ORCID
Dan: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5514-3063
Phil: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2956-5078
Connor does not have one.
Abstract
Rural school leaders encounter an array of complex issues that require legal counsel. Student discipline, contract disputes, employee conduct, special education, and a host of other topics require school boards and superintendents to utilize school attorneys. This descriptive phenomenological study explored the daily experiences of ten school attorneys representing multiple school districts in rural areas. Three salient themes emerged (a) the work of a school attorney, (b) relationships and interactions with school personnel, and (c) insights for others. Themes provide a comprehensive picture regarding school attorneys’ roles, responsibilities, and engagements with school personnel within rural schools. Implications, including the importance of building relationships between school attorneys and school leaders and of gaining experience in schools are offered. Finally, future research with more school attorneys specializing in special education and disability law, who represent diverse and rich backgrounds in rural settings would augment the findings from this study.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
DeCino, D. A.,
Waalkes, P. L.,
&
Donohoe, C.
(2023).
The Experiences of Rural School Attorneys: Implications for School Leaders.
The Rural Educator, 44(1), 1-13.
https://doi.org/10.55533/2643-9662.1337
