Kronick Moskovitz is pleased to announce that Michael E. Hersher, former General Counsel, State Department of Education, has joined the firm’s Education Law practice.
Michael comes to Kronick with more than 35 years of public education and employment law experience representing clients in litigation and administrative proceedings, as well as providing general advice and counsel to school boards and school districts on a wide range of legal and policy matters. His experience includes working in the Legal Divison of the California Department of Education for 25 years, 7 years with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, and 3 years in private practice.
During his time with CDE, he served as General Counsel, advising and representing the Department, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education in matters involving special education, charter schools, public school finance, personnel and employment, categorical program compliance, open meetings and public records laws, testing and accountability, and constitutional issues. He was at the forefront of some of the State's most controversial and contested educational issues, including the bailout of bankrupt school districts, the legality of "home schooling," challenges to bilingual education, and 1st Amendment conflicts.
Michael has also been a teacher himself, serving as an adjunct professor of Public Education Law at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law since 2006. He has also been a long time advocate and trainer for mediation as an alterative to litigation, a presenter at many education law conferences, and a member of the Anthony M. Kennedy Inns of Court, promoting the discussion of ethics and civility among lawyers and judges.
Michael has a long history of volunteering with community-based nonprofit organizations, primarily involving programs for children, and has enjoyed mentoring and coaching several soccer and baseballl teams. When not at the office, Michael enjoys taking care of his 9 month old granddaughter Addie, leading the singing for services at his congregation, raising money for medical research, reading with his book club, and sitting on the board of the Leonard M. Friedman Bar Association.
Michael received his J.D. from Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C. in 1977 and his undergraduate degree in History from the State University of New York, Albany in 1972.
We are delighted to welcome him to our firm's education team and know that clients will benefit greatly from his expertise.