In-House Interrogatory

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Asked: Our weekly question to the In-House community

The Howard County Public School System has decided to eliminate its in-house legal department.

The school’s new superintendent, Renee A. Foose, will cut two legal positions — a staff attorney and general counsel — effective Monday.

In the future, the school system will rely on outside counsel. When a legal issue arises, a panel of four administrators will review the case and then decide how to deal with it. If the system needs outside counsel, it will send it to an attorney with an expertise in that area.

The school system said the decision will allow it to separate administrative and legal decisions as well as cut costs. The restructure will save the school system $200,000 in initial estimated costs.

So, here’s our question for you:

Do school systems still need in-house legal departments? Or are they better off taking on legal issues as they come and sending the cases to outside counsel?

Leave a comment below or email me.

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