Founded in 1982, the North Carolina Council of School Attorneys was formed to support school board attorneys in their efforts to advise and represent their local board of education clients.
NCCOSA offers school board attorneys access to a wealth of information on the dynamic world of school law in the form of law conferences, legal publications and advice from fellow attorneys on the NCCOSA listserv. Membership opens doors to everything a school board attorney needs to advise their client boards of education in effectively serving North Carolina’s students.
NCCOSA is an affiliate organization of the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA), with its principal office in Raleigh, NC at the NCSBA headquarters.
For additional information about NCCOSA and NCCOSA activities, contact Maddie Gaulden, Editorial Coordinator, at mg******@***ba.org.
The purposes of NCCOSA are:
- To identify the current legal problems of concern to attorneys who advise school boards, to disseminate legal information and analysis to members and to promote the exchange of legal information and analysis among members;
- To provide a state forum for consideration of the practical and professional problems faced by school attorneys incident to their providing legal counsel, advice and representation to school boards;
- To promote a closer and more understanding relationship between school attorneys and their client school board members and NCSBA;
- To provide the means by which school attorneys may participate actively in the state educational dialogue in association with NCSBA while retaining their professional identity.
The following attorneys are eligible for membership in NCCOSA:
- attorneys who represent any school system in North Carolina that is a member of NCSBA on a regular or continuing basis;
- in-house or outside counsel to NCSBA;
- any staff attorneys employed by the NC Department of Justice or the NC Department of Public Instruction (eligible for associate membership only); and
- any staff attorneys employed by the School of Government whose primary responsibility is in the area of education law (eligible for associate membership only).
Associate members are entitled to all state-level membership benefits. However, associate members are not entitled to membership in the National Council of School Attorneys or to any benefits of national membership.
State-Level Benefits
- Annual Conference—NCCOSA’s annual summer conference focusing on changes in school laws
- Legislative Changes—NCCOSA’s legislative committee works closely with NCSBA’s Governmental Relations Department to promote legislative changes that benefit school systems
- NCCOSA Listserv—Access to NCCOSA’s listserv which allows members to pose questions directly to other school board attorneys and receive timely information in return that affects school boards throughout the state
- Interaction with Fellow Attorneys—Membership provides the opportunity to learn from and interact with other NCCOSA members on various issues, with NCCOSA serving as a resource and communication base
National-Level Benefits
NCCOSA members are eligible for affiliate membership in the National School Attorneys Association and the National Council of School Attorneys. Through affiliate membership, attorneys receive:
- Publications and resources that keep members apprised of national changes in school law;
- Opportunities to register for national school attorneys conferences and webinars; and
- Access to Members-Only Website containing a brief bank, a national listserv and other legal resources.
