Christine Bischoff
- Greensboro
- t: 336.271.3140
- f: 336.232.9140
- cbischoff@brookspierce.com
Overview
Christine Bischoff is a dedicated education attorney with over two decades of experience at the intersection of education law and policy, civil rights, and constitutional law. Christine has worked for the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Justice, and national and state non-profit organizations focused on educational equity. She has represented the United States government, students, educators, organizations, school districts, and post-secondary institutions in high-stakes matters, including litigation, conducting complex investigations and compliance enforcement, providing expert legal advice and analysis, and developing and implementing policy. Her practice focuses on all aspects of federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and constitutional provisions impacting education, as well as providing training, drafting policies, procedures, and guidance, conducting investigations, and advising on risk assessment and implementing best practices to proactively minimize liability exposure. Her deep subject-matter expertise and relationships with education attorneys across the state and country allow her to offer unique insight and guidance on the complex legal issues her clients face.
Christine earned her undergraduate and law degree from Wake Forest University. She earned a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University. Christine has two happy daughters who love the wonderful public schools they attend.
My Practices
With over 20 years of experience as an education attorney, Christine utilizes her extensive knowledge and experience to advise public school boards of education, private educational institutions, and colleges and universities on a wide variety of educational issues. Christine previously worked for the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Educational Section, which allowed her to gain unique insight into federal investigations, enforcement proceedings, and compliance monitoring. She now uses that expertise to represent clients in state and federal administrative proceedings and federal investigations, and to conduct internal investigations. She has also litigated education issues in state and federal courts across the country. Christine regularly drafts policies, procedures, and guidance, conducts trainings, and gives presentations on complex legal issues to attorneys and non-attorneys. She also advises clients on policy issues, including drafting legislation and advising on legislative strategy, working with coalitions of stakeholders, and filing amicus briefs.
In addition to the federal government, Christine previously worked for state and national non-profit organizations focused on educational equity. In those roles, she focused on school funding, the right to education under state constitutions, and discrimination. Christine’s wide-ranging experience representing multiple education stakeholders provides unique insight that allows her to resolve disputes effectively and efficiently for her clients.
Christine has represented clients in all stages of state and federal litigation. Her cases frequently presented complex or novel issues related to state constitutions, federal law, and federal agency action.
Christine has spent her career representing clients in civil rights matters. She has extensive knowledge and experience with federal civil rights laws and policy. She has worked for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education, the NAACP National Headquarters, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the North Carolina Justice Center.
Christine led investigations at the Department of Justice to determine whether an entity was violating federal law. She is deeply familiar with the all aspects of conducting investigations in a manner that best serves our client’s goals.
Credentials
Education
Princeton University, M.P.A., 2006, Alicia More Memorial Fellowship
Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 2004; Editor, Notes & Comments, Wake Forest University Law Review; Moot Court, Officer; President, Public Interest Law Organization; Carswell Scholarship
Wake Forest University, B.S., 2000, cum laude
Admissions
North Carolina
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
Newsroom
News
Speaking Engagements
Professional & Civic
Professional & Civic Activities
Volunteer girls’ basketball coach, YMCA (2021-current)
“Kids Shift” Volunteer, TABLE, Inc. (fighting childhood hunger) (2021-current)
About Me
I went to college planning to be a physical therapist, but in my junior year, I took a class taught by Maya Angelou. Everything she said inspired me, and one day in class, she told us “if you don’t like the path you’re on, step off of it.” I walked out of class that day and said to myself, “I’m not going to be a physical therapist. I’m going to be a civil rights lawyer to ensure that every student in the country receives a high-quality education.” Since that day, every step I have taken in my academic and professional career has been focused on becoming the most effective education attorney possible to best serve my clients. By encouraging me to “step off my path,” Dr. Angelou changed the entire trajectory of my life. I named my first child Maya in her honor.