Brooks Pierce partners Shana Fulton and Elizabeth Troutman presented at the North Carolina Bar Association’s Education Law Section Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program on April 8 at the North Carolina Bar Center in Cary, N.C.
Fulton’s presentation, “Internal Investigations in Educational Institutions: Choose Your Own Adventure? No, the Adventure Chooses You,” discussed scenarios and issues that attorneys may face when guiding clients and parties through internal investigations in educational institutions.
Troutman’s presentation, “Navigating Conflicts Between First Amendment/Religious Freedom Rights and Nondiscrimination/Equal Protection Rights of Transgender Individuals in Education Settings,” addressed issues attorneys face when advising clients on conflicts related to students', faculty members' and parents' freedom of expression and religious freedom rights versus students' and employees' nondiscrimination and privacy rights related to their gender identity in educational settings.
Fulton conducts and advises on internal investigations for allegations of criminal misconduct, corporate malfeasance, ethics complaints and workplace issues for public and private educational institutions, private businesses, local government entities and individuals. Her investigative work has included a wide array of issues, including healthcare, fraud, sexual harassment, discrimination, and allegations of misconduct in educational settings
Troutman advises public school boards of education, private educational institutions, and colleges and universities on a multitude of education issues, and advocates for educational institutions in administrative proceedings, state and federal courts, and before local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. Her experience includes developing policies and procedures for schools, handling investigations by the Office of Civil Rights, conducting board of education hearings, managing and advising on student discipline and employment matters, advising on federal and state legislative strategies, addressing a myriad of compliance-related issues, and defending educational institutions in state and federal courts.
