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Law Offices of William C. Bednar
1706 West 6th Street
Austin, TX 78703-4703
Phone: (512) 494-1177
Fax: (512) 494-1188
Contact Us
Other websites associated with this firm:http://www.educationlaw.wsSummary
Law Firm Overview
1. Services.
I have been in the practice of school law for over thirty-five years, of which over twenty-five have been in private practice in the defense of public school districts in Texas. During that time I have represented over seventy districts in a wide variety of matters. From time to time I have also performed special engagements for over twenty other school districts regularly represented by other counsel. I have experience in practically every legal area encountered by school districts, including but not limited to special education, employment discrimination, desegregation, fair labor standards, school construction, lease-purchase acquisitions, voting rights, student discipline, and UIL Disputes. Over the years, my two largest litigation areas have been employment termination and non-renewal cases, involving contractual, due process, First Amendment and discrimination claims, and school boundary controversies, consisting mainly of detachment and annexation cases and consolidations. I am a trained attorney-mediator.
I have been approved to represent school districts by the Texas Association of School Boards, the St. Paul Insurance Co., the International Surplus Lines Insurance Co., the American-Mercury Lloyds Insurance Co., and the American International Insurance Group. I am not presently on the "panel" of any insurance company, and my approval has usually been determined on a case-by-case basis.
For my long term clients, I have also provided preventive law counsel and advice in the many legal subjects that arise in the daily governance, and administration of school districts, such as trustee and board governance, board policy development, open records, open meetings, education records, elections, redistricting, school prayer, purchasing procedures, use of school facilities, student residency, student, parental, and public grievances, and the like. I also have considerable past experience in property tax litigation (but not delinquent tax collection).
From time to time I also accept selected engagements on behalf of parents and students in special education and student discipline matters, and on behalf of resident citizens in school boundary, voting rights, and other school related matters.
2. Specific Matters Handled.
- Employee termination. Kinsley v. Salado ISD, 950 F. 2d 988 (5th Cir. 1992), cert. Den. 112 S. Ct. 2275
- Special Education. Melody D. bnf "Dusty" G. v. Pflugerville ISD, TEA Docket No. 197-SE-295 (May 1995).
- Student Expulsion. Michael Lopez, et al v. Boling ISD, et al., Cause No. 32, 133 in the District Court of Wharton County, Texas (1994--temporary restraining order dissolved, temporary injunction denied after hearing, student expelled, case nonsuited); Yvonne Charanza, etc. v. Van Vleck ISD, Cause No. 94-J-0079-C, in the 130th District Court of Matagorda County, Texas (1994--temporary injunction denied after hearing, student expelled, case nonsuited)
- School Boundaries. Nueces Canyon Consolidated ISD v. Central Education Agency, 900 S.W.2d 417 (Tex. 1996)
- Desegregation: United States v. Texas (Intervention of Goodrich ISD), 158 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 1998)
3. Outside Legal Services.
Over the years, I have maintained excellent referral and consulting relationships with Powell & Leon, Bracewell & Patterson, Fulbright & Jaworski, Bickerstaff, Heath & Smiley, McGinnis, Lockridge & Kilgore, Walsh Anderson, and other well-regarded firms. When the need arises, I am very confident of obtaining experienced and able legal assistance appropriate to the needs of the client. It is possible that the demands of major litigation may exceed my recourses as a solo practitioner, in which case I would expect to associate additional counsel and litigation support as needed.
4. Current Clients.
Since entering solo practice, I have limited the number of districts I represent to those I can comfortably handle. My principal clients in volume of work are the Boling ISD (25 years: Chuck Butcher (979) 657-2131), Three Rivers ISD (22 years; Mac Johanson (361) 786-3626), and Wylie ISD (23 years; Don Harrison (915) 676-3026). I am able at present to add new school district clients. I am also handling a number of special engagements for other school districts.
5. Fee Structure.
I work on a straight hourly rate without differentiating for phone consultation, correspondence, travel in district service, or litigation. I charge an advance retainer (unused balance refunded) to private individuals and groups in an amount commensurate with the estimated work to be performed. My current hourly rate is $250.00 per hour. I pass through expenses such as travel, long distance, faxes, photocopies, postage, delivery, reporter's fees, expert fees, and other hard costs, which are normally billed monthly. This fee arrangement has worked well and economically for the clients I have represented over the years, but I am open to other arrangements if desired, with the mutual goal of continuing to provide cost-effective services of high quality.
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law
- Constitutional Law
- Education Law
- Government Agencies & Programs
- State, Local & Municipal Law
Published Works
- Comment, 49 Tex. L. Rev. 247, 1971
- Preventive School Law in Principals Handbook: Current Issues in School Law, Chapter 30, NOLPE, 1989
- Preventive School Law in Critical Issues in Education Law: The Role of Federal Judiciary in Shaping Public Education, Chapter 12, NOLPE, 1988
- Preventive Law: Minimizing Legal Risks Through Foresight and Planning, 2 Tex. School Administrators Legal Digest Issue: No. 8 at 4, 1986
- Preventive School Law, School Law Update: Preventative School Law 1-14, NOLPE, 1984
- A Survey of the Texas Reform Package: House Bill No. 72, 16 St. Mary's L.J. 813, 1985
Classes and Seminars
- "Desegregation of Higher Education in Texas: What Does the Future Hold?", 11th Annual Texas Higher Education Law Conference, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, April 2007
- "The Fourth Amendment: Search and Seizure on the Higher Education Campus", 10th Annual Legal Conference on Higher Education, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, April 2006
- "Privacy Rights and School Administration", Lorman Seminar, Liability in Texas Schools, Austin, TX, May 2005
- Leasing and Purchasing Personal Property by Public School Districts, University of Texas School of Law, 14th Annual School Law Conference, March 1999
- "Drug Testing for Athletes and Others", Education Law Association Winter Seminar, February 1999
- "Sexual Harassment of Students by Students", Education Law Winter Seminar, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, February 1997
- "Federal Liability for Student Claims", NOLPE Education Law Spring Ski Seminar, Snowbird, Utah, March 1994
- "Legal Aspects of School Boundary Changes", 7th Annual School Law Conference, University of Texas School of Law, March 1992
- "Current Theories of Teacher Dismissal", NOLPE Ski Seminar, Park City, Utah, March 1991
- "Employees, Board Members, and the Law", National School Boards Association Summer Conference, Reno, Nevada, July 1989
- "Lease Purchase and the Financing of School Facilities and Equipment", 5th Annual School Law Conference, University of Texas School of Law, March 1989
- "Legalization of American Education and Consequences for Lawyers, Educators, and School Systems", 10th Annual Spring Conference for School Administrators and Supervisors, North Texas State University, April 1988
- "Student Expression Under the First Amendment", NOLPE Education Law Winter Conference, Breckenridge, Colorado, March 1988
- "Lease Purchase and the Financing of School Facilities", 3d Annual School Law Conference, University of Texas School of Law, March 1988
- "Conducting the Annual ARD: Due Process for Handicapped Children", Continuing In service for Instructional Leadership, Region V Education Service Center, April 1987
- "Where Are We Now and What Does the Future Hold" (Panel Discussion), School Law Conference, University of Texas School of Law, March 1986
- "Where Are We Now and What Does the Future Hold" (Panel Discussion), School Law Conference, University of Texas School of Law, March 1986
- "Local Funding", Education and the Law Conference, University of Texas School of Law, June 1983
- "Amendments to Hearing Rules for Handicapped Students", School Law Section, Texas State Bar Annual Convention, June 1979
- "Federal Investigations and Compliance Reviews", School Administrators Advisory Conference on Education, Texas Education Agency, January 1979
- "Copyright," Conference on Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education, The University of Texas School of Law and Southwest Association of Student Personnel Administrators, 1978
- "Hearings Concerning Handicapped Students", School Law Section, State Bar of Texas Annual Convention, June 1978
- "Education of the Handicapped", Seventh Annual School Law Conference, University of Houston, March 1978
- "Making Decisions on Alien Students, A Session with Office of the General Counsel", School Administrators Advisory Conference on Education, Texas Education Agency, January 1978
- "Legal Seminar on Problems in Public Education,", Co-sponsored by the Office of the General Counsel, Texas Education Agency, and Regional Service Centers, 1977 - 1978
- "The Administrative Appeals Process", School Administrators Advisory Conference on Education, Texas Education Agency, January 1977
- "Legal Aspects of Faculty Rights", Texas Association of Junior College Instructional Administrators, June 1976
- "The Rights of Teachers: Four Perspectives", Texas Junior College Teachers Association Annual Convention, March 1976
- "Legal Implications of Student Union Management--The Viewpoint of the Attorney General's Office", Association of College Unions-International, July 1975
- "Federal Funds and Programs--The Impoundment Cases", Texas Association of School Boards and Texas Association of School Administrators Joint Annual Convention, October 1974
- "Legal Aspects of Student Union Management", Association of College Unions International, Region 12, July 1974
- "Federal Funds and Programs--The Impoundment Cases", Texas Association of School Boards and Texas Association of School Administrators Joint Annual Convention, 1974
- "Legal Aspects of Student Union Management", Association of College Unions International, Region 12, 1974
- "Faculty Termination Guidelines", Forum on Academic Due Process, Texas Junior College Teachers Association, June 1974
- "Eighteen-Year-Old Majority and its Implications for Institutions of Higher Learning," Conference on Student Personnel Administration in Higher Learning, University of Texas School of Law and Southwest Association of Student Personnel Administrators, 1974
- "Implications of the Texas Eighteen-Year-Old Majority Act,", Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers, February 1974
West Practice Categories
Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Education Law, Government Agencies & Programs, State, Local & Municipal Law
Attorneys
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Bednar, William C. | Law Offices of William C. Bednar |
Office Information
Address
1706 West 6th Street
Austin, TX 78703-4703
Phones
(512) 494-1177
Faxes
(512) 494-1188