Christine Bischoff

Of Counsel

Overview

Christine Bischoff represents public school boards of education, private educational institutions, and colleges and universities on a variety of educational issues and in litigation in state, federal, and appellate courts. She has nearly two decades of experience working on education law and policy at the state and national level. As a former attorney at the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice, she uses her extensive government experience and deep subject matter knowledge to help clients navigate complex legal issues.

My Practices

Christine advises public school boards of education, private educational institutions, and colleges and universities on a variety of educational issues. She has practiced education law at the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Justice, and state and national non-profit organizations. In each of these positions, she used her extensive knowledge of state law, federal law, constitutional law, and education-related rules and regulations, along with her significant litigation and policy experience, to help her clients navigate complex problems.

Christine’s experience includes leading investigations for both the Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice, managing the Office for Civil Rights’ reviews of a federal grant program, writing district policies and procedures, advising clients on a wide range of education issues, litigating education issues in state and federal court, mediating education-related disputes, training on education-related topics, drafting legislation and advising on legislative strategy, and working with education coalitions.
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.

Services

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

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. I love sports, and I thought it would be a very fun career. But in my junior year, I took a class taught by Maya Angelou. Everything she said was very inspiring, and one day in class, she told us “if you don’t like the path you’re on, step off of it.” After hearing that, I walked out of class and said to myself, “I’m not going to be a physical therapist. I’m going to be a civil rights lawyer.” 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 so I can help ensure that all kids receive a high-quality education. 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.

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2 happy daughters who are constant reminders of what is truly important in life.
10

10 years spent at Wake Forest University (as a student and an Adjunct Professor)—Go Deacs!!
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2 Federal Agencies (U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice) where I worked to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education.