SCHOOL LAW HOTLINESM

Welcome to the School Law HotlineSM!

The Ohio Educational Service Center Association ("OESCA") has a strategic partnership with the law firm of McGown & Markling Co., L.P.A. to provide eligible OESCA members and other political subdivisions with additional services through the School Law HotlineSM.

School Law HotlineSM questions are to be directed to McGown & Markling Co., L.P.A. by superintendents/CEOs, treasurers/CFOs, and/or designees only, thereby preserving the attorney-client relationship.

The School Law HotlineSM is an exclusive OESCA program which eligible participants can use by calling us Toll Free at 1.877.OHEDLAW (643.3529). You may also use your legal hotline minutes electronically by completing the form below.

Question for:

Your name:
Your school district:
Your telephone number:
Your e-mail address:
Confirm e-mail address:
School Law Hotline Question:
Sending an e-mail will not establish an attorney/client relationship. Do not send confidential information to any of our lawyers without prior approval.

Some common questions and answers regarding the School Law HotlineSM are set forth below.

Q. Can my political subdivision both participate in the School Law HotlineSM and obtain legal services from other programs and/or law firms.

A. Yes. Nothing in the School Law HotlineSM program prohibits your political subdivision from obtaining legal services from other programs and/or law firms. In fact, the Firm encourages your political subdivision to take advantage of as many legal tools available to you.

Q. How do I know whether my political subdivision is eligible to participate in the School Law HotlineSM?

A. To be eligible to participate in the School Law HotlineSM, a political subdivision simply cannot have any conflicts with the Firm or its clients, as determined by the Firm.

Q. How can my political subdivision participate in the School Law HotlineSM?

A. The School Law HotlineSM is offered exclusively through the OESCA. Eligible OESCA members may participate by executing the “ESC School Law Hotline Agreement,” a copy of which can be found by clicking here. Once the ESC joins the School Law HotlineSM program, its eligible political subdivisions may also participate by executing the “Political Subdivision School Law Hotline Agreement,” a copy of which can be found by clicking here.

Q. How many complimentary hours of legal services will my political subdivision receive for the 2011-2012 school year?

A. On behalf of the OESCA, each eligible OESCA member will receive ten (10) complimentary hours of legal services for the 2011-2012 school year through the School Law HotlineSM. On behalf of each eligible OESCA member, we will also provide each eligible political subdivision within the eligible OESCA member's service area with 10 complimentary hours of legal services for the 2011-2012 school year.

Q. What is the blended hourly rate beyond the political subdivision's 10 complimentary hours of legal services?

A. Any additional hours billed beyond the 10 complimentary hours referenced above, will be billed at a blended hourly rate of $225 for general school law work and $195 for collective bargaining negotiations (property valuation matters will be negotiated at our flat fee rates or a blended hourly rate of $150) - as compared to our regular hourly rates of $275 to $150 which may be billed to our non-School Law HotlineSM clients. These hours may be used for any purpose including, but not limited to, special education, pupil services, school finance, governance, labor and employment, collective bargaining, in-services, and general matters.

Q. Is travel time billed under the School Law HotlineSM?

A. If the Firm believes that the presence of a Firm attorney at your office is required in order to provide legal services on a matter, the time traveled to and from your office shall not be billed to the educational institution through the School Law HotlineSM. Only travel expenses at IRS rates shall be billed.

If the Firm believes that the presence of a Firm attorney at your office is not required in order to provide legal services on a matter and you nonetheless request the attendance of an attorney, the time traveled to and from your office shall be billed to the educational institution, as well as travel expenses at IRS rates, through the School Law HotlineSM.

Additional questions and answers are contained within the following School Law HotlineSM agreements and, of course, please feel free to contact us directly to answer any questions that you may have:

Template ESC School Law Hotline Agreement

Template Political Subdivision School Law Hotline Agreement

Agreements exist with the educational service centers listed below. Political subdivisions served by these educational service centers may click on the appropriate link to access a copy of the appropriate "Political Subdivision School Law Hotline Agreement."

If your educational service center is not listed above, please contact Matthew John Markling and we will find an educational service center to sponsor your political subdivision.
 

 

The School Law HotlineSM is a registered service mark held by the law firm of McGown & Markling Co., L.P.A.

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