General Counsel
The General Counsel’s client is the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, to which the Office owes its undivided loyalty and confidentiality.
The Office provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Education, Superintendent, and staff in Human Resources, Special Education, Student and Family Services, Business Services, and School Sites in the following areas:
Governance
- Ralph M. Brown Act
- California Public Records Act
- Parliamentary procedure
- Board member elections
- Political activity
Labor and Employment
- Classified and certificated employee discipline
- Accommodation
- Discrimination and harassment
- Investigations
- Leaves
- Labor concerns
School Law
- Special education
- Student discipline
- Discrimination, bullying, and sexual harassment
- Pupil records
- Mandated reporting
- Custody orders
Operations
- Disposition of District property
- Use of Facilities
- Contracting
- Supervising the work of outside counsel
The Office's mission is to protect the interests of the District and its students while solving internal and external legal matters in a manner that reduces legal risk and minimizes legal costs, to educate staff on law compliance, and to support District clients in fulfillment of their primary mission of student achievement.
The Office strives to do so in an efficient, reliable, and professional manner.
Robert W. Jacobsen, Esq.
General Counsel
(562) 210-2121
rjacobsen@nlmusd.org