Laura Lashley, a member of Brock Clay’s Education Law practice group, serves school districts in a multitude of contexts, from advising on special education issues to representing them in employment litigation. She draws on her government experience to provide clients with advice and consultation regarding Race to the Top funding opportunities as well as strategic restructuring initiatives, such as charter districting. 

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lashley worked in the Intellectual Property Litigation group at Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, primarily focusing on complex patent litigation.

She went on to serve as the Legal Counsel and Petitions Program Manager for the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, where she handled all non-litigation legal issues that arose concerning the Commission or its charter schools, including drafting and negotiating various types of legal instruments, creating governing and employee policies, conducting training in board governance, and advising both the Commission and its schools on various legal and compliance issues. As the first Petitions Program Manager for the Commission, Ms. Lashley also created and then managed the annual petition review process that comprised the bulk of the agency’s operations. 

Ms. Lashley graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law and was inducted into the Order of the Coif for distinction in the study of law. She received awards in the study of torts and intellectual property and was an active member of the Education Law Society. 

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Lashley served in Teach for America for two years as a high school teacher in Philadelphia. She received her master’s degree in Education during this time and is still active as an alumna in the Teach for America Atlanta Corps.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENT HIGHLIGHTS

Some of Ms. Lashley’s recent experience includes:

• Providing local school boards with legal advice regarding the revision of board policies to ensure alignment with new state legislation and standards.
• Consulting with local school boards to develop successful proposals for innovative new programs in line with the state’s Race to the Top program.
  
• Representing clients in employment litigation with First Amendment issues

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Member, The State Bar of Georgia
• Alumni Fellowship of Teach for America
• Member, Young Professionals for Educational Equity