Members of Willkie’s Education Practice are trusted advisers to a broad array of educational institutions—from K-12 school districts to major research universities. Our team includes a former general counsel of a leading U.S. university and includes current board members of both higher education and K-12 institutions. We are poised to deliver industry-informed legal strategies that reflect the unique demands of the academic environment. Our clients include liberal arts colleges, academic medical centers, community colleges, HBCUs, HSIs, and K-12 school districts.
Our clients face a range of issues in the rapidly evolving landscape of higher and K-12 education. We represent clients in matters involving regulatory compliance, employment law, federal funding, free speech, the management of protest activity, academic freedom, and the growing implications of artificial intelligence. We conduct internal and external investigations and help clients respond to inquiries and enforcement actions conducted by the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education, the Department of Justice, and other federal and state regulators. We advise universities on NCAA compliance issues and provide advice in the evolving landscape of college athletics. Our gold-standard litigation practice is engaged in a wide array of high-stakes disputes on behalf of education clients. We have expertise in academic medicine and have worked with health systems on research, patient care and funds flow issues. We advise on Title IX and Title VI compliance, manage antitrust scrutiny, structure 501(c)(3) entities, and counsel on the use of AI and digital tools in admissions and pedagogy. We also support institutions in managing federal research funds, responding to whistleblower complaints, and designing robust, institution-wide compliance and risk management frameworks—integrating seamlessly with institutional leadership to anticipate and address emerging challenges. We also routinely advise on labor and employment matters, public policy issues, social and political initiatives, and financial and business operations.
With deep experience and a nuanced understanding of how educational institutions operate, we help schools mitigate legal risk while focusing on their core academic, research, and community missions. Whether supporting a school board in navigating governance issues or assisting a university system in implementing system-wide compliance programs, our attorneys bring the same rigor and insight we offer our corporate clients, delivering strategic guidance that empowers educational institutions to thrive in today’s complex regulatory environment.