Labor & Employment Law

AALRR’s extensive experience representing school districts and county offices in the context of certificated and classified employee layoffs has been regularly called upon. We are the only education law firm able to bring decades of Labor Code and wage and hour experience to public sector clients.

The firm has drafted and reviewed employment contracts and application forms for all categories of district employees, including administrators and temporary certificated employees. We also provide a broad range of services related to employee health and welfare benefits, including reviewing agreements for insurance and other services, as well as advising districts regarding their appropriate implementation.

Our attorneys represent clients through all stages of litigation: drafting and filing the initial complaint or responsive pleadings; preparing and responding to discovery; conducting factual investigations; preparing witnesses and defending depositions; retaining and deposing expert witnesses; preparing summary judgment motions; preparing for trial; trying cases; and dealing with appeals and other post-judgment issues. We have successfully represented school districts, community college districts, and universities in a number of precedent-setting cases. 

Our extensive experience before administrative agencies in regard to labor and employment relations includes the Public Employment Relations Board, California Fair Employment and Housing Commission, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Unemployment Compensation Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

AALRR also represents school districts and county offices in collective bargaining contract interpretation disputes, including grievance proceedings and arbitration, and the processing of unfair labor practice complaints and related procedures before the Public Employment Relations Board. 

We believe in being involved at the early stages of grievance procedures to ensure all legal issues are raised, explored and resolved—when possible—prior to arbitration. This strategy ensures that any affirmative defenses, such as timeliness and arbitrability, may be raised early in the process. When grievances proceed to arbitration, our firm interviews all witnesses, compiles documents and other information, prepares questions for witnesses, and presents the district’s case at the hearing.