Legal Assistance Fund
The TASB Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. The purpose of the Fund is to provide support to school districts that are defending legal challenges with the potential to affect public schools statewide. In most of its cases, the Fund provides assistance in the form of amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” briefs. An amicus brief explains to the court why a school district should win its case and how the court’s decision will affect other Texas school districts.
Written by highly qualified school attorneys from across the state, LAF briefs have undoubtedly played an important role in the outcome of several significant court cases affecting public schools. Subjects under consideration have included cases on the Texas school finance system, sovereign immunity, sexual harassment, religion in schools, and numerous employment and student discipline issues.
The Fund is administered by a seven-member board of trustees made up of the president, president-elect, and a vice-president of TASB, the president and president-elect of the Texas Association of School Administrators, and the chair and vice-chair of the Texas Council of School Attorneys. Approximately 750 school districts are members. LAF members receive a newsletter, The LAF Docket, which covers legal challenges that could affect public schools statewide.
Since its inception, LAF has filed more than 100 “friend of the court” briefs. Through the Fund’s efforts, courts and the community at large will gain a better understanding of how fundamental issues affect education in our state.