyer, Labor, Employment, and Litigation position include researching and analyzing facts and law, litigation motions and pleadings, discovery, settlement negotiations, presenting evidence and jury arguments, and appellate processes. This attorney advises clients and litigates legal issues arising from disputes involving employment matters, personnel disciplinary actions, premises liability claims, civil rights actions, intentional torts actions, and other litigation matters involving the District. This position will represent the District before various courts, administrative agencies, and arbitrators.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESResearch and analyze facts and law, drafting pleadings, conducting discoveryProvide timely and professional legal advice to a variety of internal stakeholders regarding labor, employment, and litigation mattersRepresent the District through all phases of the litigation process across a variety of civil litigation issues. This includes researching and analyzing facts and law, drafting motions and pleadings, conducting discovery, engaging in oral arguments, conducting settlement negotiations, presenting evidence and jury arguments, and appellate processes.Represent the District before both state and federal courts and administrative agenciesRepresent the District in arbitrations involving labor, employment, and disciplinary actions. Effectively manage multiple cases simultaneously and at all stages of litigationAble to manage a high volume and varied litigation docketConduct impartial internal investigations of discrimination and sexual harassment complaints as assigned by the District’s Director of EEO / Title IX CoordinatorProvide legal and strategic counsel to District management relating to current and potential litigation matters involving labor, employment, and litigation issuesSupport projects that involve compliance with labor and employment law, judicial decisions, and other legal or policy guidelinesProactively identify potential problems relating to current or potential litigation and grievances and devise creative solutions that strike an effective balance between cost and return, including both short-term and long-term business and legal considerationsProvide accurate and timely reporting to the District Chief of Staff on a weekly basisLead efforts and initiatives to ensure that the District complies with all employee and labor-related local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations, working collaboratively with OCI, Talent, and other departments as neededQUALIFICATIONSMinimum RequirementsRequired: Current member in good standing of Ohio Bar or membership within three months of hireAt least 5 years of trial experienceAt least 5 years of experience litigating Employment and Labor ClaimsPublic-sector defense litigation experience preferredDemonstrated success in high-stakes, high-pressure environmentStrong written and verbal communication skillsStrong work ethic, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skillsWriting sample to be provided with the applicationPreferred: Experience working for or serving as counsel to a school district or public entityExperience in special education lawWORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe characteristics listed below are representative of the work environment typically encountered by an individual while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.Expected moving, walking, and standing consistent with an office environment and light physical effort in sedentary to light work and may involve some manipulation of lightweight items (5-10 pounds)May involve extended periods at a keyboard or workstationWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and armsThe employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focusWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office environmentLocal travel may be required for training/meetingsNOTE: The above-stated duties are intended to outline those functions typically performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This description of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive or to limit management's discretionary authority to assign other tasks of a similar nature or level of responsibility.To ApplyPlease submit your resume and application using Workday, our online human capital management system. An offer of employment will be conditional on the successful completion of an FBI/BCI background check and drug screen.

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