Private Colleges and Universities

AALRR advises and represents a variety of private colleges and universities with their distinct concerns and complex legal questions regarding educational laws and regulations, employment laws and human resource administration, facility construction, as well as campus safety. We understand the intricacies and unique legal issues involved in higher education. AALRR’s unmatched expertise helps support these institutions’ efforts to enhance the educational experience for all students.

Our attorneys helped shape the field of law with regard to educational institutions over the past four decades. The firm tries to anticipate the needs of our clients before they arise and to get involved in preventative activities such as Board governance and training and drafting customized bylaws and policies.  We have helped steer institutions with regard to student related issues such as drafting student and faculty handbooks, advising on student discipline, and maintaining student records.

AALRR has a special bond between its education law and labor and employment law practices that helps schools with their complex needs such as workplace and Title IX investigations, as well as FERPA and Clery Act issues.  AALRR provides a unique perspective for personnel issues, including hiring, performance, and employee discipline issues; developing handbooks and policies; advising on wage and hour regulations and helping to avoid and navigate, if necessary, class actions and PAGA lawsuits; and traversing the complicated waters of all different types of leaves and accommodations. 

AALRR also understands the business perspectives faced by private higher education entities such as corporate issues dealing with school mergers; business contracts with a variety of vendors; construction matters from architectural plans to finished buildings; and bond and other financial concerns. 

Additionally, intellectual property legal issues such as ownership and use have become hotbed issues as colleges and universities rely more heavily on technology.  The intellectual property issues facing educational institutions include patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets.  AALRR's experience includes name, image, and likeness issues surrounding students, particularly athletes and performers.  Other areas of critical concern arise from right of publicity and issues involving generative artificial intelligence.   Besides counseling clients on these issues, AALRR assists not only with intellectual property procurement of trademarks, trade dresses, and copyrights, but also licensing of intellectual property, technology transfer, assignment, intellectual property portfolio management and monetization, and establishing institutional intellectual property polices and procedures.  Firm attorneys understand the nuances not only of compliance work but also litigating the enforcement and defense of these matters.

AALRR works as a valued and trusted partner with the leadership teams of schools across the state. Contact us to see how AALRR can provide that same value to your organization.