Overview

Barbara J. Ginsberg represents school and community college districts, and public agencies in all aspects of labor and employment matters and education law. She serves as chief negotiator for agencies in collective bargaining with certificated, classified, and police/safety units, and is experienced in both traditional and interest-based bargaining methods. In addition, Ms. Ginsberg has more than 30 years of experience investigating charges of harassment and discrimination as well as uniform complaints. She is a member of the firm’s Title IX and Clery Act, Negotiations, and Higher Education groups. Other areas of Ms. Ginsberg’s practice include: classified and certificated employee evaluation and discipline (merit and non-merit); statutory and negotiated leave issues; police and safety matters, including POBOR issues; certificated and classified reductions in force; disability accommodation issues; student and employee privacy, search and seizure, and other constitutional issues; drafting board/agency policies; hiring practices; PERB, EEOC, DFEH, OCR, OAH, and personnel commission matters; and federal and state civil litigation.

Prior to joining AALRR in 2008, Ms. Ginsberg spent seven years as a legal advocate for public and private employee unions, including the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, Riverside Sheriffs Association, Orange County Firefighters Association, Santa Ana Firefighters, and the San Bernardino Public Employees Association; and eight years as an advocate for school and community college districts. She also served as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Victorville, and as a teacher in elementary, middle school, and high school settings.

Practice Areas

News & Publications

Events & Speaking Engagements

Ms. Ginsberg is a popular and highly requested speaker and regularly provides training throughout the nation on a variety of subjects of interest to K-12 school districts, community colleges, universities, cities, counties, governing boards, management teams, administrators, police and safety personnel, supervisors, and staff. In addition to addressing subjects that impact the workplace, the educational setting, and collective bargaining, Ms. Ginsberg provides training on the FRISK model for preparing effective documentation regarding employee substandard performance or conduct; leadership and communication skills; conducting investigations in the educational and workplace environments; conflict resolution; Brown Act compliance, and state-mandated sexual harassment training. She regularly lectures at conferences for local, statewide, and national organizations such as AASPA, ACCCA, ACSA, ACHRO, CAAASA, CABE, CALSA, CCLC, CCUPCA, CPCA, CSBA, NSBA, and WACUBO. She is also a regular instructor at various personnel and administrator academies throughout the country, and a guest lecturer at several universities. She regularly mentors law students and young lawyers.

Upcoming conferences and speaking events include:

Leadership Series with Barbara Ginsberg – Statewide (virtual and/or in person)

(September 2024 through April 2025)

  • Communicating with Difficult People and Influencing Change
  • Managing & Addressing Conflicts Between Employees in the Workplace
  • Effective Evaluations and Evaluation Meetings
  • Preparing, Delivering, and Monitoring Employee Improvement Plans
  • Team Building Tips That Will Help You Transform Your Work Site
  • From Supervisor to Leader: Responsibilities, Repairing Relationships, and Infusing the Practice of Civility in the Workplace
  • Troubleshooting Leadership: How to Lead Notwithstanding Challenging People and How to Lead in Challenging Circumstances

Negotiations Series (virtual - Fall 2024)

  • Introduction to Bargaining
  • Crafting and Responding to Proposals
  • How to Deal with Conflict at the Table/Impasse
  • Mastering the Art of Negotiation

Central Coast Professional Development Consortium Series (Virtual)

(September 2024 through May 2025) – Topics to Be Announced in August 2024

FRISK® Documentation Model for K-12 LEAs & Private Schools (State/National)

FRISK® Documentation Model for Community College Districts (State/National)

FRISK® Documentation Model for Cities and Counties (State/National)

  • Preparing Effective Documentation Regarding Employee Substandard Performance or Conduct
  • Techniques for Effective Communication with Employees About the FRISK® Document & Influencing Employee Improvement
  • Advanced FRISK®: Focus on Scenarios and Writing Techniques

Cultural Competence & Sensitivity Institute – Statewide (virtual)

101 Series

  • Cultural Sensitivity in the Workplace
  • Understanding and Managing Implicit Bias, Gaslighting, and Racelighting
  • Managing & Addressing Conflicts Between Employees in the Workplace

102 Series

  • Implementing Employment Practices that Support Cultural Competence
  • Conducting Investigations/Addressing Complaints with a Culturally Sensitive Lens
  • Best Practices for recruiting, Hiring, and retaining a Diverse Workforce

K-12 Performance Management Series (Statewide or Single Districts – virtual)

CCD Performance Management Series (Statewide or Single Districts – virtual)

101 Series

  • Negotiations & Contract Administration 101 for Administrators
  • Addressing Conflicts Between Employees in the Workplace
  • Conducting Legally Compliant Workplace Investigations
  • Preparing and Delivering Effective Evaluations
  • Introduction to the FRISK® Documentation Method

102 Series

  • Preparing for the First Negotiation Session
  • Managing and Understanding Millennials in the Workforce
  • Professionalism in the Education Environment: When Employees Cross Professional Boundaries
  • Employee Speech: Guidelines on Restrictions to Maintain the Integrity of the Workplace while Protecting Employee Rights
  • Advanced FRISK®

Additional Topics for Individual School Districts, Community College Districts, Charter Schools, Private Schools, Counties, and Cities

  • Nurturing the CEO/Superintendent/President-Board Member Relationship
  • Creating a Satisfying and Equitable Work Environment
  • Exercising Gratitude in the Classroom and Workplace
  • Building, Maintaining and Repairing Relationships of Trust in the Workplace
  • Leading and Building School Culture
  • How to Lead Notwithstanding Challenging People
  • Keys to Leading & Building Your Team’s Resilience During Challenging Times
  • Techniques for Becoming a Stronger, More Effective Negotiator
  • Secrets to Getting Stuff Done
  • Infusing the Practice of Civility and Mutual Respect in the Workplace
  • Professionalism and Excellence in the Workplace
  • Accommodating Employee Disabilities
  • Tips for Conducting Better Workplace Investigations
  • Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training
  • Identifying and Responding to Employee Use of Drugs and Alcohol
  • Managing Employee Leaves of Absence
  • Mandated Reporter Training Regarding Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Understanding the Brown Act
  • Good Language, Bad Language: Rules for Drafting Contract Language
  • Repairing Relationships of Trust and Team Building Tips for Executive Assistants
  • Best Practices for Hiring, Recruiting & Maintaining a Diverse Workforce
  • Understanding Criminal Background Checks and Subsequent Arrest Report
  • Best Post-Pandemic Practices Re Accommodating E’es & Managing Remote Work
  • Best Practices/Strategies for Equitable Planning, Decision-Making and Communication

Community Involvement

Community & Professional

  • California Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section, Member
  • Idaho Bar Association, Employment & Labor Law Section, Member and Government & Public Sector Lawyers Section, Member

  • California Council of School Attorneys, Member
  • Cerritos College Foundation, Member
  • Labor & Employment Relations Research Association, Orange County Chapter, Member
  • Pacific Symphony Volunteer and Back Stage Guide

Education

J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law
B.A., English, University of California, Irvine 
United States Naval Academy

Admissions

  • 1995, California
    2024, Idaho
    U.S. District Courts, Central and Southern Districts of California
    U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Idaho
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