Five applicants seek legal job with Fort Smith Public School District

Five attorneys have thrown their hat into the ring for the chance to be Fort Smith Public School’s in-house legal counsel. As of Oct. 14, six applied for the position, with one person withdrawing their application.

The district posted a job listing on its website July 19 for an attorney “to ensure daily access to dedicated legal expertise to address the complex and evolving legal matters affecting the schools,” the district’s communications office said. Those matters include areas such as special education, compliance with state and federal regulations, labor and employment issues, student rights, and more.

“Having an in-house attorney will allow efficient and effective legal responses to these legal needs,” the office stated.

The position’s salary is listed at $100,000 annually. Applicants are Casey Copeland, Joshua Bugeja, Michael Rabey, Timothy Baker and Taylor Dugan.

Copeland, a resident of Prairie Grove, is employed with the Office of Chief Counsel with the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

“I’ve been in public-service law, i.e. child welfare law, since 2012, and enjoy working on matters and areas that involve children and families,” Copeland said on his application.

Bugeja of Fort Smith is an attorney and owner of Bugeja Law Firm in Fort Smith.

“My brothers and I are largely a product of Fort Smith Public Schools. My mother taught at Chaffin for nearly 30 years before retiring, and my twin brother presently teaches at Southside High School and has for over a decade now,” Bugeja said. “With my daughter now enrolled and attending Fort Smith Public Schools, I want to do everything that I can to help ensure that our district is as good as it can be.”

Rabey lives in Van Buren. He is a deputy prosecuting attorney with the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.

“I believe my diverse experience provides me with a well-rounded perspective on legal issues, strong advocacy, and understanding of our legal system, and the importance of protecting both the district and students,” Rabey said.

Baker of Van Buren is also a deputy prosecuting attorney with the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.

“I was born in Fort Smith, went to undergraduate school in Fort Smith, and worked in Fort Smith. It would be a rewarding opportunity to work within the Fort Smith School system,” Baker said.

Dugan lives in Helena, Mont., where he is an agency counsel for the State of Montana. He previously worked for the Arkansas Department of Education.

“I would love to get back into education law,” Dugan said.

The district decided it was time to hire an in-house attorney rather than continue using Marshall Ney of Ney Law Firm in Rogers whom the district has contracted for many years. The district believes hiring an in-house attorney could be a cost-saving move. Relying solely on external legal advice can be expensive, especially for ongoing or complex legal matters, the communications office stated. An on-staff attorney will lessen that reliance on external legal services, they said.

“Having an attorney fully integrated into the district’s team will help proactively address legal issues and potentially avoid costly legal disputes,” the office stated. “This move is expected to help create a safer, more legally sound, and more efficient school district.”

The job description states that applicants have a juris doctorate from an accredited law school and be a member of the Arkansas Bar in good standing and authorized to practice law in Arkansas. The district is looking for someone with five years experience practicing law, with a preference for experience in education law, employment law and related fields, a strong understanding of federal, state, and local education laws and regulations, and negotiation and litigation skills.

There is no close date for applications listed on the website. The district’s communication office said the position will be posted until filled.